Challenges In Designing A Business English Course

The paper presents the Business English course at the University of Zadar, focusing on teachers’ observations regarding the suitability of the course materials and possible improvements. Recent literature considers the customization and alignment of such materials with content area topics to be highly beneficial. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to explore and propose an alternative approach to course material development for a Business English course that aligns more closely with specific business content areas and provides current, relevant topics reflecting recent developments in the field. The methodology incorporates teachers' classroom experiences, highlighting the need for up-to-date materials in Business English as a prominent teaching issue. The coursebook is reassessed, and relevant literature on authentic material development is examined. Finally, an exemplary Business English lesson is designed for first-year Management students, utilizing authentic materials and supplemented with interactive tasks in an e-course. During this process, advice is sought from the content area teacher to ensure coordination between lesson content and topic relevance. This type of customized course material is expected to positively impact students’ motivation and enhance their classroom participation by bringing real-world business situations into the classroom.