The Executive English course is a highly intensive language course designed to make business professionals more effective when they use English. Each session is unique, as its curriculum is developed around the needs of the participants. And because classes are limited to no more than 4 participants, course contents are highly focused for maximum learning. The course lasts two weeks, but it is possible for take two courses in succession without repeating material.

Executive English focuses on language useful for business. We spend a large part of the first morning discussing clients’ professional needs and language weaknesses, discovering what participants need and want to concentrate on in the course. This enables us to draw up a contract of expectations with clients, and to choose materials and activities that fulfill that contract. Instructors provide intensive error correction, feedback, and analysis to participants, and personalized attention that helps participants discover and monitor recurring errors. Our primary goals typically include:

Our instructors are highly-qualified professionals with Master’s degrees in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or a related field. In addition, ELP instructors have an average of 19 years’ experience teaching English in the United States and abroad.

Executive English is appropriate for those with intermediate to advanced English language proficiency. Acceptance to the course is contingent on the completion of a pre-course Learner Profile (see attached) and follow-up telephone interview. The small class size allows us to monitor individual language practice exercises that are appropriate in level and focus for each client. Equally important, when we work as a group each person gets realistic practice in coping with the difficulties of international communications, including unfamiliar accents, varying levels of vocabulary, and different cultural concepts.

All instructional materials are included in the course fee. These typically include a business English textbook, a business dictionary, and a vocabulary book. The instructional team usually creates practice materials and simulation prompts. Clients are encouraged to bring or buy a good quality English-only language learners’ dictionary, such as the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary.

Many of our clients find it very useful to bring a small cassette player to enable them to take advantage of our library of listening tape. Some participants also like to record speakers or their own performances in class for later analysis.

Executive English is so successful because we limit the class size to a maximum of four students. This allows us to record client performance and give detailed, documented feedback. Clients literally monitor their own progress as they use English in more and more demanding "real world" situations.

30 , 35 or 40 hours per week  

Executive English offers up to 40 hours of instruction per week, with clients meeting for five morning sessions and four afternoon sessions. The average Executive English day reflects the course philosophy of maximum individual attention and progress. There are three core components to the course:

Language Awareness concentrates on analyzing language and practicing micro-skills such as grammar, pronunciation, phraseology, linking expressions, etc.

Business Topics offers improvement in reading, discussion, and (if requested) writing. Clients may concentrate on documents, articles, and vocabulary specific to their own professional situations.

Language Performance offers clients the opportunity to perform and then analyze their own English through filmed presentations and simulated business situations. This, then, serves as good practice for out-of-class projects, or for clients’ real Bay Area professional appointments.

Executive English clients come from many professions and from all over the world. They have intermediate and higher English proficiency and typically:

During the term, guests from the San Francisco business community give presentations to the class and are encouraged to provide training workshops rather than academic lectures. We have built up an impressive panel of speakers, inviting only those who consistently win good evaluations from our clients. Speakers are typically chosen to reflect client interests.

We encourage clients to make contacts in their own filed during their stay in the Bay Area. In addition, we try to arrange any outside visit suggested by clients, but public relations departments can not always respond to last-minute requests. Popular destinations include the Pacific Exchange, Levi Strauss headquarters, libraries with large business holdings and state-of-the-art research facilities, the NUMI car plant in Fremont, and classes at UC’s Haas School of Business.

At the end of each course, detailed reports are prepared for each client. These describe the course and on what areas clients worked. They outline each client’s strengths and weaknesses in using English for his or her business needs, and suggest ways to continue improvement.

UC Berkeley Extension offers a range of business-related diploma programs that require a minimum score of 550 on the institutional TOEFL or 760 on the TOEIC. In order to preserve the integrity of these programs, no exceptions to this requirement are made. Many clients enroll in EIB as a prelude to a diploma course. For students who already have a 550 TOEFL score, EIB offers the chance to increase fluency and communications kills, to get into a routine of study, and to adjust to life in San Francisco before beginning the diploma program. Students who do not yet have a 550 TOEFL score can use the time to increase their language skills and confidence, and to prepare for the TOEFL at the end of the program.

The Student Activities Office at ELP plans optional cultural and recreational activities to help make the student’s English learning experience in Berkeley as enjoyable as possible. ELP-organized events include:

Volleyball and Basketball Tournaments Karaoke Party

Theater in San Francisco Barbeque

San Francisco Sight-seeing Great America Amusement Park

Ski Trip to Lake Tahoe Bike Trips Across the Golden Gate Bridge

Extra fees are required for most activities. After arriving at ELP, students choose the activities they would like to participate in and they pay their fees at that time. Optional activities provide participants with an opportunity to meet students from different cultures and to practice English in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

*Activities vary seasonally and depend upon availability