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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
Also in the Cambridge Copy Collection Activity Box by Jean Greenwood The Book of Days by Adrian Wallwork Business Roles 1 and Business Roles 2 by John Crowther-Alwyn Decisionmaker by David Evans Discussions A–Z Intermediate and Advanced by Adrian Wallwork The Grammar Activity Book by Bob Obee Pronunciation Games by Mark Hancock Singing Grammar by Mark Hancock A Way with Words Resource Packs 1 and 2 by Stuart Redman and Robert Ellis with Brigit Viney and Geraldine Mark
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
Cambridge Business English Activities Serious fun for Business English students
Jane Cordell
© Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521587341 © Cambridge University Press 2000 It is normally necessary for written permission for copying to be obtained in advance from a publisher. The normal requirements are waived here and it is not necessary to write to Cambridge University Press for permission for an individual teacher to make copies for use within his or her own classroom. Only those pages which carry the wording ‘ PHOTOCOPIABLE © Cambridge University Press 2000’ may be copied. First published 2000 6th printing 2006 Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library ISBN-13 978-0-521-58734-1 paperback ISBN-10 0-521-58734-4 paperback
© Cambridge University Press
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
Thanks and acknowledgements ç This book is dedicated to the business English group at ABB Zamech Ltd ç Poland, 1993–4. I would like to thank them for providing the in Elblag, inspiration for many of the activities in this book and for their enthusiasm and patience as my guinea pigs. I have been incredibly lucky to have the support of a number of people whilst writing this book, so would like to thank Sarah Almy for her vision, limitless patience, clear and practical guidance and encouragement; to Tina Ottman for her good humoured and careful copy editing; to Jayshree Ramsurun for taking the book through pilot stage and for keeping the project well on course; to Sally Searby for steering the book safely through to publication; to Olive and Jim Cordell for unstinting practical advice, support and love and to Sean Cordell and Helen Krawczyk for advice on culinary matters; finally to Colin Bagnall for his inspired artistic work with the group mentioned above when he visited us in Poland. Thanks and acknowledgements are also due for the following activities:
Intonation dictation This activity is inspired by an introduction to teaching intonation given during my initial training by the wonderful teacher, Martin Parrott.
Testing each other This activity is based on a favourite teaching technique of my stalwart colleague at the College of North West London, Richard Oakes. I thank him both for this idea and for many other useful ones. The author and publishers would like to thank the following individuals and institutions for their help in piloting and commenting on the material and for the invaluable feedback which they provided: Maria Cristina Brieba, Instituto Chileno Británico, Santiago, Chile; Moira Hotz-Hart, Swiss Telecom, Bolligen, Switzerland; Veronica Lee, British Council, Hong Kong; Glen Penrod, Samsung Human Resources Development Center, Korea; Jane Ross, Korean Register of Shipping, Daejeon, Korea; Tess Pacey, International House, Paris, France; Roy Gooding, Centum, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Professor Suchada Nimmannit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; John Crowther-Alwyn, Assimilation, France; Angela Winkler, Germany; Nicky Pierre, Germany; Jioanna Carjuzaa, University Of Pennsylvania, USA; Carolyn Heard, Martha Bordman, Joan Friedman, American Language Institute, New York University, USA; Kevin McNally, Hampstead School of English, UK. The author and publishers are grateful to the following photographic Sources: Burgum Boorman, V.C.L/Nick Clements, Digital Vision, Richard Radstone, Stephen Simpson, and Nick White.
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
Map of the book Introduction, p8
Activity and page number
Level
Business/ social function
Language focus
Timing
Type of activity
One-to-one
Unit 1: Finding out about your students 1.1 Four skills needs analysis
Lowerintermediate
Discussing English language needs
Asking questions
30–40 minutes
Groups of four
Possible if adapted
Intermediate (adaptable for other levels)
Describing yourself
Adjectives and their antonyms
40 minutes
Individual then group
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Describing English ability
Modals of ability
35–45 minutes
Individual and small groups
Yes
Midintermediate
Getting to know someone
Second conditional
50–55 minutes
Pair
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Finding out about new people
Question forms
30–40 minutes
Whole class
No
Lowerintermediate
Formal introduction and polite interruption
Polite greetings and question tags at higher levels
10–30 minutes (depending on level)
Whole class
Possible if adapted
Lowerintermediate
Socializing at a business lunch
Polite requests, enquiries and suggestions
70–90 minutes
Small group
Possible if adapted
Pre-/Midintermediate
Recognizing common social exchanges
Basic social questions and answers
12–15 minutes
Pairs and small groups
Yes
Elementary, preintermediate
Asking basic questions
Question forms
35–35 minutes
Class and pair
Yes
p9 1.2 This is me
p12 1.3 Graph skills analysis
p14 1.4 Personality scales
p16 1.5 Identity swap
p19
Unit 2: Socializing in English 2.1 Introducing yourself and others
p20 2.2 Restaurant board game
p23 2.3 Question and answer Pelmanism
p28 2.4 Asking questions
p30
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
Unit 3: Using the phone 3.1 A telephone maze
Midintermediate
Telephoning
Enquiring and checking
30–35 minutes
Class and pair
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Telephoning for a variety of purposes
Telephone language
40–60 minutes
Groups of four
No
Intermediate
Dealing with angry and impolite callers
Rude and tactful language on the phone
20–40 minutes
Cross-class pairs
Yes
Intermediate/ upperintermediate
Recognizing register in letters
Letter language/ register
30 minutes
Pairs or threes
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Discussing someone's experience
Past simple and present perfect questions; time prepositions
35–60 minutes
Pair
Yes
Intermediate/ upperintermediate
Recognizing errors in a business letter
Error correction
30–45 minutes
Pair
Yes
Lower-/ upperintermediate
Organizing a business letter
Using conjunctions
12 minutes or 22–37 minutes with extension activity
Whole class
Possible if adapted
Elementary intermediate Upperintermediate
Writing a memo/fax after scan and skim reading
Language of faxes and memos
E 75–90 minutes; I/U 45–75 minutes
Individual and pairs
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Arranging times to meet
Time expressions with present continuous
20–30 minutes
Small group
Possible if adapted
UpperIntermediate
Reaching a decision
Agreeing and disagreeing; giving and discussing opinions
30–60 minutes
Individuals, pairs and fours
Possible if adapted
p33 3.2 Phone quartets
p36 3.3 What not to do
p39
Unit 4: Business writing 4.1 Formal or informal?
p41 4.2 Writing a CV
p45 4.3 A letter to correct
p47 4.4 A group letter
p50 4.5 Keeping it brief
p53
Unit 5: Making decisions 5.1 Bingo diaries
p58 5.2 Napoleon's decisionmaking
p64
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
5.3 How shall we market it?
p67 5.4 A meeting
Mid-intermediate Intermediate Advanced
Discussing how to market a product
Agreeing, disagreeing and reaching a group decision
75–90 minutes
Small group
Possible if adapted
Upperintermediate
Holding a meeting
Agreeing, disagreeing, asking for and giving opinions
60 minutes
Group
Possible if adapted
Upperintermediate
Negotiating
First and second conditionals
30 minutes
Whole class
Yes
Midintermediate
Recognizing the other party's position in a negotiation
The language of negotiating
60–80 minutes
Pair
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Predicting future changes
Will/ going to
20–40 minutes depending on size of class
Whole class
Possible if adapted
Intermediate Upperintermediate
Describing a company's development
The language of change
30 minutes
Small group and pair
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Describing a line graph
The language of change
35–45 minutes
Pair
Yes
p71
Unit 6: Negotiating 6.1 Conditionals in a negotiation
p73 6.2 Someone else's shoes
p75
Unit 7: Describing change 7.1 The crystal ball game
p80 7.2 A company's progress
p81 7.3 Graph dictations
p84
Unit 8: Describing companies and jobs 8.1 Describe an organigram
Intermediate+
Describing company structure
Position, relative position
50–80 minutes
Whole class
Yes
Intermediate
Describing and speculating
Agreeing and disagreeing plus modals
30–40 minutes
Pairs and threes
Possible if adapted
Elementary
Describing a work routine
Modals of possibility
35–55 minutes
Pairs
Yes
Upperintermediate
Organizing a process description
Instructions
45–60 minutes
Whole class and group
Yes
Midintermediate
Marking the stages of a process with key words
Cohesive and referential words
85–120 minutes
Pair
Possible if adapted
p87 8.2 Talking pictures
p88 8.3 My working day
p91
Unit 9: Describing processes 9.1 A roof over your head?
p93 9.2 The process jigsaw
p95
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
Unit 10: Making comparisons 10.1 The best offer
p99 10.2 Selling yourself
p103
LowerUpperintermediate
Agreeing, disagreeing and persuading
Comparatives and superlatives
60–80 minutes
Small group
Possible if adapted
Preintermediate Intermediate
Describing yourself and preparing for interview
Comparatives and superlatives
30–40 minutes
Individual and pair
Yes
20–30 minutes
Pair
Yes
Unit 11: Pronunciation 11.1 Intonation patterns p105
All
Appreciating the effects of different intonation
11.2 A phonemic phone call p107
Intermediate
Recognizing the order of a business call
The IPA
20–30 minutes
Pair or whole class
Possible if adapted
11.3 Strong or weak?
Intermediate
Recognizing weak forms
Describing a procedure
45 minutes
Threes
Yes
p109
Unit 12: Giving feedback to your students 12.1 A memo to your students p113
Any
Giving feedback
Depends on language used by students
15–20 minutes
Individual and group
Yes
12.2 Pairs to compare
Any
Error recognition
Depends on language by students
10–20 minutes
Pairs
Yes
Preintermediate
Giving advice
Advice modals
45 minutes
Whole group writing
Possible if adapted
Midintermediate
Expressing opinions and giving advice
'If I were you ...' and advice modals
40–65 minutes
Small group
Yes
p116
Unit 13: Giving advice 13.1 When it goes wrong
p117 13.2 Business scruples
p118
Unit 14: Using numbers 14.1 Number noughts and crosses p120
Intermediate+
Using variety of numbers
Numbers
20–25 minutes
Pair
Possible if adapted
14.2 Checking the details
Preintermediate
Using variety of numbers
Numbers and using contrastive stress
15–25 minutes
Pair or teacherled whole class
Yes
14.3 Shared number dictations p124
Intermediate
Using variety of numbers
Numbers
20–30 minutes
Pair
Yes
14.4 Testing each other
Preintermediate
Using variety of numbers
Numbers and using contrastive stress
15–25 minutes
Pair or teacherled whole class
Yes
p122
p128
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Frontmatter More information
Introduction Welcome to Cambridge Business English Activities! I hope that you will enjoy using it with your students.
A Map of the book follows this introduction, giving a complete breakdown of each activity. This will be particularly useful for teachers who need to select an activity very quickly.
What is Cambridge Business English Activities? Cambridge Business English Activities is a book of 43 activities for enlivening business English classes. The activities are student-centred, highly participative and designed to complement most business English syllabi and coursebooks. As many of the activities are designed to provide students with conversation practice, they can also be used successfully with students of general English.
Who is the book for? The book can be used with both experienced business people and pre-experience learners, in a variety of learning contexts. It has been designed as a flexible resource. There are whole group, small group and pairwork activities, with information in the Teaching notes on adapting the material for different-sized groups. Using it in a one-to-one situation is also given special comment. Almost all the activities can be used with a micro group or in a one-to-one class.
Which levels can the material be used with? There are activities for elementary up to advanced levels in this book and the Teaching notes for each activity indicate the most appropriate level(s) for use. The activities foster a cooperative approach to learning that can help mixed level groups work better together. Also, the Teaching notes indicate when an activity can be adapted easily to other levels.
Using the activities The Map of the book has been divided into sections under functional headings similar to those used in many business English coursebooks so that the activities can be used alongside such books. The Teaching notes for each activity provide a clear, step-by-step description of how to carry out that activity in class, and there is a section which describes any pre-class preparation needed. Suggestions are made as to how to give feedback and, where appropriate, how to follow up the activity. As this material is designed to be as flexible as possible, a precise list of language components is not provided for each activity. However, an indication is made at the start of the notes of which language areas will be practised. The actual language used by each group of students will depend on their ability, and, to some extent, the language you choose to emphasize.
© Cambridge University Press
Class management Many of the activities in the book require the focus to be placed on the students. Be prepared to change your own position, and occasionally, to rearrange the classroom or training room to facilitate this. Ask yourself where you can stand or sit so that the students do not always feel obliged to acknowledge your presence. Also, how can the furniture be best positioned to allow for good communication, and if necessary, group changes? Initially you may find your students resistant to any sort of change in the classroom hierarchy or system, but a little physical movement in class can be very energizing and, once encouraged, most students see the benefits it can bring.
Facilities The material in this book marked © Cambridge University Press 2000 PHOTOCOPIABLE may be reproduced and can be used in any classroom with a blackboard or a whiteboard. For some activities, however, an OHP or flip-chart will enhance a particular stage of a lesson and where this is the case, advice is given in the Teaching notes. If possible, use the walls of the room in which you teach to display students' work or the results of some of the activities (e.g. the Four skills needs analysis chart, or Graph skills analysis results). If you have access to a cassette recorder and/ or video camera and VCR, you could think about using them to provide feedback.
Giving feedback Each teacher has his/her own methods for observing students' language and providing feedback on it. But if you need a few more ideas, there are two activities in the final section of the book called Giving feedback that you might like to try, and many of the activities also have a feedback stage described. Videoing or recording your students, with their prior permission of course, is a stimulating and revealing way of gathering information and means that students can participate in analyzing good use of language and their own errors. Finally, I would be delighted to get feedback from you, the teachers using the material. Please write to me at the publisher if you have any comments to make.
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Table of Contents More information
Map of the book Introduction, p8
Activity and page number
Level
Business/ social function
Language focus
Timing
Type of activity
One-to-one
Unit 1: Finding out about your students 1.1 Four skills needs analysis
Lowerintermediate
Discussing English language needs
Asking questions
30–40 minutes
Groups of four
Possible if adapted
Intermediate (adaptable for other levels)
Describing yourself
Adjectives and their antonyms
40 minutes
Individual then group
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Describing English ability
Modals of ability
35–45 minutes
Individual and small groups
Yes
Midintermediate
Getting to know someone
Second conditional
50–55 minutes
Pair
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Finding out about new people
Question forms
30–40 minutes
Whole class
No
Lowerintermediate
Formal introduction and polite interruption
Polite greetings and question tags at higher levels
10–30 minutes (depending on level)
Whole class
Possible if adapted
Lowerintermediate
Socializing at a business lunch
Polite requests, enquiries and suggestions
70–90 minutes
Small group
Possible if adapted
Pre-/Midintermediate
Recognizing common social exchanges
Basic social questions and answers
12–15 minutes
Pairs and small groups
Yes
Elementary, preintermediate
Asking basic questions
Question forms
35–35 minutes
Class and pair
Yes
p9 1.2 This is me
p12 1.3 Graph skills analysis
p14 1.4 Personality scales
p16 1.5 Identity swap
p19
Unit 2: Socializing in English 2.1 Introducing yourself and others
p20 2.2 Restaurant board game
p23 2.3 Question and answer Pelmanism
p28 2.4 Asking questions
p30
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Table of Contents More information
Unit 3: Using the phone 3.1 A telephone maze
Midintermediate
Telephoning
Enquiring and checking
30–35 minutes
Class and pair
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Telephoning for a variety of purposes
Telephone language
40–60 minutes
Groups of four
No
Intermediate
Dealing with angry and impolite callers
Rude and tactful language on the phone
20–40 minutes
Cross-class pairs
Yes
Intermediate/ upperintermediate
Recognizing register in letters
Letter language/ register
30 minutes
Pairs or threes
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Discussing someone's experience
Past simple and present perfect questions; time prepositions
35–60 minutes
Pair
Yes
Intermediate/ upperintermediate
Recognizing errors in a business letter
Error correction
30–45 minutes
Pair
Yes
Lower-/ upperintermediate
Organizing a business letter
Using conjunctions
12 minutes or 22–37 minutes with extension activity
Whole class
Possible if adapted
Elementary intermediate Upperintermediate
Writing a memo/fax after scan and skim reading
Language of faxes and memos
E 75–90 minutes; I/U 45–75 minutes
Individual and pairs
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Arranging times to meet
Time expressions with present continuous
20–30 minutes
Small group
Possible if adapted
UpperIntermediate
Reaching a decision
Agreeing and disagreeing; giving and discussing opinions
30–60 minutes
Individuals, pairs and fours
Possible if adapted
p33 3.2 Phone quartets
p36 3.3 What not to do
p39
Unit 4: Business writing 4.1 Formal or informal?
p41 4.2 Writing a CV
p45 4.3 A letter to correct
p47 4.4 A group letter
p50 4.5 Keeping it brief
p53
Unit 5: Making decisions 5.1 Bingo diaries
p58 5.2 Napoleon's decisionmaking
p64
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Table of Contents More information
5.3 How shall we market it?
p67 5.4 A meeting
Mid-intermediate Intermediate Advanced
Discussing how to market a product
Agreeing, disagreeing and reaching a group decision
75–90 minutes
Small group
Possible if adapted
Upperintermediate
Holding a meeting
Agreeing, disagreeing, asking for and giving opinions
60 minutes
Group
Possible if adapted
Upperintermediate
Negotiating
First and second conditionals
30 minutes
Whole class
Yes
Midintermediate
Recognizing the other party's position in a negotiation
The language of negotiating
60–80 minutes
Pair
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Predicting future changes
Will/ going to
20–40 minutes depending on size of class
Whole class
Possible if adapted
Intermediate Upperintermediate
Describing a company's development
The language of change
30 minutes
Small group and pair
Yes
Lowerintermediate
Describing a line graph
The language of change
35–45 minutes
Pair
Yes
p71
Unit 6: Negotiating 6.1 Conditionals in a negotiation
p73 6.2 Someone else's shoes
p75
Unit 7: Describing change 7.1 The crystal ball game
p80 7.2 A company's progress
p81 7.3 Graph dictations
p84
Unit 8: Describing companies and jobs 8.1 Describe an organigram
Intermediate+
Describing company structure
Position, relative position
50–80 minutes
Whole class
Yes
Intermediate
Describing and speculating
Agreeing and disagreeing plus modals
30–40 minutes
Pairs and threes
Possible if adapted
Elementary
Describing a work routine
Modals of possibility
35–55 minutes
Pairs
Yes
Upperintermediate
Organizing a process description
Instructions
45–60 minutes
Whole class and group
Yes
Midintermediate
Marking the stages of a process with key words
Cohesive and referential words
85–120 minutes
Pair
Possible if adapted
p87 8.2 Talking pictures
p88 8.3 My working day
p91
Unit 9: Describing processes 9.1 A roof over your head?
p93 9.2 The process jigsaw
p95
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Table of Contents More information
Unit 10: Making comparisons 10.1 The best offer
p99 10.2 Selling yourself
p103
LowerUpperintermediate
Agreeing, disagreeing and persuading
Comparatives and superlatives
60–80 minutes
Small group
Possible if adapted
Preintermediate Intermediate
Describing yourself and preparing for interview
Comparatives and superlatives
30–40 minutes
Individual and pair
Yes
20–30 minutes
Pair
Yes
Unit 11: Pronunciation 11.1 Intonation patterns p105
All
Appreciating the effects of different intonation
11.2 A phonemic phone call p107
Intermediate
Recognizing the order of a business call
The IPA
20–30 minutes
Pair or whole class
Possible if adapted
11.3 Strong or weak?
Intermediate
Recognizing weak forms
Describing a procedure
45 minutes
Threes
Yes
p109
Unit 12: Giving feedback to your students 12.1 A memo to your students p113
Any
Giving feedback
Depends on language used by students
15–20 minutes
Individual and group
Yes
12.2 Pairs to compare
Any
Error recognition
Depends on language by students
10–20 minutes
Pairs
Yes
Preintermediate
Giving advice
Advice modals
45 minutes
Whole group writing
Possible if adapted
Midintermediate
Expressing opinions and giving advice
'If I were you ...' and advice modals
40–65 minutes
Small group
Yes
p116
Unit 13: Giving advice 13.1 When it goes wrong
p117 13.2 Business scruples
p118
Unit 14: Using numbers 14.1 Number noughts and crosses p120
Intermediate+
Using variety of numbers
Numbers
20–25 minutes
Pair
Possible if adapted
14.2 Checking the details
Preintermediate
Using variety of numbers
Numbers and using contrastive stress
15–25 minutes
Pair or teacherled whole class
Yes
14.3 Shared number dictations p124
Intermediate
Using variety of numbers
Numbers
20–30 minutes
Pair
Yes
14.4 Testing each other
Preintermediate
Using variety of numbers
Numbers and using contrastive stress
15–25 minutes
Pair or teacherled whole class
Yes
p122
p128
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Excerpt More information
Business writing
53
4.5 Keeping it brief Teaching notes To practise Writing a memo or fax after skimming and scanning a text.
Potentially difficult vocabulary
Level Elementary or intermediate/upperintermediate.
You will need One copy of the appropriate level Questions (p54–5) and a Worksheet (p56–7) per student. The two sets of questions for that level on either separate OHTs or different sheets of a flipchart/poster. A newspaper or company report and a local transport timetable. Blank OHTs and non-permanent pens.
Pre-experience learners
No special preparation
needed.
Class size Two plus. One-to-one Yes. Overall timing Elementary: 75–90 minutes.
Elementary: squid,
prawns, trout, cod, pastry
Intermediate/upper-intermediate: 45–75 minutes.
Procedure 1
2
Introduce the topic of skim reading by opening the newspaper/report and flipping the pages. Ask if students sometimes do the same thing when they read a paper, to get a general idea of its contents. Give them a brief run down of the impression you receive by skimming. Now use the timetable to explain what scan reading is. Ask if students would ever read the whole thing in detail, and why not. Elicit the idea of scan reading for a select piece of information. Provide each student with a Questions sheet and a Worksheet, face down so they cannot see it. Write the first question (from A) on the board (or reveal it if you are using an OHT). Now give your students 30 seconds to check the answer by turning over their sheets and skimming the information there. Answers Elementary: 1) No (3 courses). Intermediate/Upper-intermediate: 1) Yes (good choice of meals, sports, dance and theatre).
3
Now reveal all the part A questions and provide a time limit for students to answer the ‘scan’ questions (about three to five minutes).
Answers Elementary: 2) Soup, melon, garlic mushrooms, vegetarian vol-au-vent and all desserts. 3) Fisherman’s pie or trout. 4) Cheese and biscuits/fruit salad without ice cream. 5) Squid, vol-au-vent, trout or spaghetti. Intermediate/Upper-intermediate: 2) No, VAT is excluded. 3) Single rooms, the crèche, audio-visual equipment and the conference banquet. 4) 10 basic rooms = £600 for one night. 5) £10. 6) £20. 7) 45 minutes (7.15–8.00 am).
4
When the time is up, students compare their answers in pairs, then give you feedback.
5
Tell students they now have to write an urgent memo (for elementary level) or fax (for intermediate/upper-intermediate level). It will be based on the text they have been scanning. Display Questions part B. Emphasize the time limit (30 minutes, elementary; 20, intermediate/upperintermediate). This will encourage students to scan and skim read. Students should work in pairs or threes, with one person as secretary. If possible, give students an OHT and pens so their work can be discussed with the class as soon as they have finished.
Feedback With texts written on OHT, display to the class, praise good language and invite peer/selfcorrection of errors. If the texts are on paper,
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take them in, mark and provide group feedback next session (see section on this).
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Excerpt More information
4.5 Keeping it brief
54
Questions: Elementary Part A 1 2 3 4 5
Are four courses offered on this menu? If you do not eat meat or fish, what can you eat at this restaurant? What would you ask for if you liked fish? Which is the best dessert if you do not like sweet food? If you like salad with your main course, what should you order?
Part B Writing a memo Your manager is going to have some visitors next week and wants to take them out for an informal lunch locally. She has asked you to find out what The Jolly Robin offers and send her a memo today. The memo should be as brief as possible and answer the manager’s questions:
1
The company wants to pay a maximum of £17.00 per person. How much would an average three course lunch with drinks be at The Jolly Robin?
2
Is there a reasonable choice of dishes, including at least one vegetarian option?
3
Can we book for a party of 15 people the day before? (The visitors’ schedule has to be flexible.)
Note: You have an important meeting in half an hour, so you must write this memo before then.
So for starters, that’s four melons, one without the cherry, one with a strawberry instead of a cherry …
PHOTOCOPIABLE Cambridge Business English Activities © Cambridge University Press 2000
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Cambridge University Press 0521587344 - Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for Business English Students Jane Cordell Excerpt More information
4.5 Keeping it brief
55
Questions: Intermediate/upper-intermediate Part A 1 2 3 4 5
Does the venue seem to offer a good range of catering and leisure facilities?
6
If you ordered three meals a day plus morning coffee and full afternoon tea, how much would be the catering cost per person, per day?
7
If a train arrived at Wigglington station at 7.15 am, how long would participants have to wait for the first special conference coach?
Are all prices inclusive? Which facilities do you have to book in advance? What’s the cheapest way to accommodate a group of 40 people together for one night? What’s the price difference between the cheapest twin room and the most expensive single room?
Part B Writing a fax A small group of Scandinavian employees from your Swedish and Danish subsidiaries are coming to visit next week and wish to hold a three-day conference to present ideas and information to managers from your head office. They have heard that Wigglington Hall may be suitable and have asked you to check. The leaflet from the Hall has been on your desk for over a week and now your secretary has left you this urgent message.
✆
URGENT! 10.15 am
Mr Kastrup from the Danish subsidiary called. Please send him a fax today by 12 noon. (Fax no: +45-12-348790.) He needs to know about these things: ●
Facilities for children and families
●
Single room options
●
Flexible catering or fixed meals included in price of room? (Prefers flexibility.)
●
Small meeting rooms for up to 28 people (must have audio-visual equipment and word processors).
It is now 11.30 am. You have about 20 minutes to write the fax, allowing ten minutes to send it. (The machine is sometimes busy.) Scan the leaflet for the information you want to include and write the fax.
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Worksheet: Elementary
Menu
The Jolly Robin
Starters Melon boat – half a melon with cherry and a slice of orange Cream of mushroom soup Prawn cocktail – seafood favourite with tangy mayonnaise Pâté and toast – made with lamb’s liver Garlic mushrooms – gently cooked in butter, garlic and herbs
£1.75 £1.50 £2.35 £2.00 £1.90
Main Courses Deep fried squid with chips and salad
£7.80
Steak au poivre with baked potato and two vegetables
£8.95
Shepherd’s pie – minced beef, onion and tomatoes topped with crispy mashed potato; served with two vegetables
£5.95
Fisherman’s pie – cod in a creamy sauce with mashed potato and cheese topping
£5.95
Vegetarian vol-au-vent – a mixture of fresh vegetables in a light, puff pastry case served with a large salad
£5.95
Trout with almonds accompanied by bread and butter and a green salad
£7.95
Spaghetti supreme – beef in a tomato, mushroom and onion sauce on a bed of fresh pasta; served with salad
£6.45
Desserts Double chocolate gâteau served with fresh cream Fresh fruit salad (plus ice cream, 50p extra) English trifle (sponge cake with sherry, fruit, custard and cream) Fruit sorbet – a frozen dessert made with fruit, sugar and water A selection of cheese and biscuits
£2.50 £2.35 £3.00 £2.50 £3.00
Drinks Wines ranging from £7.00 per bottle for house red or white to £20 for champagne. See wine list. Fruit juices, minerals and sparkling water
90p
Coffee
£1.10
Tea
£1.00
Herbal teas
£1.10
A full range of liqueurs available from £2.20–£3.50 each
PARTY BOOKINGS WELCOMED. (Please book at least 24 hours in advance)
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Worksheet: Intermediate/upper-intermediate
ﱨﱧ
WIGGLINGTON HALL CONFERENCE
FACILITIES
Accommodation Lecture hall (seats 300)
Minor hall (seats 50) Lecture rooms (15 available, seat 25 people) 20 twin standard* rooms for two people Four single standard* rooms Five luxury twin rooms with ensuite bathroom Two luxury single rooms with ensuite bathroom 15 basic rooms for four people sharing with washing facilities outside the room Five family rooms (double bed plus bunk beds)
Catering
£500 per day £100 per day £25 per day £40 one night £35 one night £60 one night £50 one night
£60 one night £65 one night
*Standard rooms have their own washbasin but no shower or bath. Single room provision is limited; please book well in advance. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES ARE PER ROOM, NOT PER PERSON.
Leisure Dance hall with disco facilities £300 per day
Theatre (seats 350) £600 per day Gymnasium (price includes staffing) £400 per day Use of swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi £200 per day
(All prices for one day.)
Continental breakfast Half board – breakfast and evening meal Full board – three meals per day Morning coffee Tea and biscuits Full afternoon tea (with fresh pastries) Conference special banquet (please book at least one month ahead)
per person £4.00 £9.00 £15.00 £1.50 £1.50 £3.50
£25.00
Extra facilities Coach transportation from the railway station (holds 52 persons) Arrives at the station on the hour and half-past the hour.
Half-day service (8.00 – 13.00) Full-day service (8.00 – 21.00)
£175 £400
Crèche facilities for children age three to ten years are available from 9.00 – 16.00 each day. Cost: £4.00 per child per day. MUST BE BOOKED WELL IN ADVANCE AS THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER OF PLACES.
VAT at 17.5% will be added to all bills. Audio-visual equipment may be reserved in advance at no extra charge. All room prices include supervised car parking, 24-hour security, clean linen and room service, as well as a supply of tea and coffee in all standard and luxury rooms.
ﱨﱧ
Cambridge Business English Activities © Cambridge University Press 2000 PHOTOCOPIABLE
© Cambridge University Press
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