Software Review ELLS - Business English/Meetings
Posted: Mon May 31, 2004 1:03 pm
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING SERIES
BUSINESS ENGLISH – MEETINGS
Encomium Publications, www.encomium.com
This interactive program walks students through vocabulary, phrases and idioms, relevant expressions, appropriate body language, communication strategies and cultural information encountered in a business-meeting environment. Topics include how to open and close a meeting, making a presentation, and strategies for disagreeing, interrupting, persuading and negotiating. Written transcripts accompany short video clips that can be repeated as many times as necessary until students master the concepts. Conversational multiple choice questions with sound, crossword puzzles and fill in the blanks that accompany each unit quiz student knowledge and understanding of each topic. Also included is a glossary of business terms. Students may choose to read the terms, their definition and two example sentences, or click on an icon so a voice reads it to them allowing students an opportunity to focus on pronunciation and how the words sound in a sentence. Examples of terms found in the dictionary are words such as “challenge”, and idiomatic phrases such as “hammer out the specifics” and “work through the details”.
Although the software does provide opportunities for students to interact, the format for each unit is the same and the lessons are very basic. Graphics, sound and video are used to present topics but without interactive animation. Collaborative learning is not addressed as students work through units on their own. Yet the program is well organized, easy to navigate and consistent, addressing the needs of aural and visual learners. Visual learners will also appreciate the opportunity to hear the pronunciation of words they might find difficult to sound out on their own. While a great basic program for international students interested in business meeting decorum, lessons are focused and specific to the topic. More advanced students may find the format too simplistic and boring, with no opportunity to vary the program by level or interest.
BUSINESS ENGLISH – MEETINGS
Encomium Publications, www.encomium.com
This interactive program walks students through vocabulary, phrases and idioms, relevant expressions, appropriate body language, communication strategies and cultural information encountered in a business-meeting environment. Topics include how to open and close a meeting, making a presentation, and strategies for disagreeing, interrupting, persuading and negotiating. Written transcripts accompany short video clips that can be repeated as many times as necessary until students master the concepts. Conversational multiple choice questions with sound, crossword puzzles and fill in the blanks that accompany each unit quiz student knowledge and understanding of each topic. Also included is a glossary of business terms. Students may choose to read the terms, their definition and two example sentences, or click on an icon so a voice reads it to them allowing students an opportunity to focus on pronunciation and how the words sound in a sentence. Examples of terms found in the dictionary are words such as “challenge”, and idiomatic phrases such as “hammer out the specifics” and “work through the details”.
Although the software does provide opportunities for students to interact, the format for each unit is the same and the lessons are very basic. Graphics, sound and video are used to present topics but without interactive animation. Collaborative learning is not addressed as students work through units on their own. Yet the program is well organized, easy to navigate and consistent, addressing the needs of aural and visual learners. Visual learners will also appreciate the opportunity to hear the pronunciation of words they might find difficult to sound out on their own. While a great basic program for international students interested in business meeting decorum, lessons are focused and specific to the topic. More advanced students may find the format too simplistic and boring, with no opportunity to vary the program by level or interest.