Syllabus

Office English

Casas Level B: Low/High, CEFR Level B1

Can understand the main points of clear, standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst traveling in an area where the language is spoken.
Can produce simple, connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
Can describe experiences and events, dreams, and hopes and ambitions, and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Ask about
job responsibilities
work conditions and benefits
Ask for directions
Confirm a meeting

Module 1
Getting a Job

Describe
the layout of the office
the management structure

Face-to-Face
reading

An employment agency ad
Messages
A resume
A page in an employee handbook on
employee benefits and job responsibilities
A building directory

speaking
Round Robin:
Answering Interview
Questions

writing
Guided Writing:
Cover Letter for a Resume
Writing a Resume

Information Gap:
A Company Directory

grammar
Present Simple
Present Continuous
Stative Verbs
To Be
Past Simple
Modals and Semi-modals

Discuss job responsibilities

Give directions
Interview for a job
Schedule an interview
Talk about your
educational background
job responsibilities
job skills
work experience

Page 1 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Ask about the company intranet
Explain kitchen rules
Give instructions about intranet security
and rules
Log in to the intranet

Module 2
Working
with Office
Facilities

Log out of the intranet

Face-to-Face
reading
Instructions for using:
a company intranet
a photocopier
a voice mail service
Main menu of a company intranet
User guide for a fax machine
A sign about kitchen rules

speaking

writing

Role-Plays:
Using the Company Intranet

Writing Lists:
Bullets vs. Numbers

Making an Inventory

Writing Instructions for

Using a Photocopier

grammar
Adjectives
Nouns
Imperatives
Modals and Semi-modals
Prepositions
Determiners

Make small talk

Record messages
Retrieve messages
Use
a fax machine
a photocopier
a voice mail service
office equipment
the company intranet

Page 2 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Apologize for problems with a delivery
Change a purchase order
Check deliveries

Module 3
Managing Office
Supplies

Control and manage office supplies

Create a purchase order

Face-to-Face
reading

A memo with an office supplies inventory

An internal purchase order form
A delivery notice
An office supplies requisition form

speaking
Role-Play:
Ordering Office Supplies
Game:
Go Order!

writing

grammar

Guided Writing:
Ordering Supplies and
Equipment

Possessive Pronouns
Past Continuous
Past Simple
Tag Questions

Completing Purchasing
and Requisition Forms

Greet a new co-worker

Handle delivery problems
Order office supplies
Receive deliveries
Requisition and return supplies

Page 3 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Ask for postal services
Make a complaint
Request a pickup
Respond to incoming mail

Module 4
Handling Mail

Face-to-Face
reading

A page in an employee handbook on:

handling incoming mail
post office procedures
A memo with instructions for sending packages
Tips for dealing with courier services

speaking

writing

Game:
Asking about Dimensions

Guided Writing:
Letter of Complaint

Role-Play:
Mailing a Package

Filling Out a Courier

Service Form

grammar
Future Simple
Adjectives
Time Expressions

Send
mail
packages
Ship with a courier service
Sort mail
Track a package

Page 4 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Explain
access control security systems
security measures

Module 5

Get information about paper shredders

Dealing with
Security Issues

Give instructions about

time card regulations
working time regulations

Face-to-Face
reading
An e-mail about:
working time regulations
a companys access control system
A memo about security measures
A manufacturers information sheet
about a heavy duty paper shredder

speaking

writing

Finding the Differences

on Time Cards

Editing a Memo about

Security Measures

Collocation Game

Categorizing Vocabulary:
Parts of Speech

grammar
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Continuous

Report suspicious activity

Page 5 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Ask for
contact details
directions
Cancel a meeting
Confirm a meeting
Deal with a complaint
Follow up phone calls

Module 6
Communicating
by Phone

Face-to-Face
reading

A message about a contract proposal

An e-mail exchange about setting
up a meeting
A memo about:
a potential loss of sales
dealing with customer problems
A list of messages that need to be
followed up

speaking

writing

Role Play:
Taking a Message

Guided Writing:
Confirming an Appointment

Putting on a Play:
Handling Customer Problems

Writing Directions

grammar
Reported Speech

Give
contact details
directions
phone messages
Help
co-workers
customers
Make a complaint
Reschedule meetings
Schedule meetings
Screen calls
Take phone messages
Transfer calls

Page 6 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Arrange special flight requirements
Book a flight
Cancel
airline reservations
hotel reservations

Module 7
Making
Arrangements

Change
airline reservations
hotel reservations
theater reservations
Choose a restaurant

Face-to-Face
reading

A page in an employee handbook

about flight reservation rules
A hotel reservation form
E-mails:
canceling a reservation
about finding a restaurant for
a business dinner
A letter discussing reservation changes
A theater tickets order form
A flower delivery order form
A take-out lunch order

speaking

writing

grammar

Game:
Checking Flight and Hotel
Arrangements

Guided Writing:
Advising of a Change
in Arrangements

Information Gap:
Finding Differences:
Correcting Information on
Flight and Hotel
Reservation Forms

Forming Compound
Words

Conditionals:
First Conditional
Second Conditional
Third Conditional
Wish

Deal with dietary requirements

Get information about hotel facilities
Make hotel reservations
Order
flowers
take-out food
theater tickets

Page 7 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Arrange
off-site meetings
on-site meetings
Create an agenda

Module 8
Setting Up
Meetings

Discuss
schedules
the minutes of a meeting

Face-to-Face
reading

A meeting preparation form

An e-mail to sales staff about a meeting
Minutes of a meeting
A convention agenda
An e-mail requesting a quotation from
a convention venue

speaking
Role-Plays:
Setting Up a Meeting
Taking a Reservation for an
Off-site Meeting

writing
Editing the Minutes of a Meeting

grammar
Passive
Had better

Writing a To Do List:
Organizing an Off-site Meeting
for the Sales Department

Follow up meeting notifications

Prepare for on-site meetings
Remind people about meetings
Take minutes of a meeting

Page 8 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Ask questions about arranging files
Compose a letter
Create a spreadsheet
Deal with missing documentation

Module 9
Preparing
Documents

Give
instructions about arranging files
status reports for shipments

Face-to-Face
reading

speaking

A memo about:
handling customer inquiries
a PowerPoint presentation
Notes on composing a letter to a potential
client
Instructions for using spreadsheet software
An e-mail about organizing company files

Group Work:
A PowerPoint Presentation
Evalution

writing
Guided Writing:
Letter to Potential Clients
Alphabetizing Files

grammar
Adverbs
Gerunds
Infinitives
Relative Clauses

Information Gap:
Thousands, Millions, Billions
and Decimal Numbers

Help customers
Make corrections to a letter
Prepare a PowerPoint presentation
Work with spreadsheet formulas

Page 9 of 10

Syllabus

Office English
Online course
Module

how to
(Speaking and Listening)
Arrange sightseeing tours
Ask
for directions
questions about a clients company
Deal with a complaint
Give
a tour of the facilities
an annual performance evaluation
directions

Module 10

Help customers

Receiving Visitors

Make
a client feel comfortable
a complaint
small talk
small talk at business events

Face-to-Face
reading
A web page about:
small talk skills
making small talk at business events
Notes about points to include on
a facility tour
A page in an employee handbook
about receiving visitors
A memo about a customer convention
A tour itinerary
A performance evaluation

speaking

writing

Group Work and Role-Play:

Making Small Talk

Guided Writing:
Letter of Thanks

Role-Play:
Registering a Guest at
a Convention

Writing a Performance
Evaluation

grammar
Review of Tenses (1)
Review of Tenses (2)
Review of Tenses

Receive guests
Register guests at a convention
Talk about
a promotion
your job skills

Page 10 of 10