Authentic Journeys Proposal – Training & Corporate Coaching
Business English Seminar
Delivered by: Jennifer Kumar
Working With Americans: Collaboration & Communication Overview This six month program will improve the confidence of your employees in using English in business communications – face to face (spoken English) and virtually (written English). 1 (3 hour) session will be conducted a month for 6 months totaling 18 hours.
Participants Will
• Learn skills for global business email etiquette • Learn how to structure communication in a simple, effective, convincing way • Practice conversational and group discussion skills in English to encourage conversation • Practice professional phone etiquette for Indian and global work conversations • Improve their confidence in speaking in front of their peers in English • Learn basic presentation skills for corporate environments • Apply accent reduction skills as required
Audience Profile
Employees fluent in reading English and speaking basic English. Employees who must use written and spoken English in their daily roles.
Issue of Certificates
Eligibility of certificates: • 80% attendance of classes • 50% homework completion (no two people should have the same homework answers, especially written work, this is immediate disqualification) • 50% class participation
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Jennifer Kumar, MSW, CC OWNER AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR, AUTHENTIC JOURNEYS jennifer@authenticjourneys.info | http://authenticjourneys.info Infopark, Kakkanad, Kochi 682030, India ©2014 Do not reprint without permission.
Proposed Syllabus Details – Weekly Class Structure A 6 Session Program Session 1: Business Communication 1 -‐ How to start and hold a conversation Focus: Face to face communication Topics: • Introductions in professional environments – body language, handshakes, what to say, etc. • Compare India vs. US/Western small talk topics for phone and email conversations. • Lesson on group discussion etiquette, phrases, polite transitions • Group Discussions to be held • Facilitator to give benchmark score/feedback to be compared in the last session Homework: • Participants will draft openings to emails and phone calls using small talk tips from this class. • Participants will try to use something from today’s session in the next one week and be ready to share their findings in the next class. Session 2: Presentation Skills Focus: Spoken English Topics: • Each participant will deliver a short 1 minute speech on a random topic • Facilitator to give benchmark score/feedback to be compared in the last session • Lesson on presentation skills, organization of thoughts, voice clarity • Tips to improve vocabulary • play word games. • Indian English vs. American and British English • Practice in using new vocabulary Homework: Participants will attempt to use some of the new vocabulary learned before the next class. Review group discussion and presentation skills for the next class.
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Jennifer Kumar, MSW, CC OWNER AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR, AUTHENTIC JOURNEYS jennifer@authenticjourneys.info | http://authenticjourneys.info Infopark, Kakkanad, Kochi 682030, India ©2014 Do not reprint without permission.
Session 3: Business Communication 2: E-‐mail Etiquette & Professionalism in Written English Focus: Written English Topics: • Basic business emailing tips/skills • Do’s and don’ts to be discussed and practiced. • how to use their small talk in the email appropriately • balancing casual and business tones in emails • Inductive vs. deductive style of writing will be learned, pros and cons • Writing practice Homework: • Each participant will draft an email to the trainer based on the concepts learned in this session. (Facilitator will not correct each email, but collect a list of additional do’s and don’ts based on the sample of emails received.) • Participants will apply this skill to their emails in the next two weeks and be ready to share their outcomes in the next session. Session 4: Interpersonal Skills Focus: Written Communication & Critical Thinking Topics: • Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace (Feelings vs. Thoughts) • Empathy vs. Sympathy • Assertiveness vs. Passiveness • How to give positive feedback and constructive criticism Session 5: Business Communication 3: Phone Etiquette & Listening Skills Focus: Spoken English Topics: • Dos and don’ts for business calls • The structure of a business call-‐ how to make and take calls • Voice clarity on the phone • Listening face to face vs. phone vs. email • How to ask others to repeat if they aren’t clear • How to interrupt politely • Accent reduction tips given as required. • Role plays on the lessons of the day Homework: Teams that make client calls will assure they are applying these etiquette tips during their next call and be ready to discuss their experience in the next session. Page 3 of 4
Jennifer Kumar, MSW, CC OWNER AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR, AUTHENTIC JOURNEYS jennifer@authenticjourneys.info | http://authenticjourneys.info Infopark, Kakkanad, Kochi 682030, India ©2014 Do not reprint without permission.
Session 6: Business Communication 4: 3 Mediums of Communication – Face to Face, Phone, Written Focus: Spoken English & Critical Thinking Topics: • Participants will be broken into groups to analyze best practices in various forms of communication based on concepts learned and case studies shared. • Participants will present to the larger group their case studies and lessons. • Facilitator will give feedback and tips for presentation skills in groups and corporate environments. • Facilitator will give each participant a mark/feedback based on their overall interaction with this program and their improvement.
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Jennifer Kumar, MSW, CC OWNER AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR, AUTHENTIC JOURNEYS jennifer@authenticjourneys.info | http://authenticjourneys.info Infopark, Kakkanad, Kochi 682030, India ©2014 Do not reprint without permission.