JBK English Courses
Table of Contents
Career English for Professionals
Career English for Professionals: Semi-present
English Business Writing
Pronunciation
Workplace English for the Hospitality Industry
International Exam Preparation
Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
The TOEFL-iBT
Business English Certificates (BEC)
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) and the Cambridge
English: First (FCE)
Auxiliary Programs
Career English for Professionals
This JBK English course is designed to help students from the business, legal or medical professions gain confidence in using English with the skills they need in the workplace. It includes instruction for listening, speaking, reading and writing from the pre-intermediate A2 to the advanced C1 level. The curriculum and material used from the course texts are organized around the job-specific language needs of the learners, and materials from the learners’ workplace can be used to complement the program.
Participants will learn to narrate and describe events in present, past and future time, and pronunciation and grammar are integrated into the course. Techniques for learning vocabulary will also be included. Learners will also gain practice in listening comprehension using recorded conversations. If desired, students can work on their presentation skills, learning to express challenging content using clear language. Discussion of current events and leisure activities can also be included.
Independent study Internet sites for improving professional English will be shared.
Initial Assessment: The instructor will then give the learners examples of activities from different text levels within the program to determine the level that is most appropriate and interesting. In most cases, after the preferred text has been chosen, the learners will be given a discount coupon for its purchase.
On-going assessment: As the class progresses, any areas of difficulty will be supported with extra exercises and explanation.
Final assessment: If desired, a final exam will be given.
Good Courses Improve Business Communications
Career English for Semi-present Professionals
Our semi-present courses are for students at level A2 or higher who are adept at using the Internet. The classes are individually designed and generally follow the format of ‘Career English for Professionals’ (above) which meets 2-3 days per week.
However, the semi-present classes include independent study in the curriculum and can have more than one student. The students are encouraged to participate in ‘learning communities’ on the Internet. This course meets once per week. Where the class is two hours in length, it can be canceled once per month without cost.
Combine independent study with a teacher
English Business Writing
This course is individualized and teaches customer-focused writing for professionals. It’s available from the pre-intermediate A2 to advanced C1 levels. In JBK English learners gain expertise in the types of business writing needed for their workplace. The curriculum is based on reader-centered writing. It stresses both writing style, control of grammatical functions, and punctuation for writing e-mail, memos, letters and reports. Students can also work on composing customer relations letters.
Internet sites for improving business writing will also be shared.
Initial Assessment: Learners will write a sample business letter and complete a self-assessment indicating what they would like to work on.
Ongoing Assessment: The learners’ writing samples/drafts will be continually evaluated.
Final Assessment: The learners will write a follow-up sample business letter and complete a post self-assessment.
Measure Twice, Cut Once: Update Your Writing Skills
Pronunciation
This JBK English course is for pre-intermediate level A2 to advanced-intermediate level B2 speakers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) where learners develop speech clarity and improve their listening comprehension. Some students who have difficulty with pronunciation make good progress in five to ten hours of instruction. Students learn to identify and use sounds and intonation in controlled, guided and free practice.
Internet sites for improving pronunciation will be shared.
Initial Assessment: The learners will be given a listening/speaking test for diagnostic-prescriptive analysis. They will also complete a self-assessment listing difficult sounds and other problems.
Ongoing Assessment: The instructor and the students will regularly evaluate progress to determine lesson objectives.
Final Assessment: If desired, the students will retake the diagnostic test to determine progress made during the course and complete a self-assessment to note possible areas for future study.
Clear Speech Helps Good Communication
Workplace English for the Hospitality Industry
This JBK English course is offered for frontline employees in the hospitality industry. Class levels range from the advanced beginner to the pre-intermediate levels. Approximately half of the class time is spent teaching the job specific English language needs of the learners; the remainder is spent using commercial workplace education materials to develop fluency through the study of grammar, life skills and work topics. Managers and supervisors are invited to the classes to make short presentations about key topics.
Examples of workplace skills taught include giving and following instructions, taking messages on the telephone, following safety rules, performing emergency responses, and developing teamwork skills.
Internet sites for learning general English and English for specific job skills will be shared.
The main focus of Workplace English is on listening and speaking, but it can also include instruction in grammar, vocabulary. The courses cover important themes such as ‘language to use with customers’, phone calls, information about accommodation, food and drink, and dealing with money.
JBK English recommends that students finish the beginner´s level of general English before they start to heavily concentrate on English for the workplace.
Student Program Input: The learners can elect a representative to express their ideas for the course to the company’s human resources director.
Initial Assessment: The learners will complete a self-assessment indicating their ESOL strengths and weaknesses and will be assessed for class level with a placement test. Their supervisors will be given surveys to indicate the most important topics the learners need instruction in.
Ongoing Assessment: The learners will keep class notebooks with homework, take quizzes, and complete “I Cans” as relate to specific English objectives. To do the latter, each student will indicate on a form how well they feel they can perform a skill that’s about to be taught such as “following multi-step instructions”. Afterwards, they will complete a post form with the instructor’s input to indicate improvement.
Final Assessment: At the end of the course or program year there will be a “Celebration of Achievement” where the learners are awarded certificates of completion that indicate how well they have learned the skills that were taught, and their supervisors will be given post-surveys to indicate learner growth in the workplace.
Develop Your English for the Hospitality Industry
International Exam Preparation
JBK English offers instruction in the key international exams which are described below. As with our other courses, we require that the students purchase a text for the course, but we also provide Internet websites for self-study for the individual exams.
The following procedure will normally be used for exam preparation:
Initial Assessment: The students will take a practice test for the desired exam.
Ongoing Assessment: The students will learn strategies for taking different parts of the exam and practice in both their strong and the weak areas. Feedback will be obtained as practice exercises are completed. The exercises will be used indicate in what areas the students need more practice.
Final Assessment: A similar practice test will be taken.
Number of Class Hours: At JBK English students can choose the number of hours they would like to study for an exam. It’s possible to only study for 4-5 hours for an overview, or a course can be extended as desired.
Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
The TOEIC is one of the most popular exams in the world for adults for evaluating workplace English skills for work in institutes, ministries and international companies. It is used for processing job applications and sometimes in the consideration of promotion. It is also sometimes used by universities for entrance criterion. The exam is divided into two tests – one for listening and reading, and the other for speaking and writing. The student can take one or both tests. The test is valid for two years.
The TOEFL-iBT
The TOEFL iBT test is used to determine your ability to communicate in English in reading, writing, listening and speaking in a university setting. The test is used worldwide and especially in N. America. About a million people took the TOEFL-iBT in 2015. It is also sometimes used by companies to determine English proficiency. Its results are comparable to the IELTS and the CAE (below).
Business English Certificates (BEC)
The BEC offers three business certificates – one for the B1 intermediate level, one for the B2 advanced intermediate level, and one for the C1 advanced level. In 2015 over 60,000 students took these examinations, and the exams are well recognized.
Cambridge English: Business Preliminary (BEC Preliminary) – CEFR Level B1, (intermediate level)
Cambridge English: Business Vantage (BEC Vantage) – CEFR Level B2, (advanced intermediate level)
Cambridge English: Business Higher (BEC Higher) – CEFR Level C1’, (low advanced level)
Cambridge English: First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE)
The FCE tests for the B2, advanced-intermediate level, and the CAE tests for the C1, low advanced level. The FCE is taken by over 270,000 students each year in over 100 countries. It is quite popular in S. America. Both exams test for reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar and vocabulary. The B2 level shows that a student has the English ability to study at a university and work in an English setting, whereas the C1 level confirms that a person can study at the university or post graduate level and work for an international company at the managerial level. The results of both the FCE and CAE are valid indefinitely.
Auxiliary Programs
Weekend Walks and Hikes: Practice your conversation in informal situations for 25-50% of the cost for classes. Hikes require a minimum of two students and appropriate equipment.
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