Job Discussion Forums

castlem · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 7

I've been reading a lot of posts of this board, and I appreciate all the info available. I've read some about business English, and I am hoping someone can explain the differences between conversational, academic, and business English. I want to understand the differences in material and teacher requirements so I can make wise educational choices for myself.

From what I gather, a conversation class would teach people the vocabulary and grammar necessary to have conversations on familar topics like family, weather, ordering food at a restraunt, etc. The classes would focus on conversation skills, not reading or writing. Is that about right?

In contrast, do academic classes focus more on reading and writing? Are they like a composition English class in an English-speaking country?

How do academic and business classes differ from each other? I assume you'd teach some jargon to students. Are the classes focused on speaking, or do they typically include writing business documents like resumes, proposals, memos, and the like?

I'll graduate in December with a BA in English, but my major is technical communication. My speciality is designing documents about business products and services - whether that's an internal memo or proposal, an informative brochure, a website, or other document. Do you think that type of expertise would serve students of Business English well? If so, do you think it would be better to get a master's in technical communication and a CELTA or a masters in TESOL? I'm most interested in teaching in Indonesia, Turkey, North Africa, or the Middle East.

Thanks,
Michelle

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 10:57 pm Post subject:

castlem,

Please do a search on "technical writing" in these forums. There have been several threads in which the topic came up. I'm talking about what you know of as "technical writing" and not what EFL teachers usually mean by the same term.

If you have been (or received training as) a technical communicator in the U.S., then you have the skills to teach and train in countries such as India, Singapore, Tokyo, and others where technical writing is one of the fastest-growing fields and where there are STC chapters. You can easily consult for some of the top software companies to train their writers. Forget about the CELTA route. Forget about teaching traditional "EFL" or "Business English." You can do so much better than that.

However, if you really do want to go the the countries and regions that you listed (which have virtually nothing in the way of technical communication), then a CELTA is a good first step. But don't forget about the M.A. in tech comm or TESOL. Either would be good to have.

PM me if you'd like to discuss.

castlem · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 7

PaulH, thanks for the insight into the different TEFL options.

AsiaTraveller, thank you! I took your advice and searched the forums; I read some of your other posts on the subject. I was aware that many businesses are outsourcing some technical writing work to India and Singapore. The topic comes up often in my classes and STC chapter.

It hadn't occured to me that I might be able to get a job overseas as a technical writer or teacher of technical writing. Since the point of outsourcing is to cut costs, I assumed the jobs wouldn't pay well enough. (In comparison to TEFL? What was I thinking?) And I thought that technical writing jobs in India or Singapore wouldn't be interesting technical writing jobs, but a lifetime of basic, entry-level work.

I asked about "business English" because I am more interested in teaching people how to author effective documents than I am in teaching people how to order a soda. I love technical writing, and I never wanted to give it up for TEFL, I just wanted to find a way to work outside the western world.

I am open to working in India, Singapore, Tokyo... wherever. I'm interested in the Middle East because I speak Arabic, but I'll take any good job offer. If it's okay, I'll look at tech writing job postings and get back to you by PM in the future when I have some specific questions.

Michelle

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 6:42 pm Post subject:

Sure, Michelle.

There is a significant amount of non-"entry-level" tech writing now in India and Singapore (as well as Japan). But the writers themselves have woefully little training. Most of the 'courses' that are available focus too much on authoring tools and not enough on information architecture and on good basic English expository writing skills.

I know of several Indian writers who make a very good living as consultants and trainers, working at various companies to give tech comm instruction to the writers. You could easily do the same. The rates they charge are several times those of TEFLers in any Asian country!

Check out the site of the STC-India chapter, which has links to a number of online forums (TWIN is the biggest) as well as training and education sites.

Feel free to private when you have questions.