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Business English Certificate

The Business English Certificate program is being redesigned and is paused until further notice. The information below will be updated once the redesigned program is ready to launch. Please email at ali@sdsu.edu if you have any questions.


Overview

The International Business English (IBE) program is a customized, certificate program designed for students with intermediate to advanced English- language proficiency and a high level of communication skills and commitment. This course is for students and professionals interested in learning more about American business practices as they relate to doing business globally.

This program can be tailored to focus on business content through English skill development, in various lengths of study, from two weeks to two semesters.

Program Benefits And Highlights

Benefits

  • Refine your English language skills through business content
  • Expand your knowledge about American business culture and practices
  • Customizable program lengths from two weeks up to two semesters

Highlights

  • Fully customizable Business English content focusing on a wide variety of topics and skills of interest.
  • Opportunity to take field-trips to local businesses and get a behind the scenes look at business operations.
  • Join volunteering events with local social-enterprises to provide services to underserved communities.

Program Structure And Schedule

  • The program can be structured to focus on English language skill development through productive and/or receptive skills, through the lens of business topics.
  • The structure is flexible and adaptable to hone in on any skill set or topic

Curriculum

English skills through business content: business writing, reading, listening, speaking, presentations and proposals.

Business WritingBusiness Listening and ReadingBusiness Speaking
Business letter formatsTrade & Fair TradeInterviewing
SWOT analysisFinanceNetworking
Reference and recommendation lettersOffice roles & politicsAdvertising and Marketing
Resume and cover letter writingLinkedInManagement and Leadership
Business proposals Business & Culture


Sample four-week schedule (please contact program director for other sample schedules)

Week 1
Morning Classes
Introduction to Business
What is a business, forms of businesses, reading and speaking about proprietorships, partnerships, corporations
Business Letter Format-Writing
Formating- Salutations, Body, Closings in formal and informal letters and emails
Business Proposal- Writing
Elements of proposals- Mission Statement, project description, budget analysis, organizational details
Business Negotiations- Listening and Reading
Discuss, evaluate, and skill development of appropriate negotiation tactics-
Afternoon Classes
Forms of Businesses- Speaking
Identify and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of proprietorships, partnerships, corporations
Ethics and Business- Speaking
Governing decisions and actions such as code of conduct, honor code, mission statement and golden rule within organizations
SWOT Analysis- Writing
Learn to identify and apply appropriate writing strategies to express relationships between SWOT factors
Business Negotiations- Speaking
Contextual usage clues to learn and use commonly misunderstood business idiomatic expressions


Week 2

Morning Classes
Business Emails: Sending- Writing
Email types, format guidelines, tone and language, content and useful phrases
Advertising- Speaking and Presentation Skills
Analyze advertisements to identify markets, targets, influences, behaviors, and pricing
Marketing- Speaking and Reading
Learn and apply the 4 elements of Marketing Mix: product, placement, promotion, price
Branding- Speaking, Reading, and Presenting
The importance of branding: awareness, image, loyalty, licensing, and products
Afternoon Classes
Business Emails: Responding- Writing
Guidelines for appropriate positive and negative reactions, relevant questions for clarification , and hedging
International Advertising- Speaking and Presentation Skills
Compare and contrast advertising in different countries to create, plan, and pitch an advertisement
Logos & Slogans- Speaking and Reading
Identify the functions and effects of branding, mottos, trademarks, and catch phrases
Management- Speaking and Presentation Skills
Styles of management: micromanager, delegator, mentor and organizational hierarchies/pyramids


Week 3

Morning Classes
Becoming an Entrepreneur
Creating a business plan- identify an idea, target market, and potential competitors, partners and profit
Business Model Canvas:
Learn and understand types and examples of each component in the 9 building blocks
Business Model Canvas:
Learn the importance of rapid iteration with Business Canvas models. Students will begin creating their Business model
Business Model Canvas:
Students will practice presenting their findings from the business model canvas of existing businesses
Afternoon Classes
Business Model Canvas:
Introduction to Strategyer’s Business Model Canvas tool template and the 9 Canvas components
Business Model Canvas:
Learn and understand the relationship and types of each of the 9 building blocks
Business Model Canvas:
Students will apply the business model canvas to existing businesses
Business Model Canvas:
Considering environmental factors: market forces, key trends, industry forces, and macro-economic trends.


Week 4

Morning Classes
Business Model Canvas:
Students draft their own business model canvas
Business Model Canvas:
Students practice pitching their own business model canvas
Business Tour- Trader Joe’s
Tour a local grocery store
Closing and Certificate Ceremony
 
Afternoon Classes
Business Model Canvas:
Students learn the fundamentals of how to pitch a business using their Canvas
Business Model Canvas:
Students present their own business model canvas