The image of the corporate world in business English speaking exercises at upper intermediate level

Agnieszka Dzięcioł-Pędich

Uniwersytet w Białymstoku

Resumen

For pre-service students who have no professional experience, business English course books might become one of the main sources of information on how the corporate world communicates in English. Business English course books also provide students with an insight into the participation of men and women in international labour markets, as well as female and male positions on the corporate ladder. However, course books may understate the enormous variation in style and language which exists in the world of international business. They might also present a ‘false’ picture of gender roles in the labour market. The article presents results of an analysis of the sections developing oral communication in selected business English course books, with regard to speaking skills and their transferability across various speakers, branches of industry, national and corporate cultures, the variety(ies) of English students are taught, as well as female and male positions in the world of international business.

Palabras clave:

business English, course book analysis, speaking exercises, speaking skills, corporate world, gender roles, tertiary language courses