[David Grant, Jane Hudson, and John Hughes. Oxford Publishing, 2018. pp. 160. ¥3,562. ISBN: 9780194738767.]
Reviewed by Ben Hancock, British Council.
Business Result Pre-Intermediate 2nd Edition is a revised edition of a popular textbook for learners of business English. This updated version builds upon the success of its predecessor, offering a comprehensive and practical approach to teaching business English to pre-work and in-work professional students. The book targets learners at a pre-intermediate level of English proficiency—roughly equivalent to TOEIC 250-400 or IELTS 2.0-3.5.
The textbook covers the four primary language skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—across fifteen units, each addressing essential business topics such as customer service, travel, and future trends. Each unit is structured into five sections to ensure a comprehensive learning experience. The Working with Words section introduces vocabulary through reading and listening activities, while Language at Work delves into grammar structures relevant to the unit’s topic. Practically Speaking explores everyday communication in various social situations, and Business Communication concentrates on common themes like meetings, presentations, and telephone English. The Talking Point, previously known as Case Study, offers students opportunities to discuss business ideas and concepts in real-world scenarios.
Business English is considered more challenging than general English (Bošković et al., 2015), and this is addressed in the new edition with a focus on level-appropriate vocabulary and grammar. Real-world scenarios, including interviews with professionals and task-based case studies, are incorporated. However, there is room for improvement in the coverage of practical skills, like telephone English and presentations, with more guidance needed on body language. This is particularly crucial for students in countries where these aspects pose challenges, such as Japan and China. The book’s treatment of presentations and body language is insufficient, considering their vital role in business communication.
The layout of each unit remains a concern, as it tries to encompass all four communication skills in one unit, which can overwhelm students. Additionally, tasks within each unit sometimes seem unrelated, making lesson planning challenging for teachers. A clearer and simpler structure within each unit would be beneficial for both teacher and student. Providing example conversations and consolidating information for role-plays would simplify tasks and enhance student understanding.
Business Result textbooks suffer from an excessive amount of material per unit and a lack of fluidity between sections. Reducing gap-fill exercises or setting them as homework and introducing lesson structure flexibility would enhance the overall learning experience. While the textbook attempts to integrate case-studies into its course, a more task-based approach with practical business scenarios, like presentations and role-plays, could be more engaging for pre-work learners. Willis (1996) has proposed the use of tasks as the focus in language classrooms. Task-based lessons have been shown to increase students’ motivation and can result in improvements in their language ability (Ruso, 1999). Maintaining students’ motivation in tertiary level education can create a more positive learning experience within the classroom.
The Talking Point sections at the end of each unit, intended for group discussions and task-based activities, are often underutilized due to time constraints. Dedication of entire lessons to these sections, as demonstrated when designing last year’s syllabus, proved more rewarding for both teachers and students. The Practice Files at the back of the student’s book (related to units 1-15) are useful for homework and self-study, but students may benefit from listening exercises as well as gap-fill exercises.
The e-book includes audio and video for improved listening and comprehension skills. The option to slow down audio playback is particularly helpful considering the increasing use of world Englishes in the workplace. The Business Result series is robust with teacher resources like downloadable worksheets, progress tests, class audio, and video. The 2nd edition introduces photocopiable materials emphasizing business communication, language at work, and working with words, offering additional communicative practice for students.
The majority of students were satisfied with the textbook’s balanced coverage of language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and found its exercises beneficial for improving business English. Most would recommend the textbook to future students. Positive feedback included praise for the design, easy-to-understand pictures, appealing layout and practical English content. Suggestions for improvement included adding a word list at the end of each unit, creating a smartphone app, incorporating QR codes for listening file access and including more speaking activities.
In conclusion, Business Result Pre-Intermediate (2nd Edition) is a valuable resource for teachers aiming to improve their students’ business English skills. It offers practical communication skills relevant to the workplace, though it could benefit from some structural improvements and more focus on presentations and body language.
References
Bošković, V., Tomić, I., Stanišić, N., & Alčaković, S. (2015). Business English versus general English: Students’ attitudes and grades. Paper presented at Synthesis 2015: International scientific conference of IT and business-related research (pp. 748–751). Singidunum University. https://doi.org/10.15308/Synthesis-2015-748-751
Ruso, N. (1999). Influence of task-based learning on EFL classrooms. The Asian EFL Journal, 18, 1–23.
Willis, J. (1996). A flexible framework for task-based learning. Longman.