Other slightly more original choices are no less uninspiring – an example is the too-literal photo of two British relay runners passing on a baton positioned under the title “Delegation: provide a clear action plan” (p96). These fake business people are usually seen gesturing, either pointing or shaking hands, clapping, waving, reading a letter or screen, having lunch or of course telephoning (all ‘stock’ business English images that now seem clichéd). The majority of the visuals included in In Company 3.0 Upper Intermediate are amusingly inauthentic photos of people pretending to work.
These additional online components allow teachers to adapt more easily the course to the teaching context and their learners’ needs and give students self-study options depending on various factors such as their level of motivation and how ‘time poor’ they are. It also includes two types of video material (interviews with ‘experts’ and clips that help establish the ‘Management scenario’) both of which have accompanying worksheets available.
This contains extra vocabulary and skills exercises and all the audio needed for the student’s book (no need for CDs!). In addition to the online workbook there is an online Resource Centre for students (there is also one for teachers).
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If learners require more grammar practice they can use the online workbook, which can be accessed using a code that comes free with the student’s book. I like the way the approach is expressed in the Teacher’s book (p8): “…there are no long detours in the units themselves into structural matters”. The learning objectives of each short unit are clearly presented to learners and although the material mostly deals with skills and vocabulary, there are some grammar exercises at the end of each unit. These lessons are intended to provide extended fluency practice and offer learners a greater sense of how they would communicate outside the classroom using English at work.
They then complete tasks such as writing an email or role-playing a meeting. Learners are presented with background information about the scenario through reading texts and video clips, which learners then need to discuss. The lessons introduce learners to challenging vocabulary – often jargon or business phrases such as ‘ transitioning’, ‘ ramp up’, ‘ drill down’ or ‘ paradigm shift’ – and lead relevant role-plays and other fluency activities with a link to practical business skills.Įvery three or four units, learners come to a double-page spread with a ‘Management scenario’ which are case studies with situations such as managing change or pitching for funding. Most business professionals should, I think, be able to relate to the majority of topics and material. “ The quality of communication in most meetings is roughly comparable to the quality of arguments that you used to have with your ten-year-old brother” (p39) For example in a text on behaviour in meetings an anthropologist highlights the typical failure of people to listen effectively to each other and suggests: The course often takes one aspect of business life and breaks it down to fundamentals in order to engage the learners and initiate discussion. I n Company presents learners with interesting, current work issues such as ‘ death by powerpoint’ (p26) – highlighting how quickly the audience loses interest when a sequence of bullet-pointed slides appear – and ‘How to get rid of chatterboxes on the phone’ (p31) which looks at diplomatically managing calls to avoid wasting time too much time. The course is designed for ‘established business professionals’ and the short, skills-based units seem appropriate for working people pushed for time – rather than university students who may eventually get an office job.
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The coursebook is very much focussed on how to make a good impression on people while at work whether that be when networking, presenting, selling and so on. “Have you ever worked with someone you don’t like?” (p55)įrequently, throughout In Company 3.0 Upper Intermediate, learners are asked to reflect on the importance of good rapport in business and liking (and being liked by) colleagues and clients. © Copyright BEBC REVIEW PANEL 2014 – this review may be reproduced but only with this acknowledgement CriterionĬomments (5 being the highest grade and 1 the lowest) Reviewed by: Jon Clayden, Academic Manager, Eurocentres London
Title: In Company 3.0 Upper Intermediate Student’s BookĪuthor: Mark Powell/ Simon Clarke/ John Allison/ Ed Pegg/ Edward de Chazal