ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP – US Embassy

DURATION:	34 weeks
COMMITMENT:	3-5 hrs/week
REQUIREMENT:	None
COURSE TYPE:	Self-paced
CREDENTIAL:	Badge(s); Certificate (free)

DESCRIPTION

This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in improving their language skills and knowledge of business and entrepreneurship at the same time. From identifying an opportunity to planning a persuasive pitch, this course will guide you step-by-step through the basic elements of starting up a new business. Through selected readings and video lectures, you will learn how to use market research to identify risks and opportunities. You will learn how to read and develop a business plan and how to find investors and financial support. Finally, you will learn strategies for making a pitch to present your business concept. This is a self-paced course, which will be open for 12 weeks. Participants can complete coursework at any time during these 12 weeks. The course has 5 modules; each module will require approximately 3-5 hours of work.

Check: Harvard University Free Online Courses

About this Course:

English for Business and Entrepreneurship is designed for high-beginner to low-intermediate non-native English speakers. This course will help you improve your language skills and knowledge of business and entrepreneurship at the same time.

This course was developed by the University of Pennsylvania and adapted by FHI 360 for the Online Professional English Network (OPEN), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Module 1: Becoming an Entrepreneur

This module covers materials, activities and vocabulary about the following key concepts:

• creating one-sentence product descriptions
• comparing entrepreneurs and small business owners
• reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of entrepreneurship

Module 2: Identifying an Opportunity

This module covers materials, activities and vocabulary about the following key concepts:

• conducting market research to identify opportunities in a market
• practicing the use of effect question form structures and strategies to conduct market research

Module 3: Creating a Business Plan, Part 1: Product Description and Marketing

This module covers materials, activities and vocabulary about the following key concepts:

• understanding the components, structure and importance of business plans
• using intensifiers and degree complements to describe competitive advantage more persuasively

Module 4: Creating a Business Plan, Part 2: Financials and the Executive Summary

This module covers materials, activities and vocabulary about the following key concepts:

• understanding the structure of the financial section of a business plan
• creating an executive summary
• writing a simple, brief business plan of your own

Module 5: Attracting Investors and Obtaining Financial Support

This module covers materials, activities and vocabulary about the following key concepts:

• understanding the ways to obtain funding for a start-up, such as microfinancing, crowdfunding, and venture capital
• identifying strategies and techniques you can use to create a persuasive and well-articulated multimedia pitch based on a business plan

Full Course Module Packet

These downloadable materials contain all five modules of the English for Business and Entrepreneurship MOOC.

Note: These files are large so may not download for those with bandwidth limitations. We encourage you to use the individual module packets on this page to download the course in smaller files.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Recognize and compare strategies for developing a business plan, conducting market research and identifying sources of funding
• Use (common) English phrases associated with communicating business concepts to potential partners, clients and customers with increased accuracy
• Apply linguistic strategies as related to writing effective question forms to conduct market research
• Identify the essential components and language of a business plan
• Use intensifiers and degree complements with increased accuracy to describe competitive advantage more persuasively.
• Use the passive voice with increased accuracy to describe financials

Target Audience: Non-native English speakers interested in professional development to improve their communication skills.

Course is offered by as part of the Online Professional English Network (OPEN), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. government and administered by FHI 360.

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COURSE INSTRUCTORS

JESSAMYN EMBRY

Senior Technical Officer / Instructor

Jessamyn Embry is a Senior Technical Officer for English Language Acquisition at FHI 360. She has taught and administered English language programs in the United States, France, and India, She holds a BA in International Studies from American University’s School of International Service and an MA TESOL from the SIT Graduate Institute.

Check: Stanford University Free Online Courses

About Canvas Network 

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OUR MISSION:

To promote OPENNESS, INNOVATION, and EXPERIMENTATION in education by providing educators access to professional development courses and programs that will help them thrive and succeed in their careers.

To Canvas Network ‘open’ means:

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About US Embassy

What does the US Embassy Do?

The primary purpose of an embassy is to assist American citizens who travel to or live in the host country. U.S. Foreign Service Officers also interview citizens of the host country who wish to travel to the United States for business, education, or tourism purposes.

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U.S. Embassy, LondonEmbassy in London, England

The Embassy of the United States of America in London is the diplomatic mission of the United States in the United Kingdom. It is the largest American embassy in Western Europe and the focal point for events relating to the United States held in the United Kingdom. 

Embassy of the United States, BeijingOffice in Beijing, China

The Embassy of the United States in Beijing is the diplomatic mission of the United States in China. It serves as the administrative office of the United States Ambassador to China. The embassy complex is in Chaoyang District, Beijing.

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