Analysing the Business Environment
Teaching team: Simon Devos
University and degree programme: TH Wildau, Wildau Foundation Year study preparatory programme
Course: Grundlagen der Wirtschaft (‘Basics of Business Administration’)
Timing: 2*90 Minutes
CLIL pilot type: light
CLIL assignments: to draft a PESTEL analysis for a start-up company in the Berlin-Brandenburg area
Language: German
Introduction of the CLIL implementation with 10 CLIL parameters
- Sequence:
- Introduction to PESTEL Analysis: Presentation of the didactic concept / steps to follow and the importance of the PESTEL analysis.
- Working in International Teams: Students were divided into groups with mixed linguistic backgrounds.
- Developing a PESTEL Analysis for a Start-up: Applying the acquired knowledge to a real business scenario step by step.
- Presentation of Results: Presentation and discussion of the analyses in the plenary session.
- Concept and Task > Language:
Subject concept: Development of a PESTEL analysis for a start-up
Linguistic challenge: Using technical vocabulary to describe macroeconomic factors
Connection between content and language: Students had to analyze and present economic framework conditions in a foreign language.
- Guided multimedia input:
Case studies from the real business world
visualisation of the different elements of a PESTEL analysis
- Key language:
Business and economic terminology (e.g., “regulatory environment,” “economic stability”)
Structures for analytical comparisons (e.g., “Compared to…”, “A key influencing factor is…”)
Phrases for presentations and discussions (e.g., “Our analysis shows that…”, “We recommend…”)
- Instructions:
Clearly structured instructions in German
Step-by-step explanations with examples
Clear expectations and assessment criteria
- Interactions:
Group work in international teams
Peer feedback and discussions
Exchange with lecturers and other teams
- Thinking:
Critical reflection on economic relationships
Application of knowledge to real business scenarios
Comparison of different macroeconomic conditions
Problem-solving strategies in a foreign language
- Supported output:
Joint creation of a PESTEL analysis report
Group presentations with visual representations
Digital documentation and peer reviews
Reflection reports on the challenges and successes of the task
- Feedback:
Methods: peer and lecturer feedback
Results: Students reported that working in groups helped them overcome language barriers. At the same time, the complexity of economic analysis was perceived as challenging. Most students found the clear structuring of tasks helpful.
- Team teaching:
The language lecturer of the course ’Business German’ supported the linguistic implementation of the analysis.
The subject lecturer guided the content analysis and provided professional feedback.
Close coordination between lecturers to integrate language and content.
- Further development ideas:
Development of a multilingual glossary for PESTEL analysis
Greater use of AI-supported tools for language support
Expansion of practical relevance through corporate collaborations
Joint sessions with the language teacher
Download the file here: Economic Fundamentals course: Pestel analysis