Business English Bedanext lesson 3

• English
• HBO
• Studiejaar 3

Business English Bedanext, lesson 3

Assignment

Formal letter

Peer feedback - fill in the form, please

NOTE: before handing over your work to a classmate, first save the file under a different name!

Switch on 'TRACK CHANGES' before you're going to work on the article!

  

You need to be able to see what is being changed in your article later on.

Number the several versions!

Work in progress

Which is the basic structure of a letter?

1. past, present, future
2. circular structure

Basic structure

Past: what happened before? Which background information does the reader need?

Present: what needs to be resolved? What is the issue; the reason the letter is written?

Future: what do you expect from the reader? Which action(s) should follow after reading?

Is the third person plural (we/our/us) the form to use in a letter?

1. Yes
2. No

Is the third person plural (we/our/us) the form to use in formal writing?

1. Yes
2. No

Personal pronouns & formal writing

• 1st person singular:  used in letters of application (a.k.a. cover letters)
• 1st person plural: used in business letters and emails, written on behalf of an organisation
• In all other forms of formal writing, a neutral style is used, avoiding the use of the 1st and 2nd personal pronouns (so no I, we, you)

How do you start a formal letter to Bella Jones? Note: the salutation, in UK spelling

How do you end a letter of application?
Note: for this answer, it is assumed that you know the name of the addressee

What is the more common, more modern and slightly less formal way to formulate the greeting of a letter?

Can you start a letter with 'I'?

1. Yes
2. No

The first word...

Note that in English, it is perfectly acceptable to start a letter using 'I'.

Note that you always start using a capital letter, despite of the fact that the salutation is followed by a comma!

Time for some grammar & usage

Choose the correct preposition

apply ..... a position

1. to
2. for
3. on
4. with

respond .... an advertisement

1. to
2. on
3. by
4. upon

in answer .... your letter

1. upon
2. with
3. on
4. to

be prepared .... work irregular hours

1. for
2. to
3. on
4. by

wait .... your reply

1. for
2. on
3. by
4. with

I am good .... English

1. at
2. with
3. in
4. for

I am good .... people

1. at
2. in
3. by
4. with

my position ..... Company X was

1. by
2. on
3. with
4. at

my knowledge ..... accounting

1. in
2. from
3. by
4. of

Text analysis

from Mankiw

Read the document: 

Lesson 3 Mankiw fragment

What is the yield of a bond?

1. wat de obligatie opbrengt
2. wat de obligatie waard is

Highest risk for the buyer/owner

Define the credit risk

Lowest risk for the buyer/owner

junk bond

gilt-edged bond

What is the Dutch translation of the word 'inverse' in 'there is an inverse relationship between price and yield'?

1. duidelijk
2. omgekeerd
3. verwrongen
4. goed

Which noun (=zelfstandig naamwoord) is derived from 'receive'?
Note: the word you are asked to fill in is the one common in economic terms!

The expectation that the reward for saving will be the receipt of interest is not universal.

The expectation that the reward for saving will be the receipt of interest is not universal.

1. In the context, this means that borrowers do not always have to pay
2. In the context, this means that borrowers must always pay

Note that the text says that Islamic finance has a different approach to finance

Which specific term is used for the interest you will receive on a regular basis when you own a bond?

Exit poll

Do you appreciate getting questions about grammar?

yes

no

Do you appreciate going into Mankiw in English class?

yes

no

Please let me know what you would like/need to do in class next week

Homework

• Review the theory of lesson 3
• Write a practice letter of application using the About USA Triathlon vacancy text on Canvas: 

Module Business English/Overview/Preparation lesson 4