Tag: Business English

Viral Marketing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In recent years, virtual marketing has shaped the e-commerce world. Let’s get a grasp on how viral marketing works.

Watch the video to learn more about viral marketing.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word  “virus”?
  2. What’s the difference between viral marketing and spamming
  3. What kinds of viral marketing strategies are you aware of?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of viral marketing?
  5. What kind of online marketing does your company have or do?

Corporate Social Responsibility

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We normally associate business with financial gains. But at the end of the day, is it really just about the money?

In recent times, a lot of companies are moving toward dedicating their efforts to developing their company’s corporate social responsibility’s arm.

Check out the link below for a better understanding of CSR.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corp-social-responsibility.asp

Discussion Questions:

1. In your own understanding, what is CSR?
2. In your opinion, should CSR be an important part of any company? Why or why not?
3. Talk about your company’s CSR.

Steve Jobs Talks About Managing People

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Steve Jobs was one of the most famous CEO in the world. Ever wonder how he did it? How did he manage his people and build a successful multinational company?

Watch as Steve Jobs talks about managing people.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the interview, how is the company organized?
  2. What kind of organization is set up in this company?
  3. According to Steve Jobs, why did Apple become successful? Share your thoughts on this.
  4. Explain your company’s management style. Is there anything that you would like to change?
  5. What do you think is the best way to manage people? Elaborate.

Protesters Ransack South African H&M Stores Over Racist Ad

B2 –  Upper Intermediate

H&M, a Swedish multinational clothing-retail company, faces a backlash when an image of a black child models a sweatshirt with the slogan “coolest monkey in the jungle” came out.

This led to protesters running amok in some H&M stores in South Africa to express their anger.

Read the article to know more.  

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/protesters-ransack-south-african-h-m-stores-over-racist-ad-n837506

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on H&M’s advert?
  2. What are your thoughts on the protesters action?
  3. Speak about another company that was involved in a similar controversial.
  4. H&M already issued an apology for the racist advert. How do you think this kind of advert or controversy can affect a company like H&M?
  5. Share your thoughts about protests over corporate wrongdoing turning violent in South Africa. Has there ever been a similar incident in your country? Talk about it.

Cities Face a Surge in Online Deliveries

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Online delivery service is very popular and a convenient way for customers to receive items right at their doorstep but to what extent? Will this continue to keep the streets busy and congested.

Read the article to know what the growth of online shopping looks like on the ground in America’s largest cities.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42245367

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about some problems associated with growing deliveries brought about by skyrocketing online shopping.
  2. What can be done to address these issues?
  3. Do you think it is the same problem in the city where you live in? Why is this so?
  4. How do you feel about online shopping deliveries overall?
  5. How important is online shopping for you?

Open Banking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have been so used to our financial information being kept strictly confidential by our banks. In the UK, a competition watchdog is lobbying for open banking.

Read more on it and be in the know about what it is, how it will work and other relevant information regarding secured financial info sharing among firms.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42253051

Discussion Questions:

1. What is Open Banking?
2. How do you feel about this news?
3. In what ways is this a positive change?
4. What things are you worried about?
5. How would people take such change in your country?

Emojis in Work Emails

B1 – Intermediate

There are do’s and don’ts of writing work emails. Should employees refrain from including smiley face emojis in their emails?

Read more about the use of emojis in work emails.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1708/170816-smiley-face-emojis-5.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about putting emojis/smileys in work emails?
  2. What email writing rules do you know of?
  3. What’s the importance of knowing proper emailing etiquette?
  4. If you could set the rules, should emojis be used as part of professional emails? Why or why not?

Tackling Remote Work Challenges

© Trello

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The world is changing along with the way we live and work. Working remotely is one work styles that is becoming a trend in the workplace nowadays. With teleworking becoming more and more popular these days, it is important to note the good and bad things about it and to know how to deal with them so telecommuting becomes advantageous and satisfying to a person who works from home.

Lift the lid on the joys and struggles of being a home-based worker.

https://blog.trello.com/tips-for-tackling-remote-work-challenges

Let’s talk:

1. What are some challenges that teleworkers face and what are ways to cope with them?

2. How do you view telecommuting?

3. How would you feel about working remotely on a regular basis?

4. Do you think everyone should be given the option to telework?

5. What other workplace trends are becoming popular in your country?

Instant Gratification as a Marketing Tactic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Humans are naturally inclined to have desires for things. In the business setting, whoever provides these desires in the best way and timely manner possible, gets ahead of the competition.

With this in mind, instant gratification can offer a wide array of benefits for digital marketers.

Get a deeper understanding of instant gratification, how it works to a company’s advantage in marketing, and ways to provide it to customers.

Leveraging Instant Gratification as a Winning Marketing Tactic

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain why people expect immediate responses now.

2. What are your thoughts on the ideas presented in this article?

3. What are some other ways to handle customer’s desire for instant gratification?

4. Does the company you work for use instant gratification? In what ways?

5. Do you agree that instant gratification provides benefits for businesses?

Bank of England Staff Go on Strike

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Employees are going on a strike. They have decided to demand a pay increase from the Bank of England. Getting very little to no rise in their salary means workers have to constantly make ends meet.

Find out more about the current situation that the bank’s staff have to face and what led them to make the said decision.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1707/170705-bank-of-england.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think are the good and bad things about being a bank worker?

2. Do you think good pay is the most important requirement in a job? Cite a few reasons why.

3. Talk about what you know about the pay rise system in your country.

4. What are the usual reasons workers’ union go on strike in your country?

5. Do you believe strikes should be forbidden? Explain.