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Business English communication skills: finding the right word in business (advanced)
Time: 10:00 - 12:15
Location: Online
You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).
This course is FREE if a) you are on a Low Wage or b) you are either on Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) or Employment & Support Allowance(ESA) or c) you want to get a job or progress into a better job and you receive other state benefits (including Universal Credit). For more information click here
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
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Course Code: HERW01
Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course will mainly focus on the style, tone and precision of your communications at work particularly in business in both speaking and writing. You will focus on using the right language in business meetings and negotiations face to face and over the phone or in video conferencing. You will practise getting your message across in both speaking and writing, adopting the right level of formality, taking your audience into consideration, writing emails for different purposes, being persuasive, using the right language for cold-calling and identifying appropriate conventions in report writing. At the same, you will develop your business vocabulary such as common business collocations, advanced linking words, business phrasal verbs and vocabulary around specific concepts e.g. cause and effect. Finally, there will also be an emphasis on pronunciation as a way in which meaning is communicated.
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?
• the style, tone and precision of your communications at work particularly in business in both speaking and writing
• using the right language in business meetings and negotiations face to face and over the phone or in video conferencing
• getting your message across in both speaking and writing
• adopting the right level of formality in different communications
• taking your audience into consideration in different communications
• writing emails for different purposes
• being persuasive in speaking and writing
• using the right language for cold-calling
• identifying appropriate conventions in report writing
• developing business vocabulary such as common business collocations, advanced linking words, business phrasal verbs and vocabulary around specific concepts e.g. cause and effect
• pronunciation as a way in which meaning is communicated.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• better identify and use the right style, tone and precision of your communications at work particularly in business in both speaking and writing
• use the right language in business meetings and negotiations face to face and over the phone or in video conferencing
• get your message across in both speaking and writing
• adopt the right level of formality in different communications
• take your audience into consideration in different communications
• write emails for different purposes
• be persuasive in speaking and writing
• use the right language for cold-calling
• identify and use appropriate conventions in report writing
• use common business collocations, advanced linking words, business phrasal verbs and vocabulary around specific concepts e.g. cause and effect
• change your tone and stress appropriately to communicate meaning.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is for students at Level 2 and above i.e.. upper intermediate to advanced (C1-C2). It is ideal for anyone who is currently working in business or for a company. The course will also prepare you for this work if you are not already in it.
• get your message across in both speaking and writing
• adopt the right level of formality in different communications
• take your audience into consideration in different communications
• write emails for different purposes
• be persuasive in speaking and writing
• use the right language for cold-calling
• identify and use appropriate conventions in report writing
• use common business collocations, advanced linking words, business phrasal verbs and vocabulary around specific concepts e.g. cause and effect
• change your tone and stress appropriately to communicate meaning.
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, some lined A4 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 can do before, at the same time or after this course. These include:
• ESOL - communication skills for life and work (level 2 speaking and listening)
• ESOL - communication skills for life and work (level 2 reading and writing)
• Workplace communication skills: customer care and front of house hospitality (ESOL level 1-level 2)
• Business English communication skills: from negotiating to report writing to presentations (level 2)
• Business English communication skills: communicating, managing, selling (level 2)
ESOL: Develop your writing: grammar, vocabulary, expression (advanced)
• Grammar in practice: upper intermediate (level 1-2)
• Writing skills in practice: upper intermediate (level 1-2)
• Grammar in practice: advanced (level 2+)
You can also do classes in the maths and digital skills areas. These include:
• 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)
• Essential digital skills for the workplace: Word, Excel and PowerPoint (foundation-level 1)
• Business administration: using Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access in the office (intermediate)
• Essential digital skills for work (Level 1)
• Business administration with digital skill: how to be an administrator (foundation)
For more information, talk with your tutor or contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.