Module 1 — Foundations of Business English Communication
Unit 1.1 Comprehensive Teaching Materials
Professional Introductions and Workplace Communication
Target Learners
Japanese professionals working in international companies
English Level
Beginner to Intermediate
Recommended Lesson Time
5–8 hours total or divided into multiple lessons
UNIT OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
Introduce themselves professionally in English
Describe their job roles and company responsibilities
Participate in basic workplace conversations
Build confidence in speaking with international colleagues
Improve listening comprehension in workplace situations
Take simple and organized notes during conversations
Use common business English expressions and workplace idioms naturally
UNIT TOPICS
Introducing Yourself Professionally
Introducing Your Company and Job Role
Greeting International Colleagues and Clients
Small Talk in the Workplace
Asking and Answering Workplace Questions
Telephone and Online Meeting Introductions
Listening and Note-Taking Basics
Final Integrated Workplace Communication Practice
TOPIC 1 — INTRODUCING YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY
PART A — WARM-UP DISCUSSION
Discussion Questions
Why are professional introductions important in business?
What information should you include when introducing yourself?
How do people usually introduce themselves in Japan?
What differences exist between Japanese and international business introductions?
PART B — KEY VOCABULARY
| Word/Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Position | Job title |
| Department | Division in a company |
| Responsibility | Work duty |
| Colleague | Co-worker |
| Client | Customer |
| Experience | Work background |
| Industry | Business field |
| Headquarters | Main office |
| Branch office | Local office |
| Project | Work assignment |
PART C — KEY EXPRESSIONS
Introducing Yourself
“Hello, my name is…”
“I work for…”
“I’m responsible for…”
“I’ve been with the company for…”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Asking About Others
“What department do you work in?”
“What do you do at your company?”
“How long have you worked there?”
PART D — COMMON BUSINESS IDIOMS
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Get your foot in the door | Start an opportunity | “This internship helped me get my foot in the door.” |
| Learn the ropes | Learn how work is done | “I’m still learning the ropes.” |
| Wear many hats | Have many responsibilities | “Managers often wear many hats.” |
PART E — MODEL DIALOGUE
Dialogue 1 — Self-Introduction
A: Hello, my name is Kenji Sato. I work for Global Tech Solutions.
B: Nice to meet you, Mr. Sato. What do you do there?
A: I’m a sales coordinator in the international sales department. I mainly work with overseas clients.
B: That sounds interesting. How long have you worked there?
A: I’ve been with the company for about three years.
PART F — SPEAKING PRACTICE
Activity 1 — Self-Introduction Pair Practice
Instructions
Students introduce themselves including:
Name
Company
Position
Responsibilities
Work experience
Activity 2 — Speed Networking
Students rotate partners every 2 minutes and practice introductions repeatedly.
PART G — LISTENING PRACTICE
Teacher Reading Script
“Good morning, everyone. My name is Yuki Tanaka, and I work for Sunrise Electronics in the marketing department. I’m responsible for managing social media campaigns and international advertising projects. I’ve been with the company for five years.”
Exercise A — Listening Questions
What company does Yuki work for?
Which department does she work in?
What is she responsible for?
How long has she worked there?
PART H — NOTE-TAKING PRACTICE
| Name | Company | Department | Responsibility | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TOPIC 2 — INTRODUCING YOUR COMPANY AND JOB ROLE
PART A — KEY EXPRESSIONS
Talking About Your Company
“Our company specializes in…”
“We provide services related to…”
“Our headquarters is located in…”
Describing Job Roles
“My main responsibility is…”
“I coordinate with international teams.”
“I manage customer support operations.”
PART B — COMMON BUSINESS IDIOMS
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Run the show | Manage operations |
| Climb the corporate ladder | Advance career |
| Be in charge of | Manage responsibility |
PART C — SPEAKING ACTIVITIES
Activity 1 — Company Introduction
Students explain:
Company industry
Main services/products
Company size
International activities
Activity 2 — Job Description Practice
Students describe daily responsibilities.
PART D — LISTENING PRACTICE
Teacher Reading Script
“Our company develops software solutions for international logistics companies. We currently operate in more than 15 countries, and our Tokyo office manages customer support for clients throughout Asia.”
Exercise B — Questions
What does the company develop?
How many countries does it operate in?
What does the Tokyo office manage?
PART E — NOTE-TAKING PRACTICE
| Company Business | Number of Countries | Tokyo Office Role |
|---|---|---|
TOPIC 3 — GREETING INTERNATIONAL COLLEAGUES AND CLIENTS
PART A — KEY EXPRESSIONS
Formal Greetings
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with us.”
“I hope we can work together successfully.”
Informal Professional Greetings
“How’s your day going?”
“How was your trip?”
“It’s great to see you again.”
PART B — COMMON IDIOMS
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Break the ice | Start communication comfortably |
| Make a good impression | Create positive image |
| Put someone at ease | Make comfortable |
PART C — SPEAKING ACTIVITIES
Activity 1 — Client Greeting Role-Play
Scenarios
Meeting overseas visitors
Greeting conference participants
Welcoming business partners
Activity 2 — Cultural Greeting Discussion
Students compare:
Japanese greetings
Western greetings
Business etiquette differences
PART D — LISTENING PRACTICE
Teacher Reading Script
“Welcome to Tokyo, Mr. Wilson. We appreciate your visit to our headquarters today. After the meeting, we’ve arranged a short office tour and dinner with our management team.”
Exercise C — Questions
Who is visiting?
Where is he visiting?
What is arranged after the meeting?
PART E — NOTE-TAKING PRACTICE
| Visitor | Location | Planned Activities |
|---|---|---|
TOPIC 4 — SMALL TALK IN THE WORKPLACE
PART A — KEY EXPRESSIONS
Starting Small Talk
“How was your weekend?”
“Have you been busy lately?”
“Did you watch the game yesterday?”
Continuing Conversations
“That sounds interesting.”
“Really? Tell me more.”
“I’ve had a similar experience.”
PART B — COMMON IDIOMS
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Catch up | Share updates |
| Keep busy | Stay occupied |
| Have a lot on your plate | Be very busy |
PART C — SPEAKING ACTIVITIES
Activity 1 — Office Conversation Practice
Students discuss:
Hobbies
Travel
Food
Weekend plans
Activity 2 — Conference Small Talk
Students practice networking conversations during business events.
PART D — LISTENING PRACTICE
Teacher Reading Script
“I’ve been very busy recently because our department is preparing for a product launch next month. However, I’m planning to take a short vacation after the project is completed.”
Exercise D — Questions
Why has the speaker been busy?
What is the department preparing for?
What does the speaker plan to do later?
PART E — NOTE-TAKING PRACTICE
| Current Situation | Upcoming Event | Future Plan |
|---|---|---|
TOPIC 5 — ASKING AND ANSWERING WORKPLACE QUESTIONS
PART A — KEY EXPRESSIONS
Asking Questions
“Could you explain that further?”
“What does this project involve?”
“Who should I contact about this?”
Answering Questions
“Let me clarify that for you.”
“The project focuses on…”
“You should speak with the HR department.”
PART B — COMMON IDIOMS
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Get straight to the point | Speak directly |
| Be on the same page | Share understanding |
| Clear things up | Clarify confusion |
PART C — SPEAKING ACTIVITIES
Activity 1 — Information Request Practice
Students ask about:
Company procedures
Project details
Scheduling
Responsibilities
Activity 2 — Clarification Challenge
Students practice:
Asking follow-up questions
Confirming information
Explaining workplace details
PART D — LISTENING PRACTICE
Teacher Reading Script
“The new project focuses on improving customer response times. The customer support team will work closely with the IT department to develop a more efficient communication system.”
Exercise E — Questions
What is the project focus?
Which departments will cooperate?
What system will they develop?
PART E — NOTE-TAKING PRACTICE
| Project Goal | Departments Involved | Planned Improvement |
|---|---|---|
TOPIC 6 — TELEPHONE AND ONLINE MEETING INTRODUCTIONS
PART A — KEY EXPRESSIONS
Telephone Communication
“Hello, this is… speaking.”
“May I ask who’s calling?”
“Could you repeat that, please?”
Online Meetings
“Can everyone hear me clearly?”
“Thank you for joining today’s meeting.”
“Let’s begin with introductions.”
PART B — COMMON IDIOMS
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Speak up | Talk louder |
| Cut off | Lose connection |
| Touch base | Communicate briefly |
PART C — SPEAKING ACTIVITIES
Activity 1 — Telephone Role-Play
Students practice:
Answering calls
Transferring calls
Taking messages
Activity 2 — Virtual Meeting Simulation
Students practice:
Online introductions
Technical checks
Basic meeting participation
PART D — LISTENING PRACTICE
Teacher Reading Script
“Good afternoon, this is David Miller from Bright Solutions. I’m calling regarding tomorrow’s online meeting with the marketing team. Could you please confirm the meeting schedule?”
Exercise F — Questions
Who is calling?
What company is he from?
Why is he calling?
PART E — NOTE-TAKING PRACTICE
| Caller | Company | Purpose of Call |
|---|---|---|
TOPIC 7 — LISTENING AND NOTE-TAKING BASICS
PART A — KEY EXPRESSIONS
Clarifying Information
“Could you repeat that?”
“Did you say Tuesday or Thursday?”
“Let me confirm the details.”
Summarizing
“So the main point is…”
“The meeting will focus on…”
“The next step is…”
PART B — COMMON IDIOMS
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Get the message | Understand information |
| Keep track of | Monitor information |
| Stay informed | Continue updated |
PART C — SPEAKING ACTIVITIES
Activity 1 — Listening Confirmation Practice
Students practice confirming:
Dates
Names
Schedules
Responsibilities
Activity 2 — Summary Practice
Students summarize short conversations verbally.
PART D — LISTENING PRACTICE
Teacher Reading Script
“The sales meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon has been moved to Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. All department managers are expected to attend the updated meeting.”
Exercise G — Questions
What meeting changed?
When is the new schedule?
Who should attend?
PART E — NOTE-TAKING PRACTICE
| Meeting | Original Schedule | New Schedule | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
FINAL INTEGRATED WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION PRACTICE
Scenario
First day at an international company
Students Must:
Introduce themselves professionally
Describe their company and responsibilities
Participate in small talk
Ask and answer workplace questions
Join an online meeting introduction
Demonstrate listening and note-taking skills
TEACHER’S GUIDE
RECOMMENDED LESSON FLOW
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Warm-Up Discussion | 15 mins |
| Vocabulary & Expressions | 35 mins |
| Dialogue Practice | 25 mins |
| Speaking Activities | 50 mins |
| Listening Activities | 40 mins |
| Note-Taking Practice | 30 mins |
| Integrated Role-Plays | 60 mins |
| Feedback & Reflection | 20 mins |
COMMON CHALLENGES FOR JAPANESE LEARNERS
1. Hesitation During Self-Introduction
Problem
Students may lack confidence speaking about themselves.
Teaching Tip
Use repeated short introduction practice.
2. Difficulty with Small Talk
Problem
Learners may feel uncomfortable with casual conversation.
Teaching Tip
Provide predictable conversation topics first.
3. Listening to Fast English
Problem
Students may miss important details.
Teaching Tip
Practice note-taking with short recordings.
4. Pronunciation and Clarity
Problem
Students may speak too softly or unclearly.
Teaching Tip
Encourage slower speech and stress practice.
ANSWER KEY
Exercise A Answers
Sunrise Electronics
Marketing department
Social media campaigns and international advertising
Five years
Exercise B Answers
Software solutions
More than 15 countries
Customer support for Asia
Exercise C Answers
Mr. Wilson
Headquarters in Tokyo
Office tour and dinner
Exercise D Answers
Preparing for a product launch
Product launch next month
Take a vacation
Exercise E Answers
Improving customer response times
Customer support and IT
Communication system
Exercise F Answers
David Miller
Bright Solutions
Confirm tomorrow’s meeting schedule
Exercise G Answers
Sales meeting
Friday at 10:00 a.m.
Department managers
SAMPLE NOTE-TAKING ANSWERS
Topic 7
| Meeting | Original Schedule | New Schedule | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Meeting | Thursday afternoon | Friday 10:00 a.m. | Department managers |
RECOMMENDED FEEDBACK FORMAT FOR TUTORING NOTES
| Category | Feedback |
|---|---|
| Speaking Confidence | Participated actively during introductions |
| Vocabulary Usage | Used workplace expressions appropriately |
| Listening | Understood key details accurately |
| Pronunciation | Speech becoming clearer and more natural |
| Fluency | Improved smoothness in conversation |
| Participation | Engaged well in pair activities |
| Next Goal | Practice more spontaneous workplace conversations |
SAMPLE TEACHER FEEDBACK COMMENTS
Positive Feedback
“Excellent self-introduction and professional tone.”
“Good participation during small talk activities.”
“You used workplace vocabulary naturally.”
Corrective Feedback
“Practice asking follow-up questions more confidently.”
“Try speaking slightly louder during conversations.”
“Focus on improving sentence flow during introductions.”
HOMEWORK ACTIVITIES
Homework 1
Watch a professional introduction video on LinkedIn Learning and identify:
Greeting expressions
Self-introduction structure
Workplace vocabulary
Homework 2
Prepare a 1-minute self-introduction about your work experience.
Homework 3
Write a short summary of your company and job responsibilities in English.
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