LISTENING AND SPEAKING FOR BUSINESS

COMMUNICATION
1. Do you think English is the global business language?
2. Do you feel more comfortable emailing or calling someone in English? Why?
3. Do you think that writing formal English is challenging?
4. Do you think you will get nervous when you speak to foreign colleagues or clients in
English? 
5. What is your worst customer service experience? 
6. Can you think of any companies known for their exceptional customer service? 
7. What come to mind when you hear the term “business ethics”?
8. What can companies do to improve their business ethics?
9. How good are you at negotiating?
10. Why do you think some businesses fail? The most common reasons small businesses
fail include a lack of capital or funding, retaining an inadequate management team, a faulty
infrastructure or business model, and unsuccessful marketing initiatives.
11. What can businesses do to succeed?
12. What are some good negotiation tactics?
13. Do you negotiate in your work and personal life or while shopping?
14. Do you think men or women are better at negotiations? Why?
15. How do you feel about job interviews?
16. What advice do you have for a successful interview?
17. What questions are common in job interviews in your country?
18. What difficulties can working abroad have?
19. If you could work in a foreign country, which country would you choose? Why?
20. In your opinion, What qualities make a good manager?
21. How can a manager motivate employees?
22. Are small businesses common in your country?
23. What challenges do small businesses have in your country?
23. Can you name some successful small businesses in your town?
24. How can a small business become successful?
25. If you had a small business, what kind would it be?
26. What advice do you have for somebody traveling for business?
27. Where would you like to have a business trip? Why?
28. Do you like working in sales?
29. In your opinion, what makes a good salesperson?
30. As a customer in general, what do you usually expect?
32. Do you agree/disagree that “customers are always right”?
33. Do you think companies should demand English proficiency from their employees?
34. Do you think companies should provide health care to employees?
35. If you had to start your own business right now, what type of business would you
start? Why? 
36. Do you agree that happy employees do a better job?
37. Are dress codes important? Why? Why not?
38. Do you think office workers should have a formal dress code?  Why? Why not?
39. Do you think friends make good business partners? Why or why not?
40. What is the best customer service experience you’ve had??  
41. What is the worst customer service experience you’ve had?
42. Do you think advertising influences you? How?
43. What are your favorite brands? Do these brands advertise? 
44. Do you think you like some brands because of their advertising or because of the
product? 
45. What would the world be like without advertisements? 
46. Do you think working in customer service is a difficult job? Why or why not? 
47. What is the most important when booking a hotel for a business trip? (Location,
Facilities, Charges)
48. What is the most important when attending a conference? (Meeting people/Taking
notes/ Contributing to discussions)
49. What is the most important when choosing a training course? (Size of group/ Cost/
Times of course)
50. What is important when recruiting new employees? (Qualifications/ Personality/
Suitability)
51. What do you need to remember when finding new suppliers of products? (Costs/
Service)
52. What sort of job would you like to have?
53. What skills are important for your sort of work?
54. Would you like to have opportunities to work abroad?
55. What do you see yourself doing in a few years' time?
56. Do you have any particular ambitions or hopes for the future?
57. What is important when entertaining clients? (types of activities/ cost)
58. What is important when deciding on packing for products? (image/production
process)
59. Why is it important for business people to relax in their free time? Why/Why not?
60. Why do some companies arrange social meetings with clients?
61. Should companies provide facilities such as sports facilities for their staff?
62. Do you think there are advantages in meeting clients socially? Why/ Why not?
63. What do you think is the most useful kind of work experience for business students?
Why?
64. Which area of business would you like to have more experience of? Why?
65. In what ways can businesses develop close links with the community?
66. What are the advantages to a company of offering a work experience programme to
business students? Why?
67. What help would you give a student on their first day of experience?
68. Why is advertising so important in any business?  Advertising attracts customers to
your business and increases your sales. When consumers see strong and
positive advertisements they are more willing to buy and ready to choose your business
69. Would you like to work in the same location?
70. When working at home, do you achieve more or less than at the office?