Why choose this skills course?

This course will help you to write clear, effective emails in English. It will cover both technique and language to help you make a good impression, save time both for you and your reader, and compete better with others who work in English. 
We will tailor content to your profession, business or work area. 

Who should attend?

Professionals, business people or support staff from private practice, industry and government organisations.
You should have at least a B2 level of English (European Council reference for language levels). We will assess your level, including by reviewing samples of your emails.
For those with a lower level, please discuss with us a modified course that addresses grammar in your work context.

What will you achieve by attending?

You will be able to:

• • engage your reader, sustain their attention and persuade them
  • write more succinctly and accurately in English
  • know more about email conventions of native and non-native speakers of English
  • avoid cross-cultural misunderstandings
  • review and improve some grammar 

What will we cover?

• • Writing for the reader and for your purpose; adjusting your tone
  • Starting your email and signing off: comparisons by country including UK, US and participants’
  • Formality and informality, adjusting your tone
  • Writing diplomatically and avoiding cross-cultural misunderstandings
  • Using subject lines that engage and get results
  • Getting to the point and structuring your email
  • Keeping it clear and simple for your reader, including layout, style and grammar, avoiding wordiness 
  • Ensuring completeness of content
  • Knowing when email is not the best way to communicate
  • Avoiding common grammar errors, eg relating to tenses, prepositions, countable/uncountable nouns
  • Grammar and language feedback throughout.
  • Optional further grammar tailored to needs 
  • Proofreading

What exercises will you do? 

You will complete exercises throughout, to draw out best-practice guidelines and practise writing. 
Exercises will include the following:
a)  analysing and rewriting poorly written emails, also covering issues that arise from pre-submitted samples of participants’ emails 
b)  writing emails from scratch
c)  brief grammar exercises on common errors 
d)  optional more in-depth grammar to address grammar issues arising from pre-course needs assessment