Reading aloud in the business English classroom

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Reading aloud in the business English classroom

• James Schofield

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Overview

• 1) What use is reading aloud?
• 2) What use is reading aloud?
• 3) What kind of activities are useful?
• Fraud pronunciation, stress, rhythm,
  intonation, speed
• Time is money listening, intercultural input
• Wife wants spice in her life letter
  construction
• Report proofreading
• Ekaterina summarizing, retelling, informal
  learning

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What use is reading aloud?

What do the other students do?
Demotivating and humiliating!
Doesnt help comprehension at all!
Unrealistic how many of our students are
newscasters?
We dont pronounce words in the same way in
conversation as when we read aloud.
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What use is reading aloud?

• Pronunciation - stress, rhythm, intonation, speed
• Listening focusing input
• Text comprehension
• Self-confidence
• Reading interest and informal learning

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Pronunciation Fraud

Double Dealing (level C1), p 87 unit 4 Fraud
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Time is money listening and intercultural
skills

• What differences can you see between the
  Japanese and the US American approach to
  business?
• Hidden Differences Doing business with the
  Japanese EM Hall
• Listen, listen and listen
• Be patient
• Avoid commitments to deadlines or dates of
  departure
• Be prepared for silence

Double Dealing (level B2), p 55 unit 5 Sorting
it out
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Wife wants spice in her life letter writing
skills
Double Dealing (level C1), unit 6 Mergers and
Acquisitions
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Wife wants spice in her life - letter writing
skills
Double Dealing (level C1), pp 31/2 unit 6
Mergers and Acquisitions
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What is this report about?
Summary The purpose of this report is to analyse
the role of external consultants within major
corporations. The advantages and disadvantages of
using the consultants are discussed and
conclusions drawn as to whether it is a most
cost effective method to deal with work peaks for
organizations which do wish to keep personnel
costs low. Findings There are certain significant
advantages in using an external provider. Firstly
it is possible to select the staff with the
particular know-how that is lacking in your own
organization. Secondly, as soon as the task is
completed they can be returned to their own
organization, which so enables you to reduce
personnel costs. On the other hand there is a
considerable big risk that the company will lose
valuable information if the consultancy works
for a competitor in the future.
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What is this report about?- proof reading
Read these sections from a report. In some lines
there is one extra word. Check each line.
Summary 1 The purpose of this report is to
analyse the role of external consultants within
major 2 corporations. The advantages and
disadvantages of using the consultants are
discussed 3 and conclusions drawn as to
whether it is a most cost effective method to
deal with 4 work peaks for organizations which
do wish to keep personnel costs low. Findings 5
There are certain significant advantages in using
an external provider. Firstly it is 6 possible
to select the staff with the particular know-how
that is lacking in your own 7 organization.
Secondly, as soon as the task is completed they
can be returned to their 8 own organization,
which so enables you to reduce personnel costs. 9
On the other hand there is a considerable big
risk that the company will lose valuable 10
information if the consultancy works for a
competitor in the future. 1 _________ 2
___________ 3___________ 4 ___________
5___________ 6 ___________ 7___________
8___________ 9 ___________ 10 ___________
Double Dealing (level C1), p 40 unit 7
Conflict Management
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Ekaterina summarizing, retelling, informal
learning
Macey is worried Hoodjink is cross because
his secretary is late Hoodjink believes Sir
Gilbert is a hypocrite Macey goes into
Hoodjinks office Macey annoys Hoodjink and
walks out of his office Macey asks Hoodjink for
his opinion of Sir Gilbert Villiers Hoodjink
threatens Macey and Kirill A secretary brings
in coffee
Ekaterina (level B2 C2), chapter 18 Durban
Diamonds Schofield, James ISBN 978 1 902741 92 5
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Ekaterina summarizing, retelling, informal
learning

• Hoodjink is cross because his secretary is late
• Macey goes into Hoodjinks office
• Macey asks Hoodjink for his opinion of Sir
  Gilbert Villiers
• Hoodjink believes Sir Gilbert is a hypocrite
• A secretary brings in coffee
• Macey annoys Hoodjink and walks out of his office
• Hoodjink threatens Macey and Kirill
• Macey is worried

Ekaterina (level B2 C2), chapter 18 Durban
Diamonds Schofield, James ISBN 978 1 902741 92 5
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Conclusion

• Regular, high activity reading aloud tasks ...
• stimulate learners and develop reading, listening
  and speaking skills
• develop learners interest in informal learning
  activities
• turn learners into dedicated readers
• - dedicated reading is a prerequisite for
  successful language learning
• are useful low-tech language activities,
  underexploited by business English teachers

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Conclusion
Conclusion

• The largest crowds are drawn by the
  storytellers. It is around them that the people
  throng most densely and stay longest ... their
  words come from further off and hang longer in
  the air than those of ordinary people.
• Elias Canetti The voices of Marrakesh
• Marion Boyars. London 1978
• Please contact me with reading aloud suggestions
  james.thornett_at_googlemail.com

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Listening Death by Scrabble
Backup
GIBEN DENXIJ MRAREW SATWEIER MUHID NAF AZSP
DARYE
HATCINGE GIRONE PLEES SEXPOLED SNIG YLF AUT
ICON KUQAE EHDAT