LEARNING BUSINESS ENGLISH – NEW CHALLENGES AND METHODS: FROM COURSEBOOKS TO TECHNOLOGY BASED STRATEGIES

Abstract

Being a trade language and a diplomatic one, used in business, science, aviation, computers, tourism, diplomacy, actually, in all the fields of our lives, English is the third most widely spoken language in the world, taught in 118 countries. Thus, acting as a communication language across the globe and having a huge influence in the business field, we are facing the expansion of international relations in various spheres, requiring future university graduates a competency-based approach to mastering Business English. Language education policymakers have incorporated English in higher education syllabuses in order for the students to become proficient in English, having different pedagogical methods and motivational techniques. In this article we are trying to describe our perception on how to shape the students’ motivation to study Business English, by using new techniques and more attractive methods. Human behaviour can be shaped and influenced in a wide variety of ways, ranging from incentives and rewards, considered to be external motives and continuing with the internal motives, which are represented by the wide spectrum of reasons for doing things: people can be motivated by the love of power and money, the love for others and the world around us or the love of peace and freedom. And because of the complexity of life, in general, several of these motives can affect us simultaneously, interacting with each other. When talking about mastering Business English, the same situation occurs. The students’ ultimate success always depends on the level of motivation. And this motivation has been the target of intensive research in Business English acquisition for a long time. The article begins with a theoretical approach describing the problem under discussion, continuing with some suggestions of pedagogical conditions that make effective impact on increasing the students’ motivation and adding some ideas of materials to be used in class.