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Karen Vallejo
and
Marla Yoshida
In this course, as you read passages and watch videos, you will learn about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of sales professionals in every company, and how to read numbers and graphs in sales reports. You will also learn how important project management and sustainability are for companies in modern times. Additionally, you will learn the correct usage of modal verbs and phrasal verbs as well as how to clearly ask for clarification. Your professional communication skills will improve as you incorporate these lessons into your English. This will help you to be more successful in using English in your business life.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/a69ra3/english
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What's inside
Syllabus
Entrepreneurship
This week, we’ll focus on entrepreneurs—people who start a new business, even though they know it may not succeed. What qualities and skills are needed to become an entrepreneur, and what factors determine why some businesses succeed and others fail? You’ll hear about some steps to follow in starting a business and writing a business plan. You’ll also learn about how to use modal verbs for many purposes—to talk about possibilities, predictions, and requirements, or to give advice.
Read more
Syllabus
Entrepreneurship
This week, we’ll focus on entrepreneurs—people who start a new business, even though they know it may not succeed. What qualities and skills are needed to become an entrepreneur, and what factors determine why some businesses succeed and others fail? You’ll hear about some steps to follow in starting a business and writing a business plan. You’ll also learn about how to use modal verbs for many purposes—to talk about possibilities, predictions, and requirements, or to give advice.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Develops English communication skills in a business context, including modal verbs and phrasal verbs, which are required for business communication
Teaches foundational business skills in entrepreneurship, sales, project management, and sustainability, which are highly relevant to industry
Taught by Marla Yoshida and Karen Vallejo, who are highly experienced and recognized English language instructors
Covers concepts and terms used in project management, which may be useful in various industries
Requires students to have a basic understanding of English grammar and vocabulary
Does not provide hands-on experience in business or project management
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Reviews summary
English for business communication & concepts
According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and applicable approach to improving English for business. Students appreciate its focus on relevant business topics like entrepreneurship, sales, project management, and sustainability, combined with clear explanations of professional communication skills, including modal and phrasal verbs and asking for clarification. Many found it well-structured and easy to understand, significantly boosting their confidence in business English. However, some learners with more advanced English proficiency or extensive business experience found the language instruction and business content to be somewhat basic, suggesting it's most suitable for intermediate English speakers aiming for a solid foundation.
Best suited for intermediate English speakers.
"While the English grammar parts... were useful, I felt some parts were a bit basic for someone with an intermediate English level."
"If you're already fluent, you might not get as much from the language aspects."
"I enrolled hoping to refine my high-level business English, but much of the grammar was too basic. ... more suited for beginners to intermediate English speakers."
"The content is relevant for professionals, though perhaps not for advanced English speakers seeking nuanced language."
Presents material clearly and effectively.
"The materials were engaging and the instructor's delivery was clear."
"The course material is well-structured, moving from general business concepts to specific language tools."
"The modules are bite-sized and easy to digest."
"A well-rounded course. The business topics were engaging, and the English lessons were practical. I found the pace just right."
Covers key business concepts with real-world relevance.
"The topics on entrepreneurship and sustainability were very relevant to my work."
"The content on sales reports and project management was insightful."
"As someone looking to start my own venture, the entrepreneurship section provided valuable insights."
"The sustainability module was surprisingly engaging and relevant."
Develops applicable English for professional settings.
"This course was incredibly helpful for improving my business English. ... The examples were practical and easy to understand."
"My professional communication has definitely improved... The focus on practical communication for business, especially asking for clarification, is something rarely covered."
"Highly practical and immediately applicable. I found the 'asking for clarification' section particularly valuable for daily business interactions."
"I finally feel more comfortable using modal and phrasal verbs correctly in professional emails and meetings."
Could benefit from more interactive speaking exercises.
"I was hoping for more interactive exercises or speaking practice."
"I wish there were more opportunities for speaking practice, but overall good."
Lacks advanced detail for experienced professionals.
"I was hoping for more advanced vocabulary for business negotiations..."
"Some sections could have delved deeper into the business topics themselves, rather than just the language."
"The business content was okay, but not deep enough for experienced professionals. I felt it was more suited for beginners."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in English for Running a Successful Business with these
activities:
Refine sales reading comprehension
Show steps
Review your current knowledge of sales concepts to ensure you're prepared for this module.
Browse courses on
Sales
Show steps
-
Review course syllabus
-
Identify key sales concepts
-
Research basic sales terminologies
Practice asking for clarification
Show steps
Enhance your ability to ask for clarification by practicing different phrases.
Browse courses on
Communication Skills
Show steps
-
Identify situations where you need to ask for clarification
-
Practice using different phrases to ask for clarification
Modal verb practice
Show steps
Reinforce your comprehension of using modal verbs in different scenarios.
Browse courses on
Modal Verbs
Show steps
-
Identify the different types of modal verbs
-
Practice using modal verbs in sentences
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Identify essential project scope elements
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of defining project scope by completing a set of practice problems.
Browse courses on
Project Management
Show steps
-
Define the scope of a project using a real-world example
-
Identify the key components of project scope
-
Practice creating a project scope statement
Practice using modal verbs in business scenarios
Show steps
Improve your ability to use modal verbs effectively in business contexts.
Browse courses on
Modal Verbs
Show steps
-
Identify common business scenarios where modal verbs are used
-
Practice using modal verbs in these scenarios
Follow a tutorial on using phrasal verbs
Show steps
Watch a tutorial to build your knowledge of phrasal verbs.
Browse courses on
Phrasal Verbs
Show steps
-
Find a tutorial on using phrasal verbs
-
Follow the steps in the tutorial
-
Practice using phrasal verbs in your writing and speaking
Read 'Good Strategy/Bad Strategy'
Show steps
Expand your understanding of business strategy by reading this influential book.
View
The Crux: How Leaders Become Strategists
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book
-
Summarize the key ideas in the book
-
Apply the concepts to your own business or career
Create a presentation on sustainability in business
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of sustainability in business by creating a presentation.
Browse courses on
Sustainability
Show steps
-
Research sustainability in business
-
Develop a presentation outline
-
Create your presentation
-
Present your findings
Refine sales reading comprehension
Show steps
Review your current knowledge of sales concepts to ensure you're prepared for this module.
Browse courses on
Sales
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review course syllabus
- Identify key sales concepts
- Research basic sales terminologies
Practice asking for clarification
Show steps
Enhance your ability to ask for clarification by practicing different phrases.
Browse courses on
Communication Skills
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify situations where you need to ask for clarification
- Practice using different phrases to ask for clarification
Modal verb practice
Show steps
Reinforce your comprehension of using modal verbs in different scenarios.
Browse courses on
Modal Verbs
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the different types of modal verbs
- Practice using modal verbs in sentences
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Identify essential project scope elements
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of defining project scope by completing a set of practice problems.
Browse courses on
Project Management
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Define the scope of a project using a real-world example
- Identify the key components of project scope
- Practice creating a project scope statement
Practice using modal verbs in business scenarios
Show steps
Improve your ability to use modal verbs effectively in business contexts.
Browse courses on
Modal Verbs
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify common business scenarios where modal verbs are used
- Practice using modal verbs in these scenarios
Follow a tutorial on using phrasal verbs
Show steps
Watch a tutorial to build your knowledge of phrasal verbs.
Browse courses on
Phrasal Verbs
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a tutorial on using phrasal verbs
- Follow the steps in the tutorial
- Practice using phrasal verbs in your writing and speaking
Read 'Good Strategy/Bad Strategy'
Show steps
Expand your understanding of business strategy by reading this influential book.
View
The Crux: How Leaders Become Strategists
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book
- Summarize the key ideas in the book
- Apply the concepts to your own business or career
Create a presentation on sustainability in business
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of sustainability in business by creating a presentation.
Browse courses on
Sustainability
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research sustainability in business
- Develop a presentation outline
- Create your presentation
- Present your findings
Career center
Learners who complete English for Running a Successful Business will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs start businesses, run them, and assume their risks and rewards. They can work as finance managers, marketing managers, and business owners. This course can help someone build a foundational understanding of entrepreneurship and business planning.
Sales Executive
Sales Executive
Sales executives focus on building relationships with existing and potential customers. They sell products or services and expand market share. This course covers the importance of sales in a company and teaches students about the sales team.
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project managers plan, organize, and track projects so the work is finished correctly and on time. This course helps build a foundation for project management. It also discusses concepts and terms used in the field and teamwork.
Sustainability Manager
Sustainability Manager
Sustainability managers focus on business decisions that consider environmental and social responsibilities. This course can help future Sustainability Managers build a background in sustainability and environmental friendliness.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
Business analysts provide insights into a business and advise what changes can be made to improve performance. This course can help provide a foundation for the use of data and project management in business.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Marketing managers create comprehensive marketing plans. They research, develop, and implement strategies to meet marketing objectives. This course may be useful to learn about sales and marketing teams in a company.
Account Manager
Account Manager
Account managers develop and maintain relationships with clients to serve their business needs and ensure satisfaction. This course may be useful to build a foundation in sales and project management.
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
Operations managers are responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of a business, ensuring things run smoothly and efficiently. This course may be useful to learn about project management.
Finance Manager
Finance Manager
Finance managers create and manage financial reports, analyze financial data, and develop financial plans and policies to ensure the financial health of the organization. This course may be useful to learn about entrepreneurship and finance teams.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers oversee the recruitment, hiring, training, and development of employees. This course may be useful to learn about sustainability and project management in a business.
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Administrative assistants provide administrative and clerical support to executives and managers. This course may be useful to learn about sales, project management, and entrepreneurship.
Data Analyst
Data Analyst
Data analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course may be useful to learn about project management and sales.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
Software engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course may be useful to learn about project management and teamwork.
Web Developer
Web Developer
Web developers design, create, and maintain websites. This course may be useful to learn about project management and entrepreneurship.
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers create visual concepts and designs for a variety of media, including print, web, and advertising. This course may be useful to learn about entrepreneurship and sustainability.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/a69ra3/english
Reading list
We've selected 11 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
English for Running a Successful Business.
Valuable reference tool for learners throughout the course. It provides foundational knowledge on effective communication in a business context.
This book’s content overlaps with the syllabus topics of “Entrepreneurship” and “Sales.” It provides references for business concept vocabulary and successful venture implementation.
Is an excellent reference tool for the “Project Management” unit. It provides foundational knowledge on planning, organizing, and controlling projects.
Save
Explores cognitive biases and decision-making processes, providing valuable insights for learners in the “Project Management” and “Entrepreneurship” units.
Save
Will help learners prepare for the “Sales” unit with its focus on understanding customer needs and developing sales strategies.
Save
Is an excellent resource to supplement the “Project Management” and “Entrepreneurship” units. It offers insights into problem-solving and analytical techniques used by successful businesses.
Save
Complements the “Entrepreneurship” unit by providing a framework for developing effective business strategies.
Offers principles for personal and professional effectiveness, which can benefit learners throughout the course.
Will provide learners with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with innovation, which is relevant to the “Entrepreneurship” unit.
Save
Provides insights into human behavior and the formation of habits, which is relevant to understanding customer behavior in the “Sales” unit.
While this book does not directly relate to the course topics, its inclusion will provide learners with key leadership and management principles.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/a69ra3/english
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Rating
4.8
Effort
16 hours to complete
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of California, Irvine
Instructors
Karen Vallejo
Marla Yoshida
Language
English
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Essential English for Business Professionals. It's comprised of three courses:
- English for Running a Successful Business (viewing)
- English for Effective Business Communications
- English for Developing a Business
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