In Company Reviews
Real opinions on In Company
Read recent reviews on various components of the In Company series
"The zing factor is immediately obvious to the casual browser, and for once the publisher's 'fast-paced' and 'stimulating' claims do not seem amiss. In Company sets a new standard for BE coursebooks. This is the one that other writers now have to beat."
ELT Journal, April 2005
"These books are a real breath of fresh air. The In Company series has given a colourful approach to the usual necessary business topics which makes it easier and more interesting for the learner. The Elementary edition opens with a bang and unit one introduces us to Ronaldo, footballer. This certainly gives students a feeling of confidence and competency dealing with real people and popular issues. This style continues throughout the book and provides a very real setting for the usual BE topics. If you wish to spruce up your elementary material this is the book for you. Congratulations to all involved in the In Company series."
In Company Elementary, reviewed by Francis Mahoney (ELTAS) in English Teaching Matters, Spring 2005
In Company Intermediate: SATEFL Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 1, Autumn 2003
In Company is a Business English textbook aimed at professional business people learning English in a classroom or one-to-one context. The set includes a class cassette and a teacher's book containing photocopiable materials. The approach is skills-based, taking the student through the basic communicative business skills at an intermediate level. These include telephoning, participating in meetings and negotiations, social situations and written communication in the form of e-mails and letters.
The book is well organised and teacher- and student-friendly, allowing a wide choice in the focus of the course. Each unit is based around a particular skill or sub-skill and extra grammar and vocabulary work is available in the section 'Grammar and Lexis links' at the end of the book. At the end of each group of units there is also a 'Talking Points' section, designed to promote discussion. Mark Powell takes a lexical approach, with work on collocations incorporated seamlessly into a communicative context. There are at least two listening exercises in each unit. The presentation is lively and varied with well-integrated progression through the skills of listening, speaking and reading. There is relatively little focus on writing skills. Letters and e-mails are covered but not report-writing.
This book is well designed for its target market. It could also be used for pre-experience business learners, providing that the teacher is prepared to adapt the materials, which presuppose a fairly sophisticated knowledge of West European business practices and situations. It could be used with a project-based programme, for example, where the students simulate setting up and running their own business. The book is also very eurocentric. For example, the unit on cultural awareness deals only with cultural differences between European countries. Teachers with non-European students will need to look critically at this aspect of the book and think about how they can widen the focus to accommodate their students' interests.
This book is recommended as a well thought out and helpful resource for the business English classroom. Even if it is not suitable as a class textbook for all types of classes, this is definitely one for the teacher's resource shelf.
Reviewed by Jennifer Spencer, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
In Company Pre-intermediate Teacher's Book: ELTA Rhine, Autumn 2003
In Company Pre-intermediate is the latest in the new multi-level business English series for professional learners. Written by Simon Clarke the book has the same look and design as the Intermediate level but it is in green and is aimed at the level below intermediate. Both books are pitched rather high and pre-intermediate is quite suitable for use at intermediate level. It is designed as a course of twenty units (40-50 teaching hours). Similar to the Intermediate book, the units are topic based, covering all aspects of modern business communication and the book is suitable for both back office staff and up-front business personnel. It deals with office situations and social settings.
The units are organised into company life, connecting (communication) and work issues. The activities are varied and interesting. Although the book claims to be skills based it has a strong underlying grammatical framework. This will appeal to many teachers and students at this level. The students' lexical range is expanded and communication strategies are developed. Each chapter has a corresponding Grammar and Lexis link section in the back of the book for an extra 20 hours of material for classroom or self-study use. The accompanying audio material (cassettes and CDs) is excellent. There is a web guide to the book and downloadable word lists. This is now also available for the Intermediate level book.
The teacher's book has all the admirable features of the Intermediate level teachers' book with suggestions for extension activities and a set of photocopiable resource materials. A very teacher-friendly resource.
In Company will eventually be available at four levels. Pre-intermediate is a valuable extension to the Business English teacher's bookshelf and we can look forward to Elementary and Upper intermediate which will complete the series later this year.
Reviewed by Ann Claypole, Teacher Trainer, Germany
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In Company Pre-intermediate: EL Gazette 'Book of the month', May 2003
Business is changing and teachers expect the latest business English coursebooks to be up to date in both content and looks. In Company does not disappoint - indeed, it excels. This pre-intermediate book delivers the same fast-paced course as Mark Powell's intermediate predecessor.
The fact that the twenty units are free-standing allows for flexible use. Motivating and
appropriate tasks reflect current good teaching practice, involving learners in real-world tasks.
Communication skills are well covered, with discussion covering a range of relevant and often familiar topic areas such as stress, hiring and firing, e-commerce and time management. The lexical components covered include common collocations and phrasal verbs.
'Grammar links' and 'lexis links' are notes in the margins which refer learners to further information and practice exercises in the thirty-page self-study section at the back of the book. The layout is outstanding. A worthy addition to the range of business English material at this level.
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In Company Intermediate: English Teaching Matters, September 2002
At long last, a business English course book that is not just another look-alike. And in Mark Powell, we know we have a book written by an author who knows what is needed in the business English classroom as well as how to put it across. In Company is the first book in a new multi-level business English course for professionals. It is the perfect short course for the intermediate level student, where a new approach had been long overdue. In twenty units (40-50 hours) the course progresses through all aspects of everyday business communication, including e-mail. There is everything from small talk and information exchange to presentations and negotiations. But this is a book for back office staff as well as up-front business personnel.
The units are organised into talking points, networking, desk work and meetings, as appropriate. There is a wide range of interesting and stimulating activities relevant to the real business world. The approach is a healthy blend of primarily skills-based, seasoned with lexical and communicative elements. Great attention is paid to lexis and word building and learning selected lexical chunks. Grammar is highlighted in the activities, but does not constitute a part of the units. Instead there are 15 grammar links corresponding to the fifteen skills-based units which underline the usage of tense, aspect, modality, conditionality, etc. as well as tenor and register. The grammar and lexis links section provides about another 20 hours material which can be used for back up work, or for self study purposes if a key is provided by the teacher.
The book can be worked through from start to finish or selected on a topic basis as appropriate for the course. This way, complete sections can be omitted if they are not relevant to the students. The units stand alone, which is ideal for the erratic attendance which many business courses suffer from.
The audio material (cassettes and CDs) is excellent. The English is close to authentic, the recordings natural, and a wide range of native and non-native accents are included. All the important lexis is highlighted in the tapescripts provided in the student's book.
But I have saved the best bit till last. The teacher's book by Helena Gomm is written for teachers. This is what a teacher's book should look like - publishers please take note! For the inexperienced teacher, there is full support and explanation of the activities and how to work with and exploit the material. There are suggestions for extension activities and a set of photocopiable resource materials written by a number of authors, including Mark Powell. For the experienced teacher, the layout of the teachers book is perfect. The answers can be seen at a glance, leaving the teacher free to concentrate on the students and not on doing the exercise. The student's pages have been overwritten with the answers, so we also know there is enough space for the students to write the answers in. Interleaved opposite the students page is an overview, suggested warm up, how to implement the exercises, etc., what to do if you are short of time and the tapescripts with highlighted lexis. No flipping around necessary. It is just so easy to work with!
So what is missing from this otherwise most commendable work? A glossary. A double glossary (alphabetic and unit for unit) is of great value at intermediate level and above as a language organiser.
In Company will eventually be available at 4 levels. Pre-intermediate will be available this autumn and Elementary and Upper intermediate in 2003. The most widely needed level, Intermediate, has been published first. It should be on the shelf of every teacher of professional English. It is about how to do business in English - not just talk about it.
Reviewed by Ann Claypole, Teacher Trainer, Germany
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In Company Intermediate: EL Gazette 'Book of the month', July 2002
In Company fulfils its claim to 'reflect the real world of modern business'. Twenty self-contained units cyclically allow learners to discuss relevant business topics, for example time management and cultural awareness, and to increase their communicative competence in social situations.
There is a focus on using e-mail and telephoning, as well as on the core language needed for meetings, including making presentations and negotiating.
As is to be expected from Mark Powell, the author of Business Matters (LTP), a lexical syllabus is integrated into the course, focusing among other things on useful collocations - essential components of much business language.
The section at the back - grammar links - offers a traditional grammar syllabus as a handy reference for learners. There's an accompanying cassette/CD which provides a range of native and non-native speaker accents.
Particularly praiseworthy is the useful presentation template; this works beautifully as an aide-memoire for intermediate students struggling to express themselves.
The design of the book is clear and appealing. Graphics and photographs combine with text to give an upbeat feel to what is sure to become a useful addition to fast-paced business English courses.
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In Company Intermediate: La Lettre Professionelle d'Attica ELT, May 2002
Macmillan have made a hugely impressive return to the Business English market with the publication of the brilliant new coursebook 'In Company'.
Written by Mark Powell (well-known author of Business Matters from LTP), In Company appeals both through its interesting choice of topics and the wide variety of activities for presenting and practising new language.
The student's book contains 20 units firmly planted in the world of business (telephoning, business trips, being heard in meetings, solving problems etc.) and these are divided into 4 main categories: Talking Points (discussions of controversial business issues), Networking (developing fluency in social situations), Desk Work (telephoning, e-mails, business correspondence) and Meetings (developing key skills such as keeping track, checking, interrupting, negotiating).
The varied methodology and the different ways of approaching activities that are at the heart of today's business world make In Company a highly motivating, interesting and lively coursebook.
At the back of the student's book the Grammar and Lexis files provide comprehensive grammar presentation and practice plus new vocabulary which doubles the lexical input. The listenings (with tapescripts) include lots of different accents.
The teacher's book contains the whole of the student's book in addition to the teacher's notes and extra photocopiable material for every unit.
In Company really is a great success!
