English for Business and Entrepreneurship

Syllabus
Winter 2023: January 3 – March 27, 2023

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor Email
Nick [email protected]

COURSE OVERVIEW
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 case studies, 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.

Learning Objectives and Learner Outcomes

• Identify and apply strategies to improve reading and listening comprehension in English
• Identify and practice using key vocabulary in business and entrepreneurship contexts
• Analyze the role of entrepreneurship in local economies
• Identify and compare business models
• Identify and evaluate key components of effective market research
• Identify and evaluate elements of an effective business plan in differing contexts
• Identify and practice developing strategies to attract investors and obtain funding for a start-up

Expectations and Grading

The course runs from January 3 to March 27, 2023. There are five modules in this course. To complete the modules,
participants should work on and offline for 3-5 hours a week. Most participants complete this course in 12 weeks or
less. This is a self-paced course and assignments can be completed at any time before the close date on March 27,
2023

Course Policies
Online Discussion Boards
This course includes opportunities to participate in online discussion boards. In an online discussion board, you can:
• practice communicating in English
• experiment with new words and grammar
• get feedback from other participants
• share your ideas and learn from others.
When communicating on the discussion boards, it is important to follow a set of core principles.

© 2023 by FHI 360. English for Business and Entrepreneurship Syllabus for the Online Professional
English Network (OPEN), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. 1
government and administered by FHI 360. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution
4.0 License, except where noted. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
 
1. Level: High beginner / Low intermediate
This course is intended for English language learners at or approaching level B1 on the Common European
Framework (CEFR).

2. Respond to posts and comments in an encouraging and supportive tone.

Think before you write or respond. Be helpful and supportive. Any criticism should be constructive and given in
a friendly, polite way. If in doubt, think about how you would feel reading the post.

2. Be clear and direct.

Make sure that your content title reflects the content of your post and that your post is short and direct. Put a
blank space at the beginning of a message and between paragraphs. Be brief and specific. Limit your post to 50
– 100 words. This is especially important in Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) which have thousands of
participants.

3. Post relevant content.

Only post content relevant to the “English for Business and Entrepreneurship” Course. Any other content
which is found to be unsuitable or irrelevant will be deleted.

4. Be open to differences in opinion.

Be open to other people’s opinions and try not to get emotional if someone disagrees with you. Make your
learning experience a constructive and positive one by avoiding “flaming”. For example, CAPITAL LETTERS can
be interpreted as shouting. Words are powerful and can hurt; avoid anything which could be misinterpreted in
any way. Think before you push the “send” button.

5. Accept others’ differences.

You are part of a global community which means caring about your own progress and that of your colleagues.

6. Cite other people’s work.

In this course, you are expected to use your own words and ideas, and to acknowledge any sources you use to
gather ideas. Plagiarism is not allowed in OPEN courses.

If you use a quote or reference in your post; make sure that you cite it or provide a link to it.

7.  No spamming.
Please don’t post advertisements in discussion boards or use Canvas inbox in any way other than how they
intend it to be used.

Communicating with the Program

It is your responsibility to communicate with your instructor and the OPEN Program about questions or issues that
prevent you from participating in the course.
• If you have questions about course content, you can post questions in the Content Discussion Board which
is regularly monitored by course facilitators.
• If you have technical issues, please contact [email protected]
COURSE SCHEDULE
Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time
Required
1 Becoming an Identify and use Module 1 Key Vocabulary Review the page “Module 1 Key Vocabulary” 45 min
entrepreneur vocabulary related to Identify new vocabulary in the module
business and Quiz: Module 1 Vocabulary Reviews
entrepreneurship
Develop effective Page: “Reading Strategies: Previewing Read the page “Reading Strategies: Previewing and 75 min
reading strategies to and Predicting” Predicting”
identify main ideas and Video: “Reading Strategies” (Parts 1 Watch the Video “Reading Strategies (Parts 1 and 2)
details. and 2) Participate in the optional discussion: “Practice Reading
Article: “Is entrepreneurship a solution Quickly”
to South Africa’s unemployment crisis?” Participate in the optional discussion: Reading Strategies:
Asking Questions”
Create a one-sentence Video: “Ideas, Products, and Watch the video “Ideas, Products and Opportunities” 75 min
product description Opportunities” Watch the video “Creating Simple, One-Sentence Product
Video: “Creating Simple, One-Sentence Descriptions (Parts 1 and 2)”
Product Descriptions” (Parts 1 and 2) Quiz: Identifying Different Types of Products
Quiz: Creating Product Descriptions
Compare entrepreneurs Video: “What is Entrepreneurship?” Watch the video “What is Entrepreneurship?” 60 min
and small business Video: “Companies vs. Corporations” Watch the video “Comparative Structures (Parts 1 and 2)
owners Video: “Comparative Structures” (Parts Quiz: Comparative Structures
1 and 2)

Weigh the advantages Video: “Why Entrepreneurship?” (Parts Watch the video “Why Entrepreneurship?” (Parts 1 and 2) 75 min
and disadvantages of 1 and 2) Watch the video, “Deciding on a Type of Startup”
entrepreneurship Video: “Deciding on a Type of Startup” Watch the videos “Risks, Failures, and Important Steps”
Video: “Risks, Failures, and Important (Parts 1 and 2)
Steps” (Parts 1 and 2)
2 Identifying an Identify the key steps in Module 2 Key Vocabulary Review the page “Module 2 Key Vocabulary” 75 min
Opportunity conducting market Video: “Market Research and Testing to Watch the video ““Market Research and Testing to
research Identify Opportunities” Identify Opportunities”
Video: “Informal Research: Advantages Watch the video “Informal Research: Advantages and
and Disadvantages” Disadvantages”
Video: “Formal Research: Advantages Watch the video “Formal Research: Advantages and
and Disadvantages” (Parts 1 and 2) Disadvantages” (Parts 1 and 2)

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Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time
Required
Identify and apply Video: “Listening Strategies” (Parts 1 Watch the video “Listening Strategies” (Parts 1 and 2) 45 min
strategies to improve and 2) OPTIONAL Listening Practice “Bugs are the new food”
listening Podcast Story: “Bugs are the new food”
comprehension
Identify and practice Video: “Creating a Survey” (Parts 1 and Watch the video “Creating a Survey” (Parts 1 and 2) 135 min
using effective question 2) Watch the video “Questions and Intonation” (Parts 1 and
form structures and Video: “Questions and Intonation” 2)
strategies to conduct (Parts 1 and 2) Quiz: Questions and Intonation
market research and Video: “Collecting Data” Watch the video “Collecting Data”
communicate with Video: “Evaluating Results” Watch the video “Evaluating Results”
potential partners, OPTIONAL Discussion “Survey Questions: Past or Current
clients, and customers Experience”
Quiz: Creating Survey Questions
3 Creating a Develop your familiarity “Module 2 Key Vocabulary” Review “Module 2 Key Vocabulary” 15 min
Business Plan, with new key
Part 1: Product vocabulary and practice
Description and using that new
Marketing vocabulary in writing.
Become familiar with Video “Why Write a Business Plan?” Watch the video “Why Write a Business Plan?” OPTIONAL 60 min
business plans, why Article “Nigeria’s Wecyclers work for Quiz: “Nigeria’s Wecyclers work for reusable future in
they are important, and reusable future in Lagos” Lagos”
their basic components. Video: Business Description OPTIONAL Discussion: Business Ideas for your local
(Management and Operations) community
Watch the video “Business Description (Management and
Operations)
Identify and practice Video: “Intensifiers and Degree Watch the video “Intensifiers and Degree Complements” 45 min
using intensifiers and Complements” (Parts 1 and 2) (Parts 1 and 2)
degree complements to Quiz: Complements and Intensifiers
describe competitive
advantage more
persuasively.
Write a brief business Video: Marketing Vocabulary and Watch the video “Marketing Vocabulary and Concepts” 90 min
plan with the Concepts (Parts 1 -3) (Parts 1 -3)
appropriate language Video: Business Plans: The Marketing Watch the video “Business Plans: The Marketing Section”
structures for the Section (Parts 1 and 2) (Parts 1 and 2)
intended professional Quiz: The Marketing Mix
audience

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Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time
Required
4 Creating a Develop your familiarity Module 4 Key Vocabulary Review page “Module 4 Key Vocabulary” 15 min
Business Plan, with new key
Part 2 (Financials vocabulary and practice
and Executive using that new
Summary) vocabulary in writing
Become familiar with Video “Introduction to Financials” Watch the video “Introduction to Financials” 135 min
business plans, why Video “The Income Statement” Quiz: Financials Vocabulary
they are important, Video “Calculating Start-up Costs” Watch the video “The Income Statement”
and their basic Video “Calculating Sale and Revenue Quiz: Income Statement Vocabulary
components Projections” Watch the video “Calculating Start-up Costs”
Video “Calculating Cost Projections” Watch the video “Calculating Sale and Revenue
Video “The Executive Summary” Projections”
Watch the video “Calculating Cost Projections”
Watch the video “The Executive Summary”
Quiz: Interpreting Results
5 Attracting Become familiar with Video “Why Seek Financial Support?” Watch the video “Why Seek Financial Support?” 150 min
Investors and ways to obtain funding Video “Financial Support – Watch the video “Financial Support – Bootstrapping”
Obtaining for a start-up, such as Bootstrapping” OPTIONAL Discussion: Bootstrapping Strategies
Financial Support microfinancing, Video “Debt Financing” (Parts 1 and 2) Watch the video “Debt Financing” (Parts 1 and 2)
crowdfunding, and Video “Equity Financing” (Parts 1 and 2) Watch the video “Equity Financing” (Parts 1 and 2)
venture capital and Video “Finding Investors in the Social Watch the video “Finding Investors in the Social Network”
understand the Network” Watch the video “Crowdfunding” (Parts 1 and 2)
opportunities and Video “Crowdfunding” (Parts 1 and 2)
challenges presented
by these options
Learn and practice Module 5 Key Vocabulary Review the page “Module 5 Key Vocabulary” 45 min
vocabulary to discuss Quiz: Module 5 Vocabulary Review
plans and goals for
funding a business
Create a pitch and Video “Making a Pitch” (Parts 1 and 2) Watch the video “Making a Pitch” (Parts 1 and 2) 120 min
persuasively present a Video “Creating an Effective Hook” Watch the video “Creating an Effective Hook” (Parts 1 and
start-up project (Parts 1 and 2) 2)
Video “Adding Impact: Word Stress, Quiz: Be Brief!
Body Language, & Eye Contact” Watch the video “Adding Impact: Word Stress, Body
Vi Language, & Eye Contact”
OPTIONAL Discussion “Adding Impact in Your Home
Culture”
Discussion: Making a Pitch

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