Biz-E-Training

Business & Commercial English – Self-study 3

This is the self-study guide for this lesson.

Click (laptop) or tap (mobile) to open each section.

To practice beginning a presentation, in pairs or groups of three, do the following:

 
  1. Choose one of the methods of starting we discussed in class (see list below).
  2. Choose a topic to present (only the beginning!).
  3. Prepare the first minute (or two) of your presentation using your chosen technique.
  4. Practise the start you’ve prepared so you can perform it for the class as a whole.
  • Telling an engaging story
  • Asking a rhetorical question that provokes thought
  • Asking for an audience response to a question
  • Making a surprising statement or giving a startling statistic
  • Using a quotation
  • Showing a captivating image
  • Using a prop or visual aid (an object of some kind)
  • Playing a short video

To continue your acquisition of new business and general vocabulary, do the following:

 
  1. Look at your notes for Lesson 3 and use your preferred method (e.g. the Quizlet app, the Cornelsen Vokabeltrainer app, or simply a vocabulary notebook or cards) to learn the course vocabulary.
  1. Use this activity to quickly review the prepositions used when talking about time: Prepositions of time.
  1. Use this page to read about and practise avoiding making mistakes with some commonly confused words: Confusables.

Use your coursebook - Simply Business B1+ - and the PagePlayer app (or CDs) to do the following:

  • Page 27, Section 18, Activities A and B
  • Check your answers using the transcript on pages 90-91 of the coursebook and the answer key provided when the next Self-study page is made available.

Here are the answers for the Lesson 2 listening activities:

Page 17, Section 9.

Activity AActivity C
  1. Yes, they have been in contact via email.
  2. He makes the call because he would like to arrange
    a meeting with Gertrude to tell her something about his products.
  3. Gertrude suggests meeting at the trade fair either
    on late Tuesday afternoon or early afternoon Wednesday.
  4. They arrange to meet at the Sonnentor booth at 4 pm
    on Tuesday.
  1. This is / project / coordinator
  2. nice to hear from you
  3. be convenient for you
  4. Shall we say
  5. would suit me better
  6. Why don’t you

Use your coursebook - Simply Business B1+ - and the PagePlayer app (or CDs) to do the following:

  • Page 29, Section 24, Activity A, B & C
  • Check your answers using the transcript on page 91 of the coursebook and the answer key provided when the next Self-study page is made available here.

Here are the answers for the Lesson 2 activities:

Page 21, Section 19

Activity AActivity BActivity C
  1. line
  2. back
  3. put ... through
  4. message
  5. Thanks
  1. I’d like to speak to Ms Martínez, please.
  2. Philip isn’t in the office today.
  3. Oh hello, I didn’t recognize your voice.
  4. Is this a good time to talk?
  5. She’s in a meeting now. I think she’ll be available after lunch.
  6. I’m returning your call.
  1. A: I'd like to speak to Ms Martinez, please.
    B: Please hold on. I’ll put you through.
  2. B: Philip isn’t in the office today.
    A: That’s a pity. Could I leave a message for him, please?
  3. B: Oh hello, I didn’t recognize your voice.
    A: Oh, I’m not surprised. I’ve got a terrible cold.
  4. A: Is this a good time to talk?
    C: Well, I have a meeting in a few minutes, but go ahead.
  5. B: She’s in a meeting now. I think she’ll be available after lunch.
    A: OK, then I’ll try again later.
  6. C: I’m returning your call.
    A: That’s great. I have a few things I’d like to discuss with you

Use this page to review some key areas of grammar:

Here are the answers for the Lesson 2 grammar activities:

Page 21, Section 18

Page 21, Section 18.Page 21, Section 20.
  1. provides / trades
  2. is supplied
  3. are authorized
  4. organizes
  5. is planned
  6. hope
  1. How soon can you deliver the first batch?
  2. How far is the nearest port?
  3. How many litres do you produce per year?
  4. How big is your workforce at this location?
  5. How long is the total transit time between Shanghai and Rome?
  6. How many different products do you stock?

Use this link - Online exercises - to do the following Simply Business B1+ online exercises:

 
  • Unit 4: Exercises 1: describing a process
  • Unit 4: Exercises 2: signposting language in presentations
  • Unit 4: Exercises 3: talking about your company's activities


This icon indicates that an activity is preparation for the next lesson.

Previous self-study

Lesson 1
Lesson 2