What to teach?

TracyB · Post by **TracyB** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:28 pm

I have 2 business English classes of intermediate-ish levels and I want to make sure my students move to a more advanced level. We don't follow a text book so I want to make sure I cover the correct grammar for their level - any ideas on where to find some syllabus plans?

For example, I'd like to know exactly what grammar differentiates intermediate from upper intermediate eg, which tenses to teach etc etc...

All help gratefully received!!

T

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:42 pm

You may not follow a textbook but you really should own or have used/browsed etc several yourself, or at least be regularly referring to grammars/grammar guides to get an implicit if not explicit sense of what would seem essential and basic, then more advanced etc (apologies if you do and have found them lacking what you're looking for).

So I'd suggest you (again?) check out some BE textbooks to see how the language is ordered and related to skills and functions (not saying she is the best, but Vicki Hollet's books spring to mind...I particularly liked her In at the Deep End; I've also mentioned books relating to "gambits" (do a search here on Dave's)...then again, it's been a while since I taught BE), and also get a few general grammar books like Swan's PEU, or the Murphy Grammar in Use series (the intermediate text is just called English Grammar in Use, as opposed to Essential... (UK)/Basic... (US), or Advanced...), to fill in the gaps. But I'll try to get back to you if I remember of find anything that looks promising (am preoccupied with several other threads and posts at the moment!).

Superhal · Post by **Superhal** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:49 am

Try the ACTFL proficiency guidelines. They are freely available all over the place.

emile · Post by **emile** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:22 am

I agree with the Hamster. Even if you don't follow a book, you should have one on hand to draw audio from, unless you have another source of audio clips.

The Cambridge business English syllabus is available somewhere online and that will help you to set levels according to the CEF/ALTE framework.

Also if your class are monolingual, you may just want to focus on the problems speakers of that language have, rather than address grammar issues in general.

my site: www.roadtogrammar.com

A.Russell · Post by **A.Russell** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:17 pm

Talking about current events from a newspaper is good. For text books I use Oxford Business Venture mostly, unless they are very low level. Topic based textbooks are also good.

I am a bit like the Japanese businessmen I teach. I also like pachinko, snack bars, clubs where girls take their clothes off and that sort of thing. I am sure your topics of conversation will be quite different to mine, but just as popular.