Using business negotiation simulation with China's English-major undergraduates for practice ability development

Area of Science:

• Business English
• Pedagogical Innovation
• Intercultural Communication

Background:

• Business English practice teaching requires innovative methods.
• Simulations offer a practical approach to developing essential business skills.
• International business negotiation is a critical component of global commerce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a business negotiation simulation for English majors.
• To assess student satisfaction and skill development through the simulation.
• To identify areas for improvement in simulation-based business English education.

Main Methods:

• Online surveys and written document analysis were employed.
• Seventy-seven English-major university students participated.
• The study focused on a Chinese university context.

Main Results:

• High participant satisfaction with the simulation design, particularly the use of real-world international cases.
• Significant improvements reported in teamwork, group cooperation, and other soft skills.
• Participants perceived the simulation as a realistic reflection of actual business scenarios.
• The negotiation process was ranked as the most valuable session, followed by preparation and group cooperation.

Conclusions:

• Business negotiation simulations are effective tools for enhancing practical business English skills.
• The simulation successfully improved teamwork and soft skills, aligning with real-world demands.
• Recommendations for future implementation include more practice, teacher guidance, and blended learning approaches.