In the Corporate Language Training setting, we often come across company executives with several second language learning backgrounds and needs: some of them have had exam oriented classes in the past, others have attempted self-studying of several foreign languages while others are quite fluent but need to specialize in the Business aspect of the language. What is, however, common with most of them is the following: they feel the need to be exposed to interesting materials that address their own needs, making the most out of their valuable time.
In the Business English teaching context, there are several resources especially designed to meet the Corporate environment needs. Many published materials found in textbooks integrate texts and other resources that mirror the real world. Well-designed textbooks have a number of recognizable benefits: most of them are sensibly prepared to offer a coherent syllabus, adequate language control and motivating language use with supplementing materials.
In addition to these, we believe that it is essential that learners be exposed to authentic materials that should depict, as far as possible, the reality of the international market they face in their professional setting. These should, preferably, reflect a situation that learners may face in a real English-speaking environment, exposing them to real discourse. These resources should ideally stimulate interaction, encourage learners to develop learning skills and strategies, offer opportunities for integrated language use but also be attractive.
In our Teacher Coaching sessions, we often discuss the importance of adapting materials based on the learners’ needs, suitability of content and exploitability. Authentic resources provide learners with amazing opportunities to develop their confidence but also maximize their potential. Also, a great thing is that they can be found everywhere and they can even be generated by the learners themselves. In the feedback we receive, learners often claim that such materials increase their motivation and make them more engaged. Processing such materials has also been commented as ‘insightful and fulfilling’ by some of our instructors as they are given the opportunity to explore multiple ways of exploiting resources.
In a fast-paced and demanding Corporate environment, making the learning process more engaging, imaginative and motivating is of great importance to the participants.
Written by Savvina Ntaltagianni, LTES Academic Coordinator
