Shakespeare and Shareholders

Abstract

This article describes a project that attempts to teach business English to an interdisciplinary group of university students by means of producing a play, the script of which has been specifically prepared to include business-related situations and vocabulary. The project mainly aims at improving students' oral competence by giving them the opportunity to use (business) English in fictional but meaningful situations and by using it as the working language throughout the whole project. The project mainly involves students who major either in business or in modern languages. In the project students who might not have been interested in literature and theatre are introduced to it through a connection with work-related topics whereas students who might not have been interested in business get a glimpse of it by approaching it through drama. Both groups can improve their proficiency in English, their 'everyday English' as well as their business English. The article describes the motivation behind the project, the project's structure and the benefits for the students but also reflects on aspects that could be improved. This article describes a project that attempts to teach business English to an interdisciplinary group of university students by means of producing a play, the script of which has been specifically prepared to include business-related situations and vocabulary. The project mainly aims at improving students' oral competence by giving them the opportunity to use (business) English in fictional but meaningful situations and by using it as the working language throughout the whole project. The project mainly involves students who major either in business or in modern languages. In the project students who might not have been interested in literature and theatre are introduced to it through a connection with work-related topics whereas students who might not have been interested in business get a glimpse of it by approaching it through drama. Both groups can improve their proficiency in English, their 'everyday English' as well as their business English. The article describes the motivation behind the project, the project's structure and the benefits for the students but also reflects on aspects that could be improved.