New Cambridge Business English (Advanced) Study Guide

Author: Wu Qianlong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: In the 21st century, Cambridge University Press has launched a new edition of the "New Cambridge Business English Series." The series consists of three main textbooks: Further Ahead (beginner level, equivalent to BEC Preliminary), Working in English (intermediate level, equivalent to BEC Vantage), and English for Business Studies (advanced level, aligned with BEC Higher). Additionally, there is a distinctive Business Vocabulary in Use as a business English vocabulary textbook. Each of the three main textbooks is accompanied by CDs, videos, and audio cassettes. While the unit themes have some overlap, the language level progressively advances. This series can serve as a BEC exam preparation guide, a business English course textbook, or a self-study resource, with BEC as the final assessment exam.
The "New Cambridge Business English Study Guide" was written by Chinese BEC examiners and teacher trainers certified by the Cambridge University English Examinations Committee and the China Education Examination Center, with participation from experts from nearly 20 institutions. This Chinese edition of the "Study Guide" is designed to complement the original textbook, providing enhancements and supplements in unit learning objectives and methods, annotations for difficult sentences, vocabulary explanations, English language and cultural knowledge, and business knowledge and skills, aiming to offer comprehensive teaching support for Chinese students.
The "New Cambridge Business English Series" is one of the most up-to-date, authoritative, applicable, comprehensive, and professional premium textbooks available in China. Its novelty is reflected not only in its timing but also in its content. For example, English for Business Studies has added "information technology" and "joint ventures (entrepreneurs and venture capital)," while Working in English provides a link to the website. The series covers a wide range of business topics, including production, marketing, office management, finance, communication, travel, human resources, and more. Its authority lies in embodying the modern foreign language education principles of "authenticity," "communicative competence," and "synthesis."
For instance, in terms of "authenticity," it includes:
1) Authentic material sources, such as newspapers, magazines, company documents, books, interviews, and especially the internet (e.g., www.ft.com—the Global Archive, Financial Times' website).
2) Realistic tasks, allowing students to interact with various business professionals, such as clients, colleagues/co-workers, superiors, subordinates, suppliers, company directors, quality managers, human resources managers, store managers, accountants, bond dealers, ecologists, economists, financial journalists, and British Members of Parliament, through role-playing, case studies, group discussions, and pair work.
3) Authentic language, teaching English as a foreign language with native and non-native speakers, international businesspeople, and providing a thorough collection of business and economic terms.
4) Realistic contexts, creating authentic communication environments through eliciting information and preliminary discussion questions during teaching.
With this series of "authenticity," the "communicative competence" of teaching naturally becomes achievable. The concept of "synthesis" refers to the textbook's flexible content organization, allowing teachers to select materials as needed without a strict "step-by-step" approach.
The applicability of this textbook lies in its suitability for business students or professionals to acquire practical listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in the business world, while also learning language acquisition methods and business communication strategies. It equips learners to use English for work, problem-solving, conflict resolution, handling personnel matters, self-improvement, and skill development.
Ultimately, these advantages lead to the textbook's professionalism, reflected in both specialized foreign language teaching and specialized business communication.
In summary, the "New Cambridge Business English" and "New Cambridge Business English Study Guide" are the culmination of the intellect, effort, and dedication of domestic and international business English teaching and assessment experts. Their sole goal is to contribute to global communication and commercial prosperity. We sincerely wish those striving for success in the international business world and global workplace to "seek first the mastery of the tool," mastering business English as their "sharp tool" as quickly as possible.
This study guide is based on the "New Cambridge Business English Advanced Course" and primarily provides phonetic transcriptions and Chinese definitions for all words, translates all exercise instructions and guidelines into Chinese for reference during independent study, annotates and translates difficult sentences, key sentences, and important expressions in each unit, and offers supplementary materials for background knowledge. Finally, it includes answers to all exercises.
At the advanced level of business English, grammar is no longer the focus, so the emphasis is placed on understanding and applying business knowledge. The student book covers nearly all aspects of business activities and introduces basic knowledge in these areas in English, making it not only an excellent English learning textbook but also a valuable resource for learning professional knowledge through English.