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Database of Teaching Sources

A database of selected, reviewed, tested, assessed and validated e-learning based language teaching sources addressed to Higher education students for the learning of 18 different European languages.

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Online business and bricks and mortar business/Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos – documentary

Date of Publication

2020

Target Group

Lecturers
Students

Domain Area

Business & Communication
International Relations

Learning Scenario

Autonomous learning
Classroom Context

Target Language

English

Language of Instruction

English

CEFR level

B2
C1

Type of Material

Video

Linguistic Features

Vocabulary
Grammar

Skills

Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Writing

Description

The resource is a YouTube video available online (apparently) since 2020. It’s a good resource for a warmer/lead-in activity to introduce the topic of online business and bricks and mortar businesses, but it can also be used in other stages of a lesson.

This activity involving the use of video/documentary is mainly aimed at business/marketing students who want to develop their knowledge on companies and their business/leadership models, strategies, etc, as well as teachers/lecturers who want to provide their business/marketing students with an approach/material such as a video-related activity that reinforces their knowledge on the referred concepts.
This activity helps students contact and use specific vocabulary and grammar regarding the world of business and marketing, employing different activities as suggested, namely: listening, speaking, and writing.

Case study

This resource was used in an English class of students studying the B2 degree in Marketing. As part of the syllabus, students were discussing the topic of Online business and other topics such as bricks and mortar businesses, among others. Besides doing the very activities as suggested by the coursebook and other teacher´s materials, students were shown a video presenting a documentary about the world-famous Amazon company and its path to success. The video is available on Youtube and the students were asked to watch it and pay particular attention to the lesson related concepts and items, its grammar and vocabulary so that they could use it later through a debate and possibly a writing activity, namely a sum up of the contents as watched.

Guidelines

The following steps are suggested:
Lead-in: elicit from the students the types of businesses (as previously studied in class or not).
Step 1: The students are asked about their buying habits and experiences in online and physical commerce/markets. Ask them which one they prefer and why.
Step 2: Write on the board keywords/concepts regarding the main topic.
Step 3 -Show the students the video/documentary and make pauses as soon as a critical concept is referred and make sure the students understand the contents.
Step 4- After watching the video, the students are asked to orally sum up the video and present their ideas/opinions on it.
Step 5-the students do some writing practise by writing down the sum-up of the video/documentary.
Step 6- the students get ready for the debate. They now are divided into 2 groups- one in favour of online business and one against it. The teacher makes sure every student participates orally in the debate.

Review

Category
Rate
Comprehensive approach
Capacity to match the needs of lecturers and students

4

Added value
The provided tangible improvements

4

Motivation enhancement
The capacity to motivate students to improve their language skills

5

Innovation
Effectiveness in introducing innovative, creative and previously unknown approaches to LSP learning

3

Transferability
Measurement of the transferable potential and possibility to be a source of further capitalisation/application for other language projects in different countries

5

Skills assessment and validation
Availability of appropriate tools for lecturers to monitor students’ progress and for students to assess own progress and to reflect on learning

4

Adaptability
Flexibility of the contents and possibilities for the LSP lecturers to adapt the contents to their and to students’ need

5

Usability
Assess the technical usability from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

4

Accessibility
Assess the accessibility from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Comments:
This resource corresponds to both lecturers' and students’ needs. Indeed, it supports teachers in their lessons to illustrate how the specific vocabulary from business or marketing may be used today. Furthermore, it challenges students to listen carefully to the video and pay attention to details to later use it within the very contexts of speaking/debating or writing. Learners may also watch it online on their own in case they need a further understanding. This YouTube video has got 13 694505 viewers and is of good quality regarding its contents. It is of easy access and usage as well.
This resource may also be used/applied in other languages, as long as English is the target language.
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