COURSE
INTRODUCTION
BUSINESS ENGLISH 2
Contact information
Lecturer:
Office hours:
Room:
E-mail:
BOGLARKA KISS-KULENOVIĆ
Friday: 11:00 – 12:00
16
bogik@yahoo.com
Timetable
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Lecture: Monday, 8:15 – 9:45
Seminars:
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Wednesday, 18:00-19:30 (Pun – San)
Friday: 9:30 – 11:00 (Sao- Šip)
REQUIRED LITERATURE
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MacKenzie, I. (2010) English for Business
Studies, CUP
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Business English Resource Bank 2
(2011-12)
Print it out by next time!
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
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regular attendance
You will not get a signature if you miss more
than 3 seminars
doctor's notes or other proof of absence have
to be handed in maximum 7 days after the
class missed.
active in-class participation (home
assignments, participation in discussions);
Organise and role-play a business meeting;
passing progress tests or final exam.
TWO WAYS TO GET A GRADE
1) PROGRESS TESTING - BEFORE
REGULAR EXAM DATES
 regular attendance
 homework assignments
for signature
 Business meeting
 midterm test
 endterm test
 active in-class participation
 oral exam
2) REGULAR EXAM DATES
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regular attendance
homework assignments
for signature
Business meeting
final comprehensive written test (regular
exam period)
final comprehensive oral exam (regular exam
period)
MEETINGS
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The meetings will be held in my office during office
hours until the end of the semester
You will work with your group from the previous
semester.
Topics, agendas and role-play instructions will be
given out next time.
prepare the topic of the meeting, agenda, minutes
and roles
Hand in the agenda and minutes on the day of the
meeting.
Use class input (RB 2) on the structure and
language of meetings
Rehearse your role alone and with your team
Meetings 1
Key words: nouns
Try to explain what these words mean:
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Agenda
Minutes
Minute-taker
Memo
Venue
Key words: verbs
Find connections
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Circulate the minutes
Schedule a meeting
Take minutes
Put off a meeting
Draw up the minutes
Call a meeting
Send out the minutes
Postpone a meeting
Key words: verbs
Find connections
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Circulate the minutes
Schedule a meeting
First you take minutes
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Put off a meeting
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Send out the minutes
Call a meeting
Then you draw up the
minutes
Postpone a meeting
Downtoning: firm, but polite language
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Say please and thank you
Avoid being direct: Your prices are not acceptable
We think your prices are rather high.
Ask, rather than order: You must send it straight away.
Please could you send it as soon as possible?
Use indirect questions: Can you reduce your prices?
I was wondering if you could reduce your prices.
Avoid blaming or accusing: You’ve made a mistake
with my order.
I’m afraid there is a problem with the order.
Understate the point: There is a problem.
It seems we have a small problem.
What should you use instead of...?
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Must, should
Mustn’t, shouldn’t
It is impossible,
We can’t...
I want you to ...
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Negative adjective
(e.g., bad)
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Please could you ...?
I wonder if you could ...?
Would you mind not...?
I’m afraid we are unable
to...
I advise you to,
I suggest V-ing, I suggest
that
Why don’t we/you...
Not + positive adjective
(e.g., not good OR not so
good OR not such a good)
Downtone to following sentence:
You must reduce the price.
Make sentences by including:
 I am afraid,
may/ might,
 maybe,
I wonder if you could
 Why don’t we ...
 A little/ a bit
just
 Let’s see ...
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DOWNTONING
“You must reduce the price”
“I’m afraid the price is too high for us.”
“The price may/ might be too high for us.”
“Maybe you could reduce the price.”
“I wonder if you could reduce the price.”
“Why don’t we consider reducing the price?”
“The price is a little too high for us.”
“The price is a bit too high for us.”
“The price is just too high for us.”
“Let’s see what happens if the price is reduced.”
Making suggestions and proposals
Downtone the following sentence:
“Read the report first.”
Finish these lines:
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I advise...
I suggest V+ing/ that...
Why don’t we ...
Shall we ...
Making suggestions and proposals
“Read the report first.”
“I advise you to read the report first.”
“I suggest reading the report first.”
“I suggest (that) we should read the report first.”
“I suggest (that) we read the report first.”
“Why don’t we read the report first?”
“Shall we read the report first?”