This is a sample lesson from our upper-intermediate business English course. This book is suitable for these levels:
| TOEIC | TOEFL | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| 600 - 800 | 65 - 95 | 5.5 -7.0 |
The book covers all main language skills and general business English. More information is available on the upper-intermediate business course page.
In this lesson, you will learn how to give a short presentation as well as discuss interesting new products or services.
Move quickly to the Language section and take some time warming up with a discussion about a product or service, then introducing language using the Key Expressions box.
Let's take a look at a page from the textbook. Please start from question 7 and discuss it.
Question 7
Take your time with question 7 and guide your student by saying something like:
Let's take some time and think of an interesting product or service. Would you like to talk about business or everyday life?
By splitting the choice in half, you can gauge how serious the student is, if they want to focus on business or talk about something more fun. Everyday life products can be a smartphone, a self-driving car, or faster internet or anything the student is interested in. Take your time and chat about it. You can say:
Can you tell me in detail about it? What kind of benefits does it offer?
Key expressions
Just look at the relevant sections: Introducing/ Previewing a talk, and Explaining benefits.
Ok, I want to take a look at a couple of the key expressions in the box on the right side of the page, please just read the phrases in the first section about Introducing/ Previewing a talk. We'll choose one new phrase that you want to use.
The goal is to add a useful phrase to what the student was already talking about. Just find one new phrase in the introducing/ previewing a talk section. This should not take too long, you should have time for one more section of the Key expressions:
Ok, and let's also look at the Explaining benefits section. Can you find one new, useful phrase?
Now you should have two new phrases for the student to use.
Now, let's try giving a short presentation about [the product or service we discussed]! Please remember to use those phrases.
Ending
If the presentation goes well, then wrap up. If the student needs another chance to use the phrases and you have time to give them a chance, then let them try again, however there is no pressure to make the student produce the language perfectly. You can leave goals for the future.
Make sure you check the level:
How was that, was it too easy, too hard or in the middle?
It will almost certainly be in the middle. If not, assign another level (Intermediate or Advanced) trial lesson for the next lesson.
If it is the right level, then wrap up and make sure the student knows they are starting from the beginning next time. They also need a paper copy of the book.
Corporate clients:
I'll order your textbook now and it should be delivered to your office within a week.
Independent clients:
You need to buy the book. I'll send you a textbook order. You will get an email from The English Farm with links to Amazon, so you can buy the book yourself. Is that OK?
In both cases, ensure you give the student the PDF starter for the book so that they can start the book in the next class. The textbook starter is on the course page with all the other PDFs.