Part A

Study the following transcript. Explain in brief what you know about its register and
genre. What features enable you to decide?

A Hello?
B Good morning, John. Tom.
A Good morning. That was quick.
B (laughing) Well, these emails are fantastic
things.
A How are you?
B Very well, thanks. I rang about er well just before I sent you that email and the
lady said oh he’s not in to work yet.
A Got in ...
B (laughing)
A ... just about when you called actually.
B Oh, reaally. I thought she was joking. I thought you were in work at sort of half
past six every morning.
A No, no, no.

Answer:

Register: informal, friendly, bantering (tease in a playful way by joking talk) or good humoured
teasing. A and B seem

to know each other reasonably well (but not so intimately that B knows A‟s working hours).

Genre: opening section of phone call (probably, but not definetely, business related).

Features: ritual language (hello, good morning, good morning, how are you, very well, thanks), small
talk before

getting down to the „real‟ reason for the call, utterances not always particularly well-formed, and
speakers changing

direction mid-stream.

Part B

You have been asked to run a three-week course for some managers from a Swiss soft drink

Company. The company wants the course to be hotel-based, and has asked you to select a

Suitable venue. How will you decide which hotel to recommend. Draw up a list of factors you

Will need to consider.

Answer:

The main factors are cost, location and facilities.

Here is a checklist to help: course title, course date, address of venue, start and end time, payment
details, clothing requirement (dress code on course, appropriate leasure wear), pre-course reading or
other preparation, information about the local area, travel instructions and tips (and map?), contact
name and details (in case of difficulties), facilities in hotel, nearest bank, shops, places of worship,
medical assistance etc., meal arrangement, outline course content, course material provided, things
to bring (e.g. writing equuipment, any pre-sent materials), “code of conduct” (e.g. no smoking, no
mobile phones on in class).

Part C

Read the following statements about business English. State whether you agree or disagree with

and why.

1. The job of the business English teacher is to teach language; we are not qualified to

teach business skills such as presentations or negotiations.

2. There is no such thing as ‘business English’. English used by business people is normal

English, with some specialist words depending on where people work.

3. People who learn business English in universities and colleges have very little in

common with people who work in the world of real business.

4. The language of business is international – national varieties are irrelevant to business

English teachers.

5. There is no point teaching business English to beginners.

6. Business English teachers, trainers, and consultants all do the same thing – they teach

English to business people. So why not call them all teachers?

7. Business is serious, and business English teachers should not waste time of fun and

games in the classroom.

Answer:

any answers are acceptable as long as there are (some) reason.