Billie's top tips for teaching Business English classes effectively

Billie Haase is course tutor on our Teaching Business English course. In this video, she gives you some of her top tips for these classes.

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
The Business English course is designed for teachers who would like to widen their skill set in this area. Teachers with limited previous Business English teaching experience will benefit greatly from taking this course but the course also seeks to inspire more experienced Business English teachers with new and creative ideas for the in-company classroom.

WHAT WILL YOU DO ON THE COURSE?
The course is designed to take about 30 hours and you can do it over three or six weeks. You will complete three modules covering a range of topics. You will read articles, blogs and watch videos and then discuss the content with your tutor via forum discussions and live tutorials. For each module you have to complete an assignment. You can choose from a range of activities to suit your situation and experience.

HOW WILL THIS COURSE HELP YOU DEVELOP?
The course content is practical and will include ideas and material you can take and use in your classes straight away. Teaching English to company employees can require different approaches and skills to teaching General English, groups are often much smaller and usually have specific requirements relating to the contexts they will need to use English in. Many people think teaching Business English requires a specialist knowledge or experience in business. While this may be an advantage, it is by no means a prerequisite. What a Business English teacher does need to know is what makes a person a successful communicator in English.

[Sahumah]

You’re amazing, Billie. I took Business English course with you around 6 years ago but I still remember it. Thanks a lot. Was so excited when this came up while I was searching for videos on business English.

[kcchiefs]

Thank you for your great tips. Today is my first day to meet with my first clients/students. Praying all goes well... IM NERVOUS 😬 LOL

[edyoung]

Good video, Billie. Another tip: start a classroom wiki (where students can also comment on material) that the whole class/business can share and add to - track interest in subjects/modules, post files, plan projects, etc.

[zentraveler]

Ollie said to tell you hello. Thank you for this video... (new English teacher)

[slanguage]

Excellent! Very nice tips. i will apply them with Business students...

[hullcityafc]

Hi Billie - this is a useful checklist even for experienced teachers. Your number 3 which you describe as "coaching ideas" sounds very much like TBLT. Perhaps you're gently nudging teachers out of the classic book-centered PPP and into an approach that undoubtedly more closely correlates with how people really communicate in their jobs? :)

[egorbuz]

Billie, I would love to take your course at the Oxford Bcn school! Is this option available?

[ЕленаКарпенко-ъэ]

I’d like to try! Is this option available?

[SkyeAten]

You sound a bit like a South African that's been in England for a long time. Anyway, helpful vid! Thanks :)

[EN-Lingua]

I will definitely not stay in touch with students outside of class, otherwise this will be the only thing I'd be doing 😄

[pbryan]

I’m trying to figure out your accent 🤔 It sounds Australian with a blend of something else. South African maybe?