Sources to support teaching Business English
These are some of the sources of information, activities and ideas I have used to help teach English to business students:
General Lesson Ideas
Be Here Be There - Paul Emmerson's site provides free lesson plans in four areas: introducing key areas of business, management tools, interviews with business professionals and meetings. See also his Business English Ideas Bank.
Blair English - A series of free, short, online, graded activities for students covering a variety of business related themes from general business English to sector specific vocabulary (e.g. aviation, travel and hotels).
British Council/BBC - Graded lesson plans and worksheets on the themes of socialising, meetings and negotiations.
Business English Lesson plans - A site targeted at business English trainers which provides lesson materials and ideas for a range of topics and levels.
Business English site - On-line vocabulary and grammar focussed activities (primarily aimed at intermediate to advanced students) covering a wide range of topics including sales and marketing, IT and medical English. Some listening and watching activities as well.
Cambridge Professional English On-line - Downloadable lesson plans for intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced students. Designed to use alongside the Business Advantage books or as stand alone activities.
English With Jo - A number of Business English lesson plans with topics ranging from leadership to ambition and communication. Each lesson includes and audio or visual element and the lesson plans include relevant vocabulary and/or expressions for the topic.
English is a Piece of Cake - A small number of Business English lesson plans covering presentations, emotional intelligence and business ethics.
EnglishTest.net - On-line short Business English vocabulary tests at elementary, intermediate and advanced level.
LinguaHouse.com - A series of graded lesson plans, many including audio files. Some are free but the majority are for subscribers only.
Macmillan Business In Company Worksheets - An archive of pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper intermediate lesson plans from the In Company series. Includes student worksheets and teacher notes.
Teach Them English - Best free resources for...Business English - Links to free e-books, bogs and articles about Business English
Listening Activities
BBC Podcasts - The Bottom Line with Evan Davies - a series 30 minute programmes suitable for Advanced and Proficiency level students featuring interviews covering a variety of business topics.
British Council/Learn English - Short (less than five minute) podcasts or videos in three sections: Business/Work themes such as complaining, change management etc, a Business Magazine and "You're Hired" recruitment videos. Transcripts are included alongside on line tasks.
Business English Podcast lessons - Advanced level podcasts covering a wide range of topics from crowdfunding to participating in conferences. Some of the study notes and lesson plans are only available to paying subscribers.
Business Guru interviews - Archived page from BBC/Learning English but the content is still relevant! A series of 12 interviews with management gurus (including Bill Gates, Peter Drucker, Tom Peters etc). Worksheets are also included. Audio files are in .ram but can easily be converted.
Sector and Job Specific Lessons
English for the Hospitality and Catering Industry - On-line vocabulary activities for the following areas: food and beverage, hotels and travel and tourism.
English for Logistics - Worksheets and resources for teaching vocabulary for the logistics sector.
English for Human Resources - Worksheets and on-line vocabulary activities for roles in Human Resources.
Topic Specific Business English Lessons
Communication Styles - An Upper intermediate lesson plan to raise awareness of different communication styles and how they affect behaviour.
Metaphors linking sport and business - A nice "warmer" activity for those who like sport which looks at some common language between business and sport.
Teaching Charisma - A lesson plan looking at presentation styles and charisma
Team Building Activities - Not specifically Business English but great for generating conversation and debate in business classes.
And don't forget YouTube! There are hundreds (probably thousands) or short videos to introduce vocabulary and generate discussions such as this one on Team Building.
General Lesson Ideas
Be Here Be There - Paul Emmerson's site provides free lesson plans in four areas: introducing key areas of business, management tools, interviews with business professionals and meetings. See also his Business English Ideas Bank.
Blair English - A series of free, short, online, graded activities for students covering a variety of business related themes from general business English to sector specific vocabulary (e.g. aviation, travel and hotels).
British Council/BBC - Graded lesson plans and worksheets on the themes of socialising, meetings and negotiations.
Business English Lesson plans - A site targeted at business English trainers which provides lesson materials and ideas for a range of topics and levels.
Business English site - On-line vocabulary and grammar focussed activities (primarily aimed at intermediate to advanced students) covering a wide range of topics including sales and marketing, IT and medical English. Some listening and watching activities as well.
Cambridge Professional English On-line - Downloadable lesson plans for intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced students. Designed to use alongside the Business Advantage books or as stand alone activities.
English With Jo - A number of Business English lesson plans with topics ranging from leadership to ambition and communication. Each lesson includes and audio or visual element and the lesson plans include relevant vocabulary and/or expressions for the topic.
English is a Piece of Cake - A small number of Business English lesson plans covering presentations, emotional intelligence and business ethics.
EnglishTest.net - On-line short Business English vocabulary tests at elementary, intermediate and advanced level.
LinguaHouse.com - A series of graded lesson plans, many including audio files. Some are free but the majority are for subscribers only.
Macmillan Business In Company Worksheets - An archive of pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper intermediate lesson plans from the In Company series. Includes student worksheets and teacher notes.
Teach Them English - Best free resources for...Business English - Links to free e-books, bogs and articles about Business English
Listening Activities
BBC Podcasts - The Bottom Line with Evan Davies - a series 30 minute programmes suitable for Advanced and Proficiency level students featuring interviews covering a variety of business topics.
British Council/Learn English - Short (less than five minute) podcasts or videos in three sections: Business/Work themes such as complaining, change management etc, a Business Magazine and "You're Hired" recruitment videos. Transcripts are included alongside on line tasks.
Business English Podcast lessons - Advanced level podcasts covering a wide range of topics from crowdfunding to participating in conferences. Some of the study notes and lesson plans are only available to paying subscribers.
Business Guru interviews - Archived page from BBC/Learning English but the content is still relevant! A series of 12 interviews with management gurus (including Bill Gates, Peter Drucker, Tom Peters etc). Worksheets are also included. Audio files are in .ram but can easily be converted.
Sector and Job Specific Lessons
English for the Hospitality and Catering Industry - On-line vocabulary activities for the following areas: food and beverage, hotels and travel and tourism.
English for Logistics - Worksheets and resources for teaching vocabulary for the logistics sector.
English for Human Resources - Worksheets and on-line vocabulary activities for roles in Human Resources.
Topic Specific Business English Lessons
Communication Styles - An Upper intermediate lesson plan to raise awareness of different communication styles and how they affect behaviour.
Metaphors linking sport and business - A nice "warmer" activity for those who like sport which looks at some common language between business and sport.
Teaching Charisma - A lesson plan looking at presentation styles and charisma
Team Building Activities - Not specifically Business English but great for generating conversation and debate in business classes.
And don't forget YouTube! There are hundreds (probably thousands) or short videos to introduce vocabulary and generate discussions such as this one on Team Building.