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Communicative
Business Activities
by Marjorie Rosenberg
(obv&htp publishing)
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To
buy this book
Communicative Business Activities
contains a host of photocopiable activities designed for adult
learners. The areas of business include Correspondence, Presentations,
Meetings, Job applications,
Cross-cultural Awareness and Company Structure.
The book begins with a series
of Neuro-Linguistic Programming awareness activities which
underpin the methodology of the book. As Marjorie says in
her introduction to the book:
| 'When we create
activities we need to keep in mind the diversity of our
classrooms. We will have visual, auditory and kinaesthetic
learners who perceive, process and recall information
through one of these sensory channels (Introducing
Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Joseph O'Connor and
John Seymour, 1990). In addition, the average classroom
will be made up of a combination of global and analytic
thinkers (Cognitive Styles: Essence and Origin,
Herman Witkin & Donald Goodenough, 1981). By creating
activities which include pictures, words, and movement;
activities which can be done in group work by communicating
with others, or alone by thinking and reflecting; activities
which are to be approached systematically or in a more
random style, the chances of reaching learners of all
types are greatly increased. The activities also help
us to create both a supportive and energetic atmosphere
in the classroom. Real learning occurs when we address
our learners' needs and learning styles and create the
motivation for them to participate in the activities which
we offer them. They need to develop a sense of personal
accountability making them responsible for their own learning.
In order to do this they need to become involved in the
Learning process as well as the material to be learned.
By recognising our learners as individuals and helping
them to reach their objectives in learning a foreign language
we provide them with the basics of a learning atmosphere
which puts them into a learning state. Pupils who are
confronted with an enormous amount of new material as
well as adults who have been working hard outside the
classroom are grateful for activities which are varied,
interesting and fun. The following quote from Bob Pike,
President of Creative Training Techniques, International,
Inc. and Resources for Organisations, Inc. sums up what
I believe to be necessary in educational situations. After
hours spent in classrooms working with many different
types of learners, Bob Pike has come to the conclusion
that, "Learning is directly proportional to the
amount of fun you have" (101 Games for Trainers,
Bob Pike and Christopher Busse, Lakewood Books, 1995).' |
The index is a very practical
one in that it lists Lexical area and Photocopiable Material,
Activities, Business Vocabulary, Grammar and Language Functions,
Level & Learner Types. This clear and systematic layout
is also reflected in the teacher instructions for each activity.
The sections here include the Materials, Type of Activity,
the Language Focus, Level, Group Size, Preparation, Goal,
Skills, Learner Types, Warm-up ideas, the Procedure, Follow-up
ideas & lastly the Vocabulary that is needed to carry
out the activity. With all of this information you are left
in no doubt as to the whys & hows of each activity.
The introductory NLP awareness
activities can be used with any learner. They cover the following;
an 'Are You Global or Analytic?' questionnaire with a key
of characteristics, a survey called 'What Type of Learner
Are You?', a 'Self-Observation Survey', 'How to Recognise
Different Types', 'NLP Eye Accessing Cues' and lastly 'Words,
Phrases and Tips for Different Learners'. All useful information
for both teacher & learner.
I counted sixty-two activities
plus the eight NLP awareness pages. All of the activities
contain an information gap and include Find Someone Who activities,
domino games, diaries, crosswords, dialogue ordering, describe & draw and mime, and the nice thing here is that they
are all brought together & ready to use!
The role cards & pictures
are very clear and as detailed as they need to be for each
activity, and the book is ring-bound which facilitates photocopying.
The only drawback from a global distribution point of view
is the English-German glossary of terms at the back of the
book. It would be nice in future editions to be able to buy
the book with the glossary appropriate to one's own students.
The book is aimed at the business
English teacher & covers the essential areas mentioned
at the beginning of this review very well and one could easily
slot these activities into any business English course. The
newer teacher will find it book indispensable & the more
experienced teacher a very useful collection. And even though
the book is aimed at the business English market it is just
as useful for the general English teacher too.
To
buy this book
To Marjorie's articles:
The
Role of Brain-Based Learning and Alternative Methodologies
in EFL
Teacher
Development & Awareness of Learning Styles
To
the book review index
To
the Books Page
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