E-learning: English for Career Development

Location: Online / MOOC

Dates: any time

Duration: 40 hours

Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 out of 6904 ratings

Participating countries: any country

Apply here: Application form

Organizer: University of Pennsylvania at Coursera

Cost:

  • FREE
  • $49 with certificate

English for Career Development

This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in advancing their careers in the global marketplace. In this course, you will learn about the job search, application, and interview process in the United States, while comparing and contrasting the same process in your home country. This course will also give you the opportunity to explore your global career path, while building your vocabulary and improving your language skills to achieve your professional goals. The first unit in this course will introduce the U.S. job application process and provide strategies for identifying the jobs that match your interests and skills. Unit 2 will take you through the steps necessary to produce a professional-looking resume. In unit 3, you will work to develop a clear and concise cover letter. The final unit of the course focuses on networking and interview skills.

Instructors

Programme

WEEK 1 – 10 hours to complete

Unit 1: Entering the Job Market

In this unit you will learn about the steps in the job search process.

Course Overview: Introduction to the Career Development Process

Course Overview: Topics, Assessments, Games & Activities

Job Search Overview

Identifying Your Interests and Skills

Language Focus: Vocabulary and Word Forms Related to Jobs

Choosing the Job that’s the Best Fit for You

  • Unlockable Achievement 19s
  • Language Focus: Verb Tenses (Present vs. Present Progressive)5m
  • Understanding Job Descriptions: Reading a Job Advertisement6m
  • Language Focus: Phrases to Compare Similarities4m
  • Language Focus: Phrases to Contrast Differences4m
  • Unlockable Achievement 29s
  • Model Response Comparing/Contrasting the Job Search Process1m
  • Unlockable Achievement 36s
  • Online Learning Opportunities to Extend Your Skills38s
  • 12 readings
  • Overview of the Unit10m
  • BASIC: What You Offer the World10m
  • ADVANCED: What You Offer the World10m
  • Game 1: Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards10m
  • BASIC: Set SMART goals to get ahead in your career10m
  • ADVANCED: Set SMART goals to get ahead in your career10m
  • Facebook Launches Job Search Feature for Low-Skilled Workers10m
  • Listening: Using the Internet and Social Media to Search for a Job10m
  • Written Assignment Instructions10m
  • Culture Affects Career and Life Planning10m
  • Listening: Is there a ‘Skills Gap’ in the US Job Market?10m
  • Business schools bridge classrooms and real-life work10m
  • 13 practice exercises
  • Check Your Understanding: “What You Offer the World”30m
  • Game 2: Things, Actions and People30m
  • Unit 1, Assessment 1: Self-Assessment of Job Skills and Experience30m
  • Game 3: Simple Present or Present Progressive30m
  • Check Your Understanding: “Set SMART goals to get ahead in your career”30m
  • Game 4: Key Words in a Job Advertisement30m
  • Check Your Understanding: “Facebook Launches Job Search Feature for Low-Skilled Workers”
  • Check your Understanding: “Using the Internet and Social Media to Search for a Job”30m
  • Check Your Understanding: “Culture Affects Career and Life Planning”30m
  • Game: Vocabulary and Word Form Review30m
  • Check Your Understanding: “Is there a ‘Skills Gap’ in US Job Market?”30m
  • Check your Understanding: “Business schools bridge classrooms and real-life work”30m
  • Game: Compare and Contrast Phrase Matching30m

WEEK 2: 10 hours to complete

Unit 2: Resumes

In this unit, you will learn how to describe yourself and your experiences in a résumé. The unit will also help you build your

job-related vocabulary.

  • 12 videos (Total 50 min), 12 readings, 15 quizzes
  • 12 videos
  • What is a resume? Why do you need one?4m
  • Parts of a Resume4m
  • Unlockable Achievement 49s
  • Writing a Resume, Part 1: Name and Contact Information5m
  • Listening: Connecting Employers with Job Seekers in Today’s Economy4m
  • Language Focus: Key Words3m
  • Writing a Resume, Part 2: Headline and Summary4m
  • Writing a Resume, Part 3: Work Experience5m
  • Writing a Resume, Part 4: Education5m
  • Language Focus: Action Verbs4m
  • Writing a Resume, Part 5: Complete your Resume6m
  • Unlockable Achievement 59s
  • 12 readings
  • Overview of the Unit10m
  • BASIC: Resume Guide: The Basic Elements10m
  • ADVANCED: Resume Guide: The Basic Elements10m
  • Sample Resume: Tomoko Martin10m
  • Sample Resume: Beth Smith10m
  • BASIC: Using Keywords Effectively10m
  • ADVANCED: Using Keywords Effectively10m
  • Game 4: Unit 2 Vocabulary Flashcards10m
  • Haven’t had a lot of (or any) work experience?10m
  • Sample Resume for “Haven’t had a lot of (or any) work experience?”10m
  • More Action Verbs Practice10m
  • Functional or Chronological Resume? Which is for You?10m
  • 14 practice exercises
  • Game 1: Reasons for Writing a Resume30m
  • Check Your Understanding: “Resume Guide: The Basic Elements”30m
  • Game 2: Match the Parts of a Resume30m
  • Check Your Understanding: “Connecting Employers with Job Seekers in Today’s Economy”30m
  • Check your Understanding: “Using Keywords Effectively”30m
  • Game 3: Matching Key Words in a Job Advertisement30m
  • Game 5: Listing Experience in Time Order30m
  • Unit 2: Assessment 1: Resume Template Quiz30m
  • Game 6: Using Action Verbs30m
  • Check Your Understanding: “Haven’t had a lot of (or any) work experience?”
  • Check Your Understanding: “More Action Verbs Practice”30m
  • Game: Action Verb Crossword Puzzle30m
  • Check Your Understanding: “Functional or Chronological Resume30m
  • Game: Labeling Resumes: Functional or Chronological30m

WEEK: 3: 9 hours to complete

Unit 3: Writing a Cover Letter

This unit focuses on another important document for job-seekers: the cover letter. You will learn how to write a clear cover

letter that tells employers why you are the right person for the job.

  • 11 videos (Total 47 min), 9 readings, 12 quizzes
  • 11 videos
  • What is a Cover Letter?
  • Professional Writing: Letter Format
  • Unlockable Achievement
  • Cover Letter Paragraph 1- Introducing Yourself
  • Cover Letter Paragraph 2- Highlighting Your Skills in the Cover letter
  • Cover Letter Paragraph 3- Closing
  • Language Focus – Present Perfect vs. Past Tense
  • Professional Writing: Level of Formality
  • Language Focus- Using Modal Verbs to Write Politely
  • Writing a Cover Letter for a Specific Job
  • Unlockable Achievement
  • 9 readings
  • Overview of the Unit
  • Sample Cover Letters
  • BASIC: Parts of the Cover Letter
  • ADVANCED: Parts of the Cover Letter
  • Game 3: Unit 3 Vocabulary Flashcards
  • BASIC: Why an Old-Fashioned Cover Letter Still Matters
  • ADVANCED: Why an Old-Fashioned Cover Letter Still Matters
  • 8 Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid
  • Death of the Cover Letter
  • 11 practice exercises
  • Check Your Understanding: “Sample Cover Letters”
  • Unit 3 Assessment 1: Quiz on Letter Format
  • Check Your Understanding: “Parts of the Cover Letter”
  • Game 1: Match the Job Description with Skills
  • Game 2: Grammar Review
  • Check Your Understanding: “Why an Old-Fashioned Cover Letter Still Matters”
  • Game 4: Direct or Polite Language
  • Check Your Understanding: “8 Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid”
  • Game: Verb Tense Review
  • Check Your Understanding: “Death of the Cover Letter”
  • Key Parts of a Formal Letter

WEEK 4: 5 hours to complete

Unit 4: Networking: This unit will teach job-seekers language for meeting new people, making small talk, and describing

  • 8 videos (Total 24 min), 9 readings, 7 quizzes
  • What is Networking?
  • Unlockable Achievement
  • Making Small Talk
  • Unlockable Achievement
  • Networking Elevator speech- What to Say When Networking
  • Language Focus: Networking Elevator Speech- Delivery
  • Sample Spoken Networking Elevator Speech
  • Unlockable Achievement
  • 9 readings
  • Overview of the Unit
  • BASIC: Networking During the Job Search
  • ADVANCED: Networking During the Job Search
  • BASIC: Networking doesn’t happen overnight
  • ADVANCED: Networking doesn’t happen overnight
  • Game 2: Unit 4 Vocabulary Flashcards
  • Preparing a Networking Elevator Speech
  • Written Assignment Instructions
  • What’s Your Passion? Internships Can Help Focus Career Path
  • Check Your Understanding: “Networking During the Job Search”
  • Game 1: Choose the Conversation with Appropriate Topics
  • Check Your Understanding: “Networking doesn’t happen overnight”
  • Game 3: Sample Networking Elevator Speeches
  • Game: Networking Vocabulary Matching
  • Check Your Understanding: “What’s Your Passion? Internships Can Help Focus Career Path”

WEEK 5: 5 hours to complete

Unit 5: Interviewing For a Job

This unit is about the question-and-answer process of job interviews, and will help prepare learners to present themselves

well in interviews.

  • Overview of the Job Interview
  • Unlockable Achievement
  • Answering Typical Interview Questions
  • Language Focus– Asking for Clarification in an Interview
  • Unlockable Achievement
  • Sample Interview Do’s and Don’ts Part
  • Sample Interview Do’s and Don’ts Part
  • Sample Video Responding to an Interview Question
  • Unlockable Achievement
  • Course Conclusion
  • 8 readings
  • Overview of the Unit
  • BASIC: Interview Tips
  • ADVANCED: Interview Tips
  • Game 2: Unit 5 Vocabulary Flashcards
  • Five Illegal Job Interview Questions in the US
  • Written Assignment Instructions
  • BASIC: Seven Ways to Advance Your Career With Social Media
  • ADVANCED: Seven Ways to Advance Your Career With Social Media
  • 7 practice exercises
  • Check Your Understanding: Interview Tips
  • Game 1: Interview Jeopardy
  • Check Your Understanding: Five Illegal Job Interview Questions in the US
  • Game 3: Matching Answers to Questions
  • Unit 5 Assessment 1: Written Answer to Interview Question
  • Check Your Understanding: “Seven Ways to Advance Your Career With Social Media”
  • Game: Grammar Review (Questions)