Do We Need a “Different Approach” to Teaching Business English?
Ridha Mejri (Germany)
Abstract
We are living in a VUCA world, Multinational corporations (MNCs)/Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are organized along functional, product line, and geographic structures but they mainly comprise matrix ones based on project teams. These project teams are international, virtual, multilingual and multicultural. They are expected to be agile, fast, creative, innovative and able to react to changes.
Communication, soft, social, life, digital as well as intercultural skills are indispensable in the business world. This talk will present a “different” approach to teaching BE by comparing BUSINESS English & Business ENGLISH and focusing on the 4 C’s skills (communication, collaboration, creativity & critical thinking). It will assess the clients’ /the students’ needs analyses and present the op employability skills. The following methods in teaching communication skills will be briefly presented: storytelling, podcasts, mind mapping, business simulations, roleplay & brainstorming sessions. It will also describe how to use case studies to improve our students’ versatile skills. Finally, two projects will be briefly discussed: Corporate adventure & Marketing across cultures.
Bio
Ridha Mejri grew up in a bilingual and bicultural environment namely Arabic and French. He lived, studied and worked in several countries. Thus he is very familiar with the customs behavior, and business etiquette of the Arab World, but also Germany where he has lived for nearly 20 years. This helped him form a solid base for his intercultural expertise.
He holds a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from Heidelberg University and a TEFL certificate from the University of East Anglia in Norwich. He is currently a lecturer for Business English and Intercultural Management at the Worms University of Applied Sciences, Germany.
He has worked as an in-company trainer and coach for many years. He offers seminars and workshops to top executives and expats who would like to improve their intercultural skills and management competence.
mejri@hs-worms.de