TEACHING ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES: GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE SYLLABUS DESIGN AND MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present important guidelines for the two basic elements of Business English teaching – syllabus design and development of teaching materials. We first discuss the importance of application of the recognized Business English (BE)/English for Specific Purposes  (ESP) theoretical  achievements in  practical  terms  as a foundation for structuring syllabi and teaching materials. Then, we highlight the necessity to incorporate the corresponding language translations of terminology equivalents as well as corresponding cultural models of communication (Anglo-American vs. native). Consequently, we stress a great advantage of local textbooks over global world-wide applicable Business English textbooks. We also emphasize that it is important to design syllabi and materials in BE courses from the very beginning level to the most advanced one. Next, the “all inclusive” syllabus design principle should provide quality motivation of BE teaching concerning all language skills, communicative, scientific, functional and all other aspects of language learning at all levels. Since BE teaching and learning assumes correlation of the knowledge of the specific professional field and a foreign language, it is absolutely necessary to adjust curriculum of BE students to their professional/academic studies. Another guideline is that when preparing BE teaching materials, teachers and textbook writers should almost always use authentic sources of materials. Likewise, cooperation between linguists and experts from the particular professional field is required.