Teaching High Level Lexis to Business English Learners

Resource centre - Business English - High Level Lexis

Do business English students need phrasal verbs, metaphorical and idiomatic language, and the full range of lexis used by native speakers? Sue Swift suggests an authentic materials based approach to introduce high level lexis to business English learners.

Do business English students need phrasal verbs, metaphorical and idiomatic language, and the full range of lexis used by native speakers? Many learners will use English predominantly as a lingua franca to speak to other non-native speakers : for example, the German sales representative on a business trip to China, or the Italian civil servant at an EU meeting with Norwegian, Dutch and Hungarian counterparts. The English used in these situations will differ radically from that used by native speakers, and in particular will involve a far more restricted range of lexis. One might argue therefore that these learners have no need of the extended lexical range used in Britain, America, Australia and so on, and that these features can be excluded from our teaching.

However, if the students are in frequent contact with native speakers – for instance if they are working for an American multinational or take frequent business trips there – then the situation changes. They may not need these expressions productively, but they will almost certainly need them receptively. And even learners whose main contact is with other non-native speakers may still want to read the business press, for instance The Financial Times or The Economist, or to follow the business news on international channels such as CNN or BBC World.

These publications and TV channels, despite being intended for an international audience, use idiomatic, metaphorical etc English frequently. Here are a few examples of expressions etc that I heard being used within fifteen minutes in the BBC World business news one night:

And looking at an article chosen at random from the Financial Times’ website this morning, you find:

How should we deal with this type of language in the classroom? There are various things to keep in mind:

1. For all but the most advanced students, this type of language is far more useful receptively than productively, and can be left on a receptive level. This does not mean, however, that it can be introduced once and then forgotten. Each expression will need to be recycled a number of times if it is to be assimilated.


2. The number of expressions of this type is enormous, and we are never going to be able to cover them all. An approach which, at the same time as teaching them, allows students to develop the ability to infer their meaning from context is likely to be far more useful than a “Here’s the explanation, now memorise it” type of approach.


3. Where meaning is metaphorical (for example, as in the use of trim or set the bar too high above), understanding literal meaning can help the students infer the meaning in the specific context in which the expression is used.


4. Where the meaning of the words is opaque (fend off, peter out, up to scratch), meaning can be inferred only if there are sufficient clues in the context itself;


5. Some expressions will have a high frequency in business English – a good example is the range of expressions used to describe trends. Looking at the second article on today’s FT website, you find amongst others : recover, edge higher, rally, gains were slim, and topped. However, others will be drawn from more general English, and are therefore likely to be less predictable – for example, up to scratch or to spell out.

An approach based on frequent use of authentic materials can help with the introduction of this type of language. If items are high frequency they will naturally occur regularly, while the materials will also contain a more random selection of other, more general expressions. The materials used can be kept short. If you use the BBC business news, for instance, it’s not necessary to use the whole fifteen minute programme – you could just focus on one or two items. If your materials are on video, you can obviously prepare in advance, but even if you want to watch live with the student, you can also semi-prepare. One of the best things about BBC World is that the news is repeated constantly, and though the speakers are live the script remains more or less the same. It’s therefore possible to watch an item, take notes of the language and decide how you want to present it, then watch it live with the student a couple of hours later. I do this frequently with my one-to-one students, and have only once been caught out – an important story broke in the time between my preparation and the lesson, and changed the content of the programme completely!

If you do have access to videoed materials though (or if you’re using a written text), it’s obviously far easier. In this case I might use a lesson format like the following:

1. Vocabulary Presentation

The students have a worksheet containing the lexis they are unlikely to know presented in context, and have to infer the meaning. This can be done using a multiple choice format :

For the New Zealand tourism industry, the summer has got off to a roaring start with visitor numbers up by seven percent.
a) started excellently
b) started badly

If the expression in the text is metaphorical, I would present it in its literal context, focusing on the specific words liable to create problems, for instance :

The high jump competition was a disaster. They set the bar too high in the first round, and all but two of the competitors were eliminated immediately.
a) jumped
b) put

2. Warm up discussion

Students discuss what, if anything, they know about the topic(s) discussed in the text. For example : Bulgaria and Romania have just been admitted to the European Union. What do you know about the economy and/or standard of living of the two countries? What effect is their accession likely to have?

3. Gist Listening (or Reading)

Students listen to or read the text to find out if it makes the same points that they discussed, or deals with different issues.

4. Detailed Listening (or Reading)

Students listen or read again, this time to answer a detailed set of questions which, amongst other things, tests their recognition and understanding of the lexical items focused in stage 1. For example :

Why does the speaker think some countries might leave the EU? a) because of conflict with other member states b) because they don’t agree with the Euro c) because they are unable to meet the requirements imposed by Brussels.

5. Vocabulary Focus

Students have a gapped transcript of the text. They either listen again and complete the gaps (which among other things will include the target expressions) or, if they have previously read the text, try and complete it from memory (if this is too difficult, the missing words can be given in scrambled order.)

6. For homework...

...and in lessons to come, the students will be given consolidation activities which recycle the expressions taught on the course so far. These might include:
a) Type the expressions into Google and find two or three more sentences using each one.
b) A set of sentences using synonymous expressions. The students have to pair them with the target expressions which are given in scrambled order.
c) Gapped sentences – what’s the missing word (with or without the words provided in scrambled order).

Sue Swift has worked in the area of ELT for nearly 30 years as a teacher, teacher trainer and materials writer. She writes on EFL methodology and other issues connected with language teaching, and runs a site for EFL teachers - An ELT Notebook. She also runs Business Talk, a company specialising in English language and communications skills training http://www.business-talk.it

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Etienne

  Ms. Swift raises an important issue pertaining to the teaching of ESL. It is true that most native speakers will adapt their language to the person they are trying to communicate with--after all, communicating means making ourselves understood. However, I personally think students need to read and view a wide range of authentic materials. They need to be exposed to as much variety as possible. This is the only way for them to have a comprehensive vocabulary in the type of English that is necessary for their profession. Teaching core business lingo is mandatory; teaching idiomatic business language needs to be encouraged because it is an integral part of the language and relevant to the business world. If the students don't use the idioms in their own speech but can understand them when used by native speakers, it's a plus. If they can use them in their own output, well, so much the better!

Suario

  Thank you, it is very informational and useful as I teach English to students majoring in Business.

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