Resources for ESP:

Collated items from Learning Circles at UoNUK:

A1.
Free lessons & courses:
http://www.english-online.org.uk/specialcourse.htm?
name=biz&link=bizcourse.htm Here are some free Business Studies Courses in 3
areas: investing, marketing and the office.
http://www.business-english.com/ Through this website, we can ask for free
business English lessons sent by email.
Materials on-line:
http://www.businessenglishonline.net/index.htmMacmillan Business English:
There are a variety of resources for teaching Business English (some of the
materials are free). It also provides courses for Business English.
http://eleaston.com/biz/bizhome.html This website gathers various useful links
in different areas of Business English, such as accounting, advertising,
bankruptcy. It is also divided into reading, writing, listening, speaking, quizzes
and teaching of Business English parts so that learners can get the resources they
want easily.
http://beo-businessenglishonline.wikispaces.com/ This is a wide selection of
online resources to help learners with their business English. It also contains
audio-visual materials, chat room, game room, etc., which create a comfortable
study environment and could thus improve learners motivation.
( the two websites actually includes innumerable websites about business
English.)
Test:
http://www.english-test.net/ Various tests and explanations for elementary level,
intermediate level and advantage level are available on this website.

Resources as supplements
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?menuId=242&menuItemId=1&view=SUMMARY&grid=F2&siteId=1&targetRule=2 This website could be used
as a resource of extensive reading.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/popup/ttv/business.jhtml;jsessionid=LLQWOH
1TFRDGZQFIQMGSFFOAVCBQWIV0 telegraph TV video (rather visual and close to
our daily life) In this way, learners could get in touch with more up-to-date
information. Personally speaking, I like this way of learning best because it trains
us not only listening, but also reading (on screen). But this is perhaps only for
advantage level learners.

S1:
Case study approach to business English teaching (Reference?)
Case study was first adopted by Harvard business school. Its success as a
teaching method results in popular use in other disciplines. ESP instructors have
used this method in teaching business English for decades.
Case study involves problems and decisions that companies face. It connects
English language learning and business reality.
Benefits:
1) authentic materials are being used
2) develop students communication skills
3) improve their interpersonal and teamwork skills
4) develop their analytical , problem solving and decision making skills
5) give students ample opportunities to develop their reading, speaking, listening,
writing skills
Problems:
1) lack of materials available with second language emphasis
2) require knowledge of business concepts
3) make lesson planning a challenge

D:
http://www.world-english.org/business-index.htm
Generally speaking, this website is very helpful and practical, because it has
separated business English into several main elements; and the exercises enable
learners to reinforce their understanding of business English. For example, the
business letter has shown a very clear structure, and particular ways of
addressing men and women have been illustrated clearly. On the other hand, the
example of CV is also very practical because it not only explains the basic
information about CV, but also shows the sample of CV. The last example of
writing a cover letter is also very clear like other examples in this website,
because it enables learners to follow the clear guidance to write their own cover
letter step by step. Therefore, I think this website is very useful and practical for
business English learners.
M1:
ELT Journal, 62, 2008; Diana Eastment, Business English (offers many useful
sites for teaching business English)
ELT Journal, 60, 2006; Bill Reed, Business English CD-ROMS
ELT Journal, 59, 2005, pp 156-176 (offers a number of business English
texbooks, emphasizing MacMillan material)
www.asian-esp-journal.com Vol 1, june 2006; Mansour Arvani A discourse

analysis of business letters written by Iranians and native speakers (describes in

detail steps how to write and what to include into a letter).
Asian ESP Journal, December 2005, vol 1; Z. N. Patil Oral presentation skills for
prospective business executives
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business (extremely useful,
contains lesson plans with listening practice sections, negotiations, presentations,
telephoning, meetings etc). Internet TESL Journal, vol XI, no 4, April 2005;
(http://iteslj.org/Techiques/Clifton-Business.html) Jonathan Clifton Using
authentic business transcripts in the ESL classroom Internet TESL Journal,vol IX,
no 12, December 2003;
(http://iteslj.org/Tecniques/Lau-Businesscommunication.html ) Ken Lau,
Teaching business English communication to LEP students Internet TESL
Journal, vol IX, no 10, October 2003;
(http://iteslj.org/Tecniques/Adamson-Frameworking ) John Adamson
Frameworking in Business English
http://www.eslgold.com/business/textbooks.html (offers good suggestions for
textbooks and many useful links)
http://www.englishclub.com/business-english/presentations.htm
http://www.better-english.com/exerciselist.html
http://www.businessenglishpod.com (useful podcasts)
S2:
Online material for Business English Study
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/: a good website for
career-adults. The content is based on real life events, but in a more traditional
way: listening to authentic dialogues and work out what is happening in the
dialogue.
http://www.englishclub.com/business-english/index.htm : includes sample
business letters, presentations, cv and covering letters. Negotiation skills,
language use for meetings and business vocabulary are also available for
learners. Moreover, learners can easily get to know business news around the
world and UK business through browsing this webpage.
http://businessenglishpod.com/ : a very good website which has got various
authentic and up-to-date business topics to try your listening out! Transcripts are
available.
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/professional-english/bec.html: one of the
important issue business English teacher and learners should be aware of is the
cross-cultural working environment most business learners are facing or will face.
And BEC will help you to use the English in an appropriate way in a multinational
business context. BEC examination has getting worldwide popular, we can find a
great number of websites relate to this area. This is the official one to look at.
http://www.economist.com/business/: Learners should also be familiar with the
general knowledge about business itself, e.g. business events, latest legislations;

and so on. The website of Economists is also a good place to get to know the
latest business news around the world.
http://www.asian-esp-journal.com/key_word_index.php: it is a useful website
from which you can find very interesting articles with regards to teaching
business English in Asian countries, history and future prospect of esp
development in those countries, business English teachers, course design etc.
A2:
Journal articles:
Maggie, J. (1996) Business is Booming: Business English in the 1990s. English for
Specific Purposes Vol. 15 (1).
The book focuses on how to communicate with people from different countries.
Jenkins, S and Hinds, J (1987) Business Letter Writing: English, French, and
Japanese. TESOL Quarterly Vol. 21(2).
Online materials:
British Council learn English professional
http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-business-and-work.htm
BBC Learning English-business English
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/
Business English Learning
http://www.nonstopenglish.com/allexercises/business_english/
Business English examination:
TOEIC: www.toeic.com
C1:
Coursebooks & guide books:
English for Business Purposes (Reference?)
The book is for advanced level. There are a great amount of activities but few
listening practice.
English for Business Communication (Reference?)
This book is more practical and suitable for managers.
Five Minutes Activities for Business English (Reference?)
There are a considerate amount of activities and can be a guide for teachers to
adopt.

C2:
Website:

http://www.eslgo.com/classes/business/
The website tries to help students to learn business English grammar, vocabulary,
and communication.
http://www.teneric.co.uk/free_downloads.html
The website shows some business plan template and marketing plan template.
Take a look at these business marketing plan template tools and get the ideas of
what business planning is about and what you need to do to before your start
doing a business plan for your organisation.
M2:
Coursebooks & guide books:
Business Grammar and Practice (Reference?)
The book contains presentations, practice and production. It is suitable for
both teachers and students. In addition, the arrangement of the book is from
easy to difficult and students can choose what meets their needs.
Business English (Reference?)
The book includes background knowledge of business English.
Business English examination:
The Business Language Testing Service (BULATS)
The exam integrates listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. The
BULATS Tests provides a range of tests to meet different needs.
Cambridge Business English Certificate (BEC)