Below is a sample class report from the Business English Program.

Student: Ishida san

Program: Business English

Class: Business Meetings 1

Pronunciation

In this section, get explanations, demonstrations & images from your teacher to help you master challenging sounds. Your teacher writes down your pronunciation mistakes, reviews them in class, and again at the beginning of the next class.

Pronouncing the R:

Speakers often mistakenly pronounce an [L] sound instead of an [r] sound. To produce [r] sounds, make sure that the tongue is curled up toward the roof of your mouth. Make sure that the tip of the tongue never touches the upper gum ridge. Make sure the lips are in a square shape.

Pronouncing the L “consonant”:

To pronounce [L] sounds, remember to press your tongue tip against your upper ridge (behind your top front teeth).

VOCABULARY

In this section, your teacher writes all newly learned words, idioms, slang, expressions & technical language from the class, usually totaling 10-15 new words & phrases from the class tasks & activities.

Agenda - A list of things to be done, especially at a meeting.

Get the show on the road - (idiom) Means to start or begin an activity. For example, now that everyone is here in the conference room, let’s get this show on the road.

Long-winded – (idiom) An adjective describing a person who likes to speak for a long time. For example, he was a very long-winded speaker –or- That was a long-winded speech.

Teleconferencing - A conference involving people who are in different locations that is made possible by the use of telecommunications equipment.

Postpone - To delay or cancel something (for example, a meeting) until a later time or date.

To chair a meeting - To be responsible for a meeting; to supervise a meeting.

Board meeting - Executive meeting; meeting of executives.

Rambling - Not keeping to the topic; going from one subject to another.

Stick to the topic - (phrase) Remaining focused; keeping to the same topic.

Timekeeper - A person who keeps track of the time (at a meeting for example).

Minutes - The official record of what was discussed at a meeting, committee or other event.

Put off – (phrasal verb) To postpone.

GRAMMAR

In this section, your teacher will write your grammar mistakes, corrections & explanations. Use these points correctly in sentences & class activities and review & practice it later to greatly improve your English when speaking in conversation or at work.

Teacher’s Corrections

The meaning of the meeting - The goal/purpose of the meeting.

People who attend a meeting - Attendees.

Say an opinion - Express an opinion. (More natural choice)

She has working for 5 years– she has been working for 5 years (we use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now).

That customs - Those customs.  (This/that + single) (These/those+plural)

A convenient time to you - A convenient time for you.

We will call the meeting – We will call off the meeting. (phrasal verb - to cancel)

If I have $1million, I will… – If I had $1 million I would … (2nd conditional)

The meeting postpone - The meeting is postponed.

The Monday are always busy - Mondays are always busy.

To communicate other people - To communicate with other people.

The meeting held - The meeting is held. (Passive form)

I need to make clear something – I need to clarify something.

I haven’t attend the meeting in a while - I haven’t attended a meeting in a while  (we use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now)

We have to pay by oneself - We have to pay for it ourselves.

I’m assistant manager - I’m the/an assistant manager. (article)

If I had went on time – If I had gone on time. (past perfect)

The most my project - Most of my projects.

Some foreigner - Some foreigners. (some + plural or uncountable nouns)

He said the manager - He told the manager. (See tip below)

TIPS & ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

This valuable section is where the teacher offers professional advice after reflecting on the class. These tips & new language points are specifically provided to correct your exact mistakes and meet your higher needs. These tips teach only what you need and only what benefits you the most.

Grammar Tips

When to use ‘tell’ and ‘say’:

You tell someone something or you say something to somebody.

Example: ‘Tell’ is followed directly by the person you are talking to (I told the manager already). ‘Say’ is not followed by the person you are talking to (I said the accounts were past due).

Meeting Tips

1. Adjust the size of your hand gestures. Make larger hand gestures when speaking in a large room and smaller hand gestures when speaking in a smaller room with fewer people.
2. Speak slower and use more pauses to show stress or importance of something. Try using rhetorical questions more and pausing before giving the answer. It is a powerful technique.
3. Use eye contact with others when speaking in small groups or even to large audiences, but do not look right into their eyes the whole time; look just above and below their eyes sometimes.

HOMEWORK /SELF-STUDY: (OPTIONAL)

This section is where you practice & expand on what you learn, get more resources and continue to grow outside of class. Serious students can possibly double their learning experience by following the daily self-study recommendations.

1. Practice using new language & techniques and present a short 2-5 minute presentation in our next class, using our power point meeting slides.
2. Try writing a sentence using each new vocabulary word and we can check your grammar and understanding in our next class. Or write a memo, email or report using the new language.
3. Write a list of your 20 most commonly used L words and bring to class for a pronunciation practice.
4. Practice pronunciation points in front of a mirror or web camera before our next class.