Teaching business people (Latin American or otherwise) how to effectively use English as a medium to do their jobs is certainly a daunting task, given the high pressure result-oriented outlook of the business world. As ESL students, business people will expect that what they learn will be applicable beyond the classroom. Teaching grammar based on Biber's theory of discourse types will allow the teacher to focus on the grammar that they will need, keep materials relevant to their lives and, thus, keep them motivated to learn. For example, in this module I have chosen involved discourse as a concentration because it corresponds with the types of grammatical features which would be most useful for the students, as sales people, to know. If they are learning only the grammar that they will need to use for face to face negotiations/deal making and nothing more they will be more motivated to learn.
Teachers should consider this as a model which can be adapted to their particular situations. The module I have created will hopefully help ESL teachers take advantage of this new and growing opportunity.
Part I Information About the Students and the Program for Which This Module Is Planned |
Part III Involved Discourse and Grammar It Includes |
Part IV How is the grammar of involved discourse to be organized in this program? |
Activities Table of Contents | Glossary | Appendix: Authentic Materials | References
Table of Contents for Issue 1 | Front Cover of the Journal of English Grammar on the Web