Hi Sahar,

 That's a really interesting question. I just wanted to add, in case  some are not already familiar with them, two links realted to the Common European Framework: Overall general ability and Work typical abilities, the latter being particularly helpful for business English.

Lookng forward to reading what people think abou using the framework.

 Carl

Hi Sahar and Carl,

I agree this is a worthwhile issue to raise. Honestly, this is the first time I hear about CEF. The reason is simple - methodology of teaching English in Russia is a little bit different, and we need still to borrow a lot of experience worldwide. That's why it was very helpful of Carl to provide the links ! Personally I find such a framework not only important, but necessary in ELT. This helps to bring the knowledge to one standard what will be really beneficial at the end. And based on that teachers can know exactly their aims for any course, that lightens the burden as well. I also agree with Carl that Work typical abilities are suitable for BE teaching, and at the same time I support Sahar about the need for developing a separate framework for teaching BE.

If there is a certain framework, it is easier as well to select the right textbooks for the courses. I am sure the outline from the textbooks is not enough, there should some general independent main aims set which all teachers should strive to reach.

The question about the texbooks is very extensive, and could cover a separate thread. Should we do it?

Anastasia

Hi Carl and Anastasia, We have been using the CEF learning aims for the last 3 years and students find them very motivating to enhance their language skills. Just like Russia, teaching Business English in Egypt is not that popular and students confuse between English for business and business studies. That is why we have adapted a rough learning aims guide based on the course book we are using. I must say that it's not very thorough or accurate as it has links to pages to skills in the course book and some extra supplementary material.

Thank you Carl for the links, they can make very good guidelines. After having a look at them, I think it will be a good project to start by studying the main topics in Business and replacing the listening/ speaking section into a soft skills section. By this I mean, instead of”can keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics, such as personal and professional experiences", We can use" can negotiate a small project; can give a mini presentation on his company, etc. This would incorporate all the language skills into a business format like simulations, case studies.

I strongly believe that by having a clear framework, in addition to the needs analysis, this will lead to a very healthy, efficient, functional and truer to life course.

I agree with you Anastasia, a new thread is needed for course books and supplementary resources. 

Cheers,

Sahar

Hi Sahar!

In India we are using the CEF as a benchmarking tool for the outsourcing industry. We have developed a quick speaking test for candidates applying for call centre jobs. candidates are tested against CEF descriptors for accuracy, fluency, interaction and pron. To determine the level they need to get a job, we profile the call centre job by shadowing agents and looking at customer feedback. We have found that mapping the job to CEF and testing against it is a very effective way to ensure best fit hiring for the employer. As most of the clients are UK companies, they are already aware of the CEF framework and can easily relate to it.

Are you going to Cardiff?

Stephen  

Hi All,

If we take Business English   as  knowledge  which we should teach others I think in that case we should take the general methodoly of teaching English:speaking,reading,writing, listening and language aspects as qrammar, phonetics,lexis, only we should pay attention to specific lexis connected with economics. The question is whom I teach:students of Economic Department, who know economics ,but don't know how  to pronounce these words or students of the Department of English language who know  English language and lexis connected with economics but  don't know the essence of these words and area of their using.

Teaching Business English is also no popular in Kazakhstan, but I hope globalization and market economy make  teaching BE popular in future.

I should like ask ,what kind of themes ( taxation, income or presentation,meeting- syllabus) do you take for BE in Economic Department  and for English Department?

Look forward to your recomendations