Business English communication skills: communicating, managing, selling (level 2)

What is the course about?

This course will give you the chance to improve your business and work English particularly focusing of the language of management and sales. You will work on the language you use when conducting meetings, including one-to-ones, and when writing formal documents including emails regarding business priorities and decision-making, staff conduct and performance, and sending out key information. You will also focus on the language used in sales including how you establish rapport with the customer, identify their needs, present solutions, answer objections and close the sale.

. You will develop speaking, writing and listening skills for work, e.g. for writing emails and giving presentations. You will focus on conducting meetings – for example, the use of small talk and making conversation, what makes a meeting good, bad or difficult, how to respond to these situations, and the phrases needed in negotiation. You will look at diplomatic language, when you should be direct or indirect and we also focus on cultural differences in the workplace. You will practise writing business emails including formal vs informal as well using the phone and appropriate phrases. There will be a focus on structuring presentations and using language for signposting and sequencing. Throughout the course, there will be a lot of emphasis on vocabulary including phrasal verbs and using the most effective language at the right time.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• conducting meetings and the language you need for 1:1s and larger meetings
• writing formal documents including emails regarding business priorities and decision-making, staff conduct and performance and sending out information
• using the language involved in sales including to establish rapport with the customer, identify their needs, present solutions, answer objections and closing the deal.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• conduct meetings and use the language needed for 1:1s and larger meetings
• write formal documents including emails regarding business priorities and decision-making, staff conduct and performance and sending out information
• use the language involved in sales including to establish rapport with the customer, identify their needs, present solutions, answer objections and closing the deal.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is for Level 2 (C1) students and above: i.e. upper intermediate to advanced level. It is especially useful for those who are working as managers in sales or who would like to.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn in a supportive and welcoming environment with an emphasis on your discovering how to do and complete tasks, with guidance from the tutor. You will work on your own and with other students on different tasks so you are always practising important in-demand life and work skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, prioritising, negotiating, collaborating and independence. You will learn in a step by step manner so you can complete challenging tasks in enjoyable and relaxing ways. Your tutor will also work with you individually so you know how to improve and how to work in a way that improves your learning. You will need to do work outside the classroom and use Google Classroom to help you.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need a pen, paper and a file to keep your work in. Your tutor will provide handouts and a code for Google classroom so you can communicate with classmates and access materials, videos etc. online.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

There are many courses you could do before, at the same time or after this course. These include:
• Business English communication skills: from negotiating to report writing to presentations (level 2)
• ESOL - communication skills for life and work (level 2 speaking and listening)
• ESOL - communication skills for life and work (level 2 reading and writing)
• English dialogue: speaking, listening, pronunciation, performance (level 1-2)
• Matters of opinion (level 2)
• Business English communication skills: finding the right word in business (advanced)
• ESOL: Develop your writing: grammar, vocabulary, expression (advanced)
• Grammar in practice: advanced (level 2+)
• ESOL: communication skills for work and life - formal, informal, polite, challenging conversation and writing (level 1-2)
• ESOL: communication skills for work and life - letters, emails, meetings, presentations and reports (level 1-2)

You can also do classes in the maths and digital skills areas. These include:
• Digital skills for the workplace: analysing, handling and presenting data with Excel (intermediate)
• Business administration with digital skill: how to be an administrator (foundation)
• Becoming data literate: how to understand and interpret the data all around you (level 1-2)
• Becoming data literate: how to present data for work or study (level 2)
• Becoming data literate: understanding data and how it is presented from pie-charts to bell curves (level 2)
• Maths for business: the essential skills to run a company and make a profit (level 1-2)
• Maths for business with Excel: the essential skills to run a company and make a profit (level 1-2)

For more information, talk with your tutor or contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.