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MO39 · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:31 am Post subject: Business English text

I've just taken on a private student and have decided to use a Business English textbook with him. I have the pre-Intermediate level coursebook of a series called Best Practice, and it looks pretty good to me. Since I've never taught using a book like this before, I'd appreciate your suggestions. Have any on you used In Company or Market Leader?

Thanks for your help!

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

I have used both In Company and Market Leader. From my own exeprience, I can say that Market Leader best fits people who are very business-minded, I mean, they actually do or run a business. In Company is more of general business English with less stuff on marketing issues (and marketing language). But I have also been mixing the two books to supplement a course, too.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I`ve used Market Leader for several courses. It gets a mixed review from my students with one extremely high conversationally adept class abhorring it, while the others taking to it quite well. I, myself, find it a wonderful tool.
I do, however, find it somewhat limited as I do all the business textbooks. I would like to see a general rise in their standard and inclusion of such more technical business and economic terminology such as hedge funds, gazumping, migrants`remittances, value added taxes, GNP, etc. I have resorted to adding these words to my lesson plans as additional handouts, but I wish the textbooks would explore them more.

I would also like to see some more in depth text about exactly these matters, as many of the corporate employees are well versed in accounting, law, and international business. I`ve had to come up with my own lesson plans for lawyers with words such as nolo contendere, juror, indictment, arrest, conviction, etc.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

I currently use In Company for one class which I really like, having been a fan of Inside Out - about the only tolerable coursebook.

I find Market Leader a bit dry, especially the lower levels. I don't know why they bother writing low level business books.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I've always enjoyed Market Leader. I find a lot of flexibility within it to adapt to the needs of different companies and student occupations. I don't like the audio to it though, and frequently ditch it.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

If you still haven't decided MO39, 'Attitude', although not a business text isn't too bad for the well-rounded lexical approach.