English at the Workplace

Course details

In this contextualised English course, the lessons are designed to be more relevant and based on the workplace contexts of the workers where they can apply skills learnt and thereby improve their job performance. The workplace jargon and vocabulary words are introduced followed by intensive conversation and dialogue drills until the participants have developed the mastery of the language.

• Stress the accurate syllable in a poly-syllabic word. Use pronunciation and stress patterns to convey moods, emotions and attitudes.
• Use homonyms in context. Use words changed by prefixes, suffixes, etc.
• Demonstrate the ability to use standard and non-standard forms appropriately.
• Use a wide range of vocabulary such as synonyms, antonyms, precise terminology, phrasal verbs, and idioms on a variety of topics. Use specialised vocabulary.
• Use signal words and cohesive devices that give clues to organisation and content message.
• Use advanced grammar and structures (e.g., complex tenses, all conditionals (real and unreal), passive voice, reported speech, compound/complex sentences). Use a range of question types.
• Identify the context; audience and purpose of speaking (consider listener’s perspective, cultural influences, social norms etc.) Take into account purpose, perspective and cultural influence of the listener while speaking.
• Use format and structure suitable for purpose and audience.
• Present information /ideas concisely, logically and persuasively. Use fillers and place holders speech where necessary. Engage in extended conversations.
• Use communicative function of speech. Participate in extended or detailed non-face-to-face communication.
• Convey multi-step instructions, explanations and directions. Convey detailed instructions, explanations and directions in a range of contexts.
• Use strategies to give suggestions or requests tentatively or indirectly.
• Give an extended discourse on a topic of special interest. Convey details of descriptive and factual material in narrative form.
• Create a detailed non-face-to-face communications in a wide range of contexts. Paraphrase information for clarification. Use voice qualities to emphasize and clarify speech. Re-state main points.
• Switch between standard and non standard dialects as the situations warrants (use colloquial language when appropriate).
• Use appropriate verbal (intonation, stress) and non-verbal cues (e.g., hard gestures, nodding, facial expressions) to convey meaning.
• Convey the mood of a message, considering the attitudes and feelings of listeners and the urgency of the message. Enable predictions through the use of simple statements of conversation (e.g., you’ve been late four days this week).
• Convey emotional content of a spoken message (e.g., anger, compliment, condolence, sarcasm) through intonation, rhythm and stress.
• Respond with suggestions, feedback, alternative viewpoints respectfully and politely. Use strategies to influence audience (e.g., pathos, logos, ethos).
• Use a range of different styles of speaking for different purposes (e.g., explanation, narrative, persuasive, humorous). Create media messages with visual support (e.g., podcast, presentation).
• Use media techniques to achieve a variety of purposes: special effects, music, use of language (e.g., video power point slides).