Product Description

The Business English Handbook is a new advanced level business language reference and practice book for professional adults seeking to refine their Business English. It is ideal for professionals who want a practical reference book for revision purposes, and for business students studying at university and college. The accompanying Audio CD features material taken from authentic interviews with European business professionals.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #196080 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Customer Reviews

Very good for both self study and teaching, but specialist chapters mean it can't be everything to everyone
This is a book that I have had constant use for ever since it was published in 2007. It's one of the rare books that I've yet to get bored of using, though it must be said that the truth is that I only use about a third of it, for reasons that will become obvious. The book is for advanced level students, though the very useful spidergrams or mind maps can be used with even intermediate level clients.

It's split into three sections. The first two are 12 units long each, the final section being 10 interviews with worksheets which can be listened to on the accompanying CD or read in the tapescript.

The first 12 units cover different business sectors, not general Business English, some of which are very specialised. For my work, these are not so useful, as I teach in London where accountant clients of mine already know 'Capital Expenditure' & 'EBITDA' - if they didn't, they wouldn't be working for PWC or KPMG. However, it can be fun to see how they do, because often there will be at least one moment of surprised delight when they come across a term that has been misunderstood by them for years.

These are the opening 12 chapters.

1.Industries and companies
2.Globalization and economic policy
3.Corporate strategy and structure
4.Managing people
5.Operations management
6.Production
7.Marketing strategy and product development
8.Distribution and promotion
9.Accounting and financial statements
10.Financial markets
11.Human resources
12.Information and communications technology

You can see that they are very specialised. Each chapter follows the same format (though some chapters are longer than others):

Introductory page with context for the subject / topic in question (this is something often missed in other books), with some exercises for general understanding
Mind map / spidergram (very good for vocabulary development)
A couple of pages of standard learning exercises, but quite challenging for anyone not familiar with the language

It's in the second section that the book really comes into it's own, however. The layout is the same. If I give you the chapter headings here, you'll see what I mean.

13.Trends, graphs and figures
14.Presentations - structure and key phrases
15.Presentations - being lively and persuasive
16.Discussions
17.Social English and cultural awareness
18.Style - clarity and emphasis
19.Style - politeness and softening
20.Developing an argument - linking words 1
21.Developing an argument - linking words 2
22.Developing an argument - linking words 3
23.Writing paragraphs
24.CV (resume) / Job interview

This section is packed with useful phrases and language. The Mind maps / spidergrams are worth the money themselves, and the practice exercises help to give some context.

The interviews at the back at similar in subject area to the first section, there is are interviews with a marketing director and another with an auditor, for example. Much can be made of these from both a teaching and learning perspective. In fact, they are some of the most realistic interviews I've heard in the sector, they are of a good length and cut deep into the language. Any teacher who knows their stuff will be able to exploit these to the full.

This is not a big book, so it can be said that there is not enough practice, and it must be admitted that the 'Speaking Practice' at the end of final page of each section does seem like an afterthought. However, overall this can't just be considered a work book, it is also an exercise book. I know for a fact that there are many working in London today who have the mind maps / spidergrams pasted up by their computer.