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Course Name
ESL for Business - Letters and Memos

Contact Hours: 24
Course Description
Full Description

Many times in business, your written words are your "calling card" to customers, vendors, and even associates and management within your own company. How do you feel about what you write:
  • Do you feel that because English is your second language, you don`t communicate as well as others?
  • Do you find your weak writing skills leave you at a disadvantage when it comes to advancement?
  • Do you feel you need to improve your understanding of written English?

Welcome to ESL for Business- Letters and Memos. This is one of three ESL For Business courses which target different kinds of written communications that you use everyday: e-mail, letters and memos, and those special documents particular to your job. You can take all the courses in the series or only those that fit your needs.

What Makes This Course Unique?

You might say, "what`s different about this course from other ESL courses you can take online?"

Unlike "one size fits all" courses, the lessons in this course are tailored to your problem areas. In other courses, you may only view a lesson and do self-study exercises. In this course, you have access to a teacher-tutor. In addition to doing self-study exercises in a textbook, you will have assignments that reflect real-world situations and someone who will read over your work and provide feedback on it. The teacher-tutor will assign you readings and grammar exercises to do based on the areas in which YOU need improvement rather than just a standard reading/exercise that everybody does.
Outcome
Class Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course you will:
  1. Have a better understanding of English Grammar
  2. Write clearer and more professional letters and memos
  3. Be able to use the appropriate tone for your various audiences
  4. Develop more confidence in your written communication skills
There is a quote which is attributed to actor Raymond Burr (when he was guest instructor at a California University): "If you can master the art of communication, you can be a success...no matter what the endeavor."

Do YOU want to be a success?
Assessment
Student performance will be assessed by self-check exercises and written assignments reviewed by the instructor.
Required Book(s)
Outline

Program Details

Each lesson is structured to include:

  1. PowerPoint Grammar Reviews
  2. Reading Assignments
  3. Self-Test Exercises
  4. A Written Assignment

Individual Online Units

Besides doing the assigned readings and exercises and viewing PowerPoint grammar reviews, students will write something for each lesson. The writing assignment will be based on a detailed scenario provided by the instructor.
  • Lesson one:

    Students will start by looking at the parts of speech and the format for business correspondence. The first writing assignment will give the student an opportunity to practice composing a letter addressing a customer's problem.

  • Lesson two:

    Textbook readings and exercises will be assigned as determined by the instructor based on the submitted written assignment in the previous lesson. Also, students will look at the basic formatting of a memo. The writing assignment for this lesson will give students an opportunity to practice composing an inter-office memo.

  • Lesson three:

    Textbook readings and exercises will be assigned as determined by the instructor based on the submitted written assignment in the previous lesson. This lesson's written assignment will involved writing a memo on a new company procedure.

  • Lesson Four:

    Textbook readings and exercises will be assigned as determined by the instructor based on the submitted written assignment in the previous lesson. This lesson's written assignment will involve writing a letter announcing a new purchase plan to customers.