Teacher Discussion Forums

Hello, all.

I’m compiling a list of business English discussion topics and would love it if I could get some more contributions. Any ideas that relate to business or office life and that can be discussed by students in the classroom will be welcome.

These are the ones I have so far:

1. working abroad
2. business trips
3. staying in a hotel
4. office politics
5. computers at work
6. the Internet in business
7. e-commerce
8. business software
9. commuting
10. the business lunch
11. meetings
12. job interviews
13. telephoning
14. problem-solving on the job
15. international trade
16. hosting business visitors
17. negotiating deals
18. national business customs
19. teamwork on the job
20. professional development
21. starting a business / entrepreneurship
22. customer relations
23. business ethics
24. human resources
25. the future of work
26. socializing in business
27. the coffee break

Thanks,
Homer99

You have a pretty extensive list. How about something about cultural misunderstandings? Some areas of possible difficulty, and ways to discuss the subject if something happens. Sorry it was all I could think of

Some would incude:

- contract English (basic things like clauses, what they mean, and how to write a decent contract)
- labor unions
- family and work balance
- marketing techaniques

Hi Homer

How about a session based on examples of business letters offering or accepting products, or arranging meetings. You'd need to know whether your students would be dealing with North American, British or other English-speaking clients. If various, you would probably get some interesting discussion about the differing styles .
You might also cover the styles used in faxes, telex and e-mail; and it could possibly be linked with your topic on telephone conversational styles.

Cheers.

Norm.