EN 2111: Business English I
Business writing: letters, memos,
faxes
· Layout and style
of business letters, opening, ending
· Reading different
business letters, faxes, and memos. Discuss merits and de-merits, the kind of
impression they give the readers. List characteristics of a good letter.
· Planning and
drafting letters / memos, emails, faxes
· Types of
activities: 1. as the marketing manager of a company write a letter to a branch
manager confirming the arrangements discussed over the phone, regarding a
meeting with the sales executives.
Jobs and careers
Applying for a job, writing a resume, covering
letter, letters of introduction and reference
Over the phone
· Making a phone
call to another company,
- Practice useful phrases in context, e.g. I’d like
to speak to…., I’m afraid he’s in a meeting / not in the office.
- Role play conversations with a partner
· Taking a message:
different ways of noting down messages,
· Ordering and
negotiating over the phone, simulations, draft a follow-up fax to the buyer
confirming your call and what you agreed on.
Placing and acknowledging an order, making /
replying enquiries
· Make enquiries about a
product over the phone, place an order, fax an acknowledgement.
· Answering
enquiries: 1. Read the advertisement about the product, 2. Prepare an answer to
an enquiry by letter / fax / phone or person.
· The following
points should be included in your reply
1. Thank the customer for the interest in your
products, 2. Say how the product is suitable for customer’s needs, 3. Say that
you are sending / giving a catalogue, price list, advertising literature, etc.,
4. Explain hoe he can get hands-on experience, 6. Offer to send samples, 7.
State the location of the distributor’s showroom near his address
Dealing with problems: complaining, apologizing
· Expressions used
to make complaints without sounding rude or aggressive, e.g. “I’m sorry to have
to say this but …” “I think you may have forgotten…”
· Apologizing, e.g.
“sorry, my fault”, “I’m very sorry I didn’t realize…”
· Replying a complaint:
situations-order has not arrived, I was charged more…, the order was for 80
boxes containing 144 items in each, Each box we have opened so far contains
only 100 items.
Job interviews
· Practice using
polite and clear speech for greeting / introducing / apologizing / asking for
information / thanking / leaving
· Read different
dialogues .Answer questions based on them. Enact them in class.
· Write a dialogue
between the applicant and the interviewer and enact it. Then reverse the roles
