Course Descriptions

American Idioms- This class focuses on understanding the idiomatic expressions that Americans use. These expressions are vitally important for doing business and functioning effectively in the workplace. Without familiarization of these idiomatic expressions, non-native speakers can easily misunderstand critical verbal and written communications. This class identifies, defines and practices these expressions. Through the process of familiarization with common business idioms, students will be able to recognize and understand them when they occur in various business situations and in written communications---and effectively incorporate them into their speech as well, if desired.

Business Conversation- The aim of this course is to improve your skills in the key areas of business communication. You will improve your fluency and build your confidence by learning to interact with native speakers in formal as well as informal business settings. We provide you with opportunities to practice your speaking skills in realistic business situations such as meetings, negotiations, telephone interactions and social situations. The course also features a strong listening component, which is designed to develop your listening skills in specific business situations. In addition to these controlled communication exercises intended to build specific skills, the course also includes open-ended activities. The activities enable you to exchange ideas about current business topics and resolve realistic business problems presented in case studies. Whether you are already in business or are planning to enter this dynamic field, this course will prepare you for any workplace-related communication challenges.

Business Conversation & Pronunciation- This class combines the high points from the Business Conversation class and the Pronunciation & Listening class. Although this class is not as in-depth as taking each class separately, this class is one of the most popular because it addresses a wide range of the most common issues that students have with American English. If you want to make quick improvements in your speaking and you are available on the weekend and/or evening schedule, this class is the one you want to take.

Business Grammar- Grammar is the essential foundation for reading, writing, and speaking English. Even English pronunciation is influenced by grammar. This course covers all the critical aspects of English grammar, including parts of speech, sentence construction, tense, voice, articles and other quantifiers, punctuation, and more. At the end of this course, you will have a solid grasp of the rules of English grammar and their applications and exceptions. The course involves much more than a teacher instructing and students passively absorbing information. All participants are expected to be active in class and to apply their newly-acquired skills to compose grammatically correct sentences. Only in this way can you make English "your" language and use it to comfortably communicate your ideas.

Business Presentations- This class focuses on developing, organizing and delivering effective oral presentations. You will practice giving presentations on a weekly basis and then review them with the instructor and other participants. You will receive individual feedback on each presentation and identify strengths and weaknesses to improve your skills.

Business Writing- In this course, you will learn why there is much more to written communication than good grammar. We will expose you to all forms of business writing including letters, reports, instructions, memos, executive summaries, e-mails to name a few. You will also learn how to organize your writing so that it flows logically and smoothly, and how to avoid wordiness, jargon and stilted language. The course emphasizes the writer's "audience" and how to craft your message to suit that audience. You will discover that technically correct English is not enough, and that the form of your writing is as important as your message.

Phrasal Verbs- You might be asking, "What are phrasal verbs and why would I need them?" Phrasal verbs are the two or three part verbs that are common in native English Conversations. They are a necessity to successfully speak and read in both formal and informal business settings. This class is designed to enhance the students' familiarity with those expressions. Students of American English must master a short list of the most prominent business-related phrasal verbs in order to converse or compete with native speakers.

Pronunciation and Listening- This course teaches you to speak to Americans in accents and rhythms that Americans can easily understand. One of the biggest problems with English pronunciation is that words are often not pronounced as they are spelled. Also, similar spellings do not always mean similar pronunciation. In this course, you will learn the rules of pronunciation and the many exceptions to these rules. You will learn how to say sentences with an English rhythm. You will also discover how the various forms of intonation can lead to critical differences in meaning. Special attention is paid to the needs and problems of individual students in both business and social situations. Particular problems faced by specific nationalities are addressed. Students receive individual attention to address their own situations.

Reading and Vocabulary- This class is designed to improve reading comprehension of business-related materials such as articles, letters and other correspondence. It is also intended to improve understanding and use of business terminology, as well as general English vocabulary. Readings are selected which target specific areas of interest and involvement of the class. The instructor and class discuss overall concepts from the material, as well as paragraph topics, the quality and variety of examples offered, and the meaning of any unfamiliar terminology. Reading assignments, vocabulary and grammatical exercises, and high-level discussions are all elements of this course.

Reading, Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrasal Verbs- This course is designed to improve your reading comprehension of business-related materials, and to build your vocabulary. You will learn how to use general English vocabulary as well as specific business terminology. You will be able to understand contemporary business literature and feel confident enough to conduct high-level discussions on current business issues. In addition, this course has a strong focus on the use of idioms and phrasal verbs commonly used in business. Non-native English speakers find these expressions to be one of the main stumbling blocks to effective workplace communication. In this class, you will become familiar with common idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs, so that you can avoid misunderstandings with native speakers. If you would like to develop your reading skills, build essential business vocabulary and learn to use common idioms and phrasal verbs, this course is for you.