Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Book Review: Business Correspondence, by Lin Lougheed
Years and years ago, there were few books on ESL writing. I remember back in the mid-80s teaching secretaries and businesspeople mainly by editing their own writing. Good times! Fortunately, the ESL market has expanded to serve these folks as well, and there are now some good resources for them. Lin Lougheed’s Business Correspondence (Pearson Longman, ISBN 0-13-089792-1) is definitely one of them.
The book is short, coming in at under 150 pages, and is built around different types of daily business-related writing, such as job applications, seeking services, following up, providing and seeking information, working with customers and vendors, writing claims and adjustments, and others. Models are given and explained, and business language is reviewed as well. It is very practical in orientation.
The book succeeds at condensing many business writing requirements into effective formulas and forms. There are many practices in editing and error detection. And for much business writing this is entirely appropriate, especially for immigrants breaking into the US job market or foreign learners planning on working in English-speaking environments.
This will be useful for anyone outside the US teaching secretaries, new managers, and college students. It will be similarly helpful for anyone inside the US teaching immigrants looking to get (or get back) into the business world.
Conclusion: Very practical, good value.
The book is short, coming in at under 150 pages, and is built around different types of daily business-related writing, such as job applications, seeking services, following up, providing and seeking information, working with customers and vendors, writing claims and adjustments, and others. Models are given and explained, and business language is reviewed as well. It is very practical in orientation.
The book succeeds at condensing many business writing requirements into effective formulas and forms. There are many practices in editing and error detection. And for much business writing this is entirely appropriate, especially for immigrants breaking into the US job market or foreign learners planning on working in English-speaking environments.
This will be useful for anyone outside the US teaching secretaries, new managers, and college students. It will be similarly helpful for anyone inside the US teaching immigrants looking to get (or get back) into the business world.
Conclusion: Very practical, good value.
