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English for Business and Entrepreneurship

University of Pennsylvania

About this Course

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Welcome to English for Business and Entrepreneurship, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs. 
To enroll in this course for free, click on “Enroll now” and then select "Full Course.  No certificate."

This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in learning more about the global business economy. In this course, you will learn about topics and language necessary to succeed in the international workplace.  You will explore business English through authentic readings and video lectures, while learning about business vocabulary, concepts, and issues. Unit 1 will provide an introduction to entrepreneurship by examining ideas, products, and opportunities. In unit 2, you will learn about the basics of market research, including how to identify an opportunity. The next unit in the course will focus on business plans, why these plans are important, and will give you a chance to practice composing a business plan. In the final unit of the course, we will present basics for funding a business and will help you create a persuasive presentation, or pitch, based on a business plan. 

Unless otherwise noted, all course materials are available for re-use, repurposing and free distribution under a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license.

Supplemental reading materials were provided by Newsela, which publishes daily news articles at a level that's just right for each English language learner.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 32 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, English, Spanish

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Skills you will gain

Business Plan
Market Research
English Language
Entrepreneurship

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 32 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, English, Spanish

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.88/5 (1,190 Ratings)

Amy Nichols
Top Instructor

Manager of International Research and Program Development

English Language Programs

402,058 Learners

1 Course

James Riedel
Top Instructor

Executive Director

English Language Programs

402,058 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating99%(122,009 ratings)

Week

Week 1

9 hours to complete

Unit 1: Becoming an Entrepreneur

In this unit, we will introduce course goals and logistics, then discuss basic concepts and vocabulary related to entrepreneurship.

9 hours to complete

24 videos (Total 83 min), 14 readings, 14 quizzes

24 videos

Welcome to English for Business & Entrepreneurship (Video 1)3m

Course Introduction Part I - Course Overview (Video 2)4m

Course Introduction Part II - Using the Course Site (Video 3)4m

Unlockable Achievement9s

What is Entrepreneurship? (Video 4 Part 1)2m

What is Entrepreneurship? (Video 4 Part 2)5m

Language Focus - Reading Skills (Video 5 Part 1)2m

Language Focus - Reading Skills (Video 5 Part 2)5m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Why Entrepreneurship? (Video 6 Part 1)6m

Why Entrepreneurship? (Video 6 Part 2)2m

Ideas, Products, and Opportunities (Video 7)6m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Creating Simple, One-Sentence Product Descriptions (Video 8 Part 1)7m

Creating Simple, One-Sentence Product Descriptions (Video 8 Part 2)2m

Deciding on a Type of Startup (Video 9 Part 1)5m

Deciding on a Type of Startup, Guest Speaker (Video 9 Part 2)3m

Risk, Failure, and Important Steps (Video 10 Part 1)4m

Risk, Failure, and Important Steps (Video 10 Part 2)4m

Language Focus - Comparative Structures (Video 11 Part 1)4m

Language Focus - Comparative Structures (Video 11 Part 2)2m

Language Focus - Comparative Structures (Video 11 Part 3)2m

Online Learning Opportunities to Extend Your Skills38s

14 readings

Overview of the Unit5m

Video/Listening: Elon Musk's Journey to Mars2m

Game 1: Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards6m

BASIC: Entrepreneurship seen as solution to South Africa's unemployment crisis5m

ADVANCED: Entrepreneurship seen as a solution to South Africa’s unemployment crisis7m

Women taxi startups gaining speed globally10m

African women entrepreneurs think big and share dreams10m

“This recent grad brewed a startup by managing the details”5m

Young Entrepreneurs Win Million-Dollar Prize10m

“Many paths lead to successful business startups”5m

“Entrepreneurs find new ways to address housing shortages"10m

Video: “Ludwick Marishane: A bath without water”4m

“Broadway rallies to save a beloved diner"4m

Game: Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards5m

14 practice exercises

Unit 1 Assessment 1: Self-Assessment of Business & Entrepreneurship Vocabulary Knowledge10m

Check Your Understanding: "Entrepreneurship Seen as Solution to S. Africa's Unemployment Crisis"30m

Value Affirmation Activity30m

Check Your Understanding: "African women entrepreneurs think big and share dreams"30m

Check Your Understanding: "This recent grad brewed a startup by managing the details"30m

Game 2: Identifying Different Types of Products30m

Game 3: Creating Product Descriptions30m

Game 4: Correlative Connectors & Sentence Connectors30m

Check Your Understanding: "Young Entrepreneurs Win Million-Dollar Prize"

Game: Connector Practice Activity30m

Check Your Understanding: "Many paths lead to successful business startups"30m

Check Your Understanding: Entrepreneurs find new ways to address housing shortages30m

Check Your Understanding: "Ludwick Marishane: A Bath Without Water"30m

Check Your Understanding: "Broadway rallies to save a beloved diner"30m

Week

Week 2

8 hours to complete

Unit 2: Identifying an Opportunity

This unit will cover how to do market research to determine whether a new product presents an opportunity in a market. We will focus on surveys and questions.

8 hours to complete

20 videos (Total 67 min), 11 readings, 10 quizzes

20 videos

Market Research and Testing to Identify Opportunities (Video 1)6m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Informal Research - Advantages and Disadvantages (Video 2)5m

Formal Research - Advantages and Disadvantages (Video 3 Part 1)2m

Formal Research - Advantages and Disadvantages (Video 3 Part 2)4m

Language Focus - Listening Strategies (Video 4 Part 1)4m

Language Focus - Listening Strategies (Video 4 Part 2)2m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Creating a Survey (Video 5 Part 1)6m

Creating a Survey (Video 5 Part 2)4m

Language Focus - Questions and Intonation (Video 6 Part 1)2m

Language Focus - Questions and Intonation (Video 6 Part 2)4m

Language Focus: Sample questions and intonation2m

Unlockable Achievement6s

Collecting Data (Video 7)5m

Evaluating Results (Video 8)6m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Completing Assessment 2 (Video 9 Part 1)6m

Completing Assessment 2 (Video 9 Part 2)1m

Unlockable Achievement9s

11 readings

Overview of the Unit1m

Game 1: Unit 2 Vocabulary Flashcards5m

BASIC: Washington state's new apple joining a changing industry5m

ADVANCED: Washington state's new apple joining a changing industry7m

BASIC: Bugs are the new food4m

ADVANCED: Bugs are the new food5m

Samples of Question Forms and Intonation (for Assessment 1)2m

Assessment 2 Model10m

“Taiwanese business seeks specialized markets”5m

“People who bring their own grocery bags are more likely to buy junk food”5m

Game: Unit 2 Vocabulary Flashcards6m

9 practice exercises

Check Your Comprehension: "Washington state's new apple joining a changing industry"30m

Game 2: More Practice with Comparative Language30m

Check Your Comprehension: "Bugs are the new food"30m

Game 3: Creating Survey Questions30m

Unit 2, Assessment 1: Questions and Intonation30m

Analyzing Sample Survey Data30m

Game: Question Matching Practice Activity30m

Check Your Understanding: "Taiwanese business seeks specialized markets"30m

Check Your Understanding: "People who bring their own grocery bags are more likely to buy junk food"30m

Week

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Unit 3: Creating a Business Plan (Part 1)

This first part of Unit 3 will review the importance of writing a business plan and will focus on the first two sections: operations and marketing.

4 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 39 min), 8 readings, 6 quizzes

10 videos

Why write a business plan? (Video 1)4m

Strategic Language Focus - Intensifiers & degree complements in persuasive business writing (Video 2 Part 1)5m

Strategic Language Focus - Intensifiers & degree complements in persuasive business writing (Video 2 Part 2)4m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Business description, including management and operations (Video 3)5m

Marketing: Part I: Vocabulary and Concepts (Video 4 Part 1)3m

Marketing: Part I: Vocabulary and Concepts (Video 4 Part 2)3m

Marketing: Part I: Vocabulary and Concepts (Video 4 Part 3)3m

Marketing: Part II: Business Plan (Video 5 Part 1)5m

Marketing: Part II: Business Plan (Video 5 Part 2)3m

8 readings

Overview of Unit 31m

BASIC: Nigeria's Wecyclers work for reusable future in Lagos5m

ADVANCED: Nigeria’s Wecyclers work for reusable future in Lagos7m

BASIC: Chinese go to Los Angeles for Kobe Bryant, but skip the beach5m

ADVANCED: Chinese go to Los Angeles for Kobe Bryant, but skip the beach7m

“50 business ideas you can start for under $100"7m

"Chilean government seeks to boost female-led start-ups"5m

Game: Unit 3 Vocabulary Flashcards7m

6 practice exercises

Game 1: Practice with degree complements and intensifiers30m

Check Your Understanding: "Nigeria's Wecyclers work for reusable future in Lagos"30m

Check Your Understanding: "Chinese Go to Los Angeles for Kobe Bryant, But Skip the Beach"30m

Game 2: Sorting the 4 Ps30m

Check your Understanding: "50 business ideas you can start for under $100"30m

Check Your Understanding: "Chilean government seeks to boost female-led start-ups"30m

Week

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Unit 3: Creating a Business Plan (Part 2)

In this second part of Unit 3, we will learn about the Financials section of a business plan and how to create a simple, brief business plan of our own.

3 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 36 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes

9 videos

Financials: Part I: Startup Costs, Operating Costs & Sales Projections (Vocabulary & concept focus) (Video 6)5m

Financials: Part II: Income statement (Vocabulary & concept focus) (Video 7)6m

Financials: Part III: Startup Costs, Sales & Revenue Projections, Cost Projections & Income Statement (Calculations) (Video 8 Part 1)4m

Financials: Part III: Startup Costs, Sales & Revenue Projections, Cost Projections & Income Statement (Calculations) (Video 8 Part 2)3m

Financials: Part III: Startup Costs, Sales & Revenue Projections, Cost Projections & Income Statement (Calculations) (Video 8 Part 3)3m

Strategic Language Focus - Describing Financials (Video 9)5m

Creating a brief business plan (Video 10 Part 1)3m

Creating a brief business plan (Video 10 Part 2)3m

Unlockable Achievement9s

3 readings

Template and Model for Brief Business Plans (for Assessment 2)5m

It's a startup world!10m

Game: Unit 3 Vocabulary Flashcards7m

4 practice exercises

Game 3: Vocabulary: Word problems matching numbers with words30m

Game 4: Vocabulary: Word problems matching numbers with words30m

Game 5: Interpreting Results30m

Check Your Understanding: "It's a startup world!"

Week

Week 5

7 hours to complete

Unit 4: Attracting Investors and Obtaining Financial Support

In this unit, we will discuss different ways to get the money needed to start a business. At the end you will create a "pitch" to present your business ideas.

7 hours to complete

23 videos (Total 74 min), 9 readings, 10 quizzes

23 videos

Financing a Business: Bootstrapping versus Outside Funding (Video 1 Part 1)4m

Financing a Business: Bootstrapping versus Outside Funding (Video 1 Part 2)3m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Debt-Financing: Bank Loans and Microloans (Video 2 Part 1)4m

Debt-Financing: Bank Loans and Microloans (Video 2 Part 2)3m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Equity-Financing: Venture Capital (Video 3 Part 1)5m

Equity-Financing: Venture Capital (Video 3 Part 2)2m

Finding Investors in the Social Network (Video 4)4m

Crowdfunding (Video 5 Part 1)4m

Crowdfunding (Video 5 Part 2)3m

Listening: Crowd-sourced funding provides kickstart to new business ventures2m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Making a Pitch to Attract Investors (Video 6 Part 1)5m

Making a Pitch to Attract Investors (Video 6 Part 2)5m

Creating an Effective Hook (Video 7 Part 1)5m

Creating an Effective Hook (Video 7 Part 2)4m

Adding Impact: Word Stress, Body Language,& Eye Contact (Video 8)5m

Listening: How to Pitch a Business 2m

Unlockable Achievement9s

Persuasive Pitch, Two Samples3m

Unlockable Achievement6s

Course Conclusion2m

9 readings

Overview of the Unit1m

Poll: Businesses Designed to Help India's Poor Attract Overseas Investors10m

Instructions for Assessment 2: Persuasive Elevator Pitch5m

Sample Elevator Pitch and Elevator Pitch Template10m

BASIC: Tech startups boom in India, attract big investments5m

ADVANCED: Tech startups boom in India, attract big investments7m

"Crowdfunding for business growing in Africa"5m

"The original social network: How global diasporas can mean big business"5m

Game: Unit 4 Vocabulary Flashcards7m

10 practice exercises

Unit 4 Assessment 1: Reflective Response30m

Check Your Understanding: "Poll: Businesses Designed to Help India's Poor Attract Overseas Investors"30m

Check Your Understanding: "Crowd-sourced funding provides 'Kickstart' to new business ventures"30m

Game 1: Be brief!30m

Check Your Understanding: "How to Pitch a Business"30m

Unit 4 Assessment 2: Elevator Pitch (written)30m

Check Your Understanding: "Tech startups boom in India, attract big investments"30m

Check Your Understanding: "Crowdfunding for businesses growing in Africa"30m

Check Your Understanding: "The original social network: How global diasporas can mean big business"30m

Game: Build a Pitch - Structure Practice30m

Reviews

4.9

1542 reviews

5 stars
87.86%
4 stars
10.26%
3 stars
1.09%
2 stars
0.23%
1 star
0.53%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

by NJun 18, 2020

This is a great course and best opportunity for anyone who wish to start business. A knowledge and skill imparted in this course will definitely help anyone to start a business and become successful

by LKFeb 29, 2020

With this course, I can have more knowledge in doing business, starting from having ideas to having funds and operating the startup. Hope to learn more about business process through other course.

by VZDec 13, 2020

An amazing course giving basics of entrepreneurship and the language patterns needed for that. Was very useful for me learning about business management from 0. I really appreciated it.

by KAJun 7, 2020

It's really good for especially newbies in business or those with intermediate English knowledge. You'll learn a lot from vocabulary to basic business planning. Good luck on your journey guys!

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
UNIQUE TO THIS COURSE: Can I take this course for free?
Yes, this course is open and fully available for free. Learners will have the option to register for a Coursera certificate for purchase or through financial aid.

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English for Business and Entrepreneurship

English for Business and Entrepreneurship

About this Course

Skills you will gain

Instructors

Amy Nichols
Top Instructor

James Riedel
Top Instructor

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week 1

Unit 1: Becoming an Entrepreneur

Week 2

Unit 2: Identifying an Opportunity

Week 3

Unit 3: Creating a Business Plan (Part 1)

Week 4

Unit 3: Creating a Business Plan (Part 2)

Week 5

Unit 4: Attracting Investors and Obtaining Financial Support

Reviews

TOP REVIEWS FROM ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Frequently Asked Questions

Start or advance your career

Browse popular topics

Popular courses and articles

Earn a degree or certificate online

Coursera

Community

More

English for Business and Entrepreneurship

English for Business and Entrepreneurship

About this Course

Skills you will gain

Instructors

Amy NicholsTop Instructor

James RiedelTop Instructor

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week 1

Unit 1: Becoming an Entrepreneur

Week 2

Unit 2: Identifying an Opportunity

Week 3

Unit 3: Creating a Business Plan (Part 1)

Week 4

Unit 3: Creating a Business Plan (Part 2)

Week 5

Unit 4: Attracting Investors and Obtaining Financial Support

Reviews

TOP REVIEWS FROM ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Frequently Asked Questions

Coursera Footer

Start or advance your career

Browse popular topics

Popular courses and articles

Earn a degree or certificate online

Coursera

Community

More

Amy Nichols
Top Instructor

James Riedel
Top Instructor