The first Spanish business textbook to combine professional and intercultural skills
Claves promotes advanced Spanish-language proficiency alongside intercultural understanding, pragmatic skills, communication strategies, and genre-specific conventions necessary for learners to interact effectively with business partners across all Spanish-speaking countries. With its companion website for homework activities, it focuses on core business topics and skills, while inviting learners to explore and reflect on culturally embedded social and communication practices, both their own and those of others. The textbook engages learners with real-life examples of workplace situations and business communications contributed by business professionals. Activities foster classroom communication practice. Business topics covered include employability, company structure, human resources, workplace communication technology, marketing and advertising, international expansion, finance, and socioeconomic indicators across the Spanish-speaking world.
Claves invites even learners without prior business knowledge to grow the practical skills and strategies necessary to work in business across the Spanish-speaking world.
Table of Contents
Preface
Scope and sequence
Data repositories
Capítulo 1. Competencias
Clave intercultural: Cultura y competencia intercultural
Clave lingüística: Las competencias profesionales
Vocabulario útil
Clave comunicativa: El CV y la carta de presentación
Capítulo 2. Poder
Clave intercultural: Las dimensiones culturales
Clave lingüística: Jerarquía empresarial
Vocabulario útil
Clave comunicativa: El saludo en el trabajo
Capítulo 3. Tiempo
Clave intercultural: La cronémica
Clave lingüística: Recursos Humanos
Vocabulario útil
Clave comunicativa: Las peticiones
Capítulo 4. Contextos
Clave intercultural: El contexto en la comunicación
Clave lingüística: Comunicación y tecnología en negocios
Vocabulario útil
Clave comunicativa: La comunicación telefónica
Capítulo 5. Grupos
Clave intercultural: Percepción del grupo y del individuo
Clave lingüística: Marketing y publicidad
Vocabulario útil
Clave comunicativa: Los rechazos
Capítulo 6. Distancias
Clave intercultural: Distancia personal y cortesía verbal
Clave lingüística: Expansión internacional
Vocabulario útil
Clave comunicativa: El email profesional
Capítulo 7. Sistemas
Clave intercultural: La cultura como sistema
Clave lingüística: Finanzas
Vocabulario útil
Clave comunicativa: Lenguaje incluyente
Capítulo 8. Procesos
Clave intercultural: Comunicación intercultural
Clave lingüística: Economía
Vocabulario útil
Clave comunicativa: El análisis estratégico
References
Créditos
Reviews
"Claves is a carefully designed, balanced curriculum that reflects the realities of the workplace in a way that aligns with employers' stated needs. The chapter themes—while applied to business concepts—have culture at the root and are important for any real-world setting or profession. Each chapter features a clear presentation of nuanced themes such as power, time, groups, systems, and processes and provides clear examples from business contexts as well as engaging activities that ensure students 'learn by doing."—Darcy Lear, languages for specific purposes program coordinator, University of Chicago Language Center and the Office of Language Assessment
"Claves provides the keys to unlocking understanding of business communication in the multicultural, Spanish-speaking world. Pérez Castillejo has created an applicable guide with practical activities for professional Spanish language development, preparing students for successful international careers"—Lauren Halberstadt, associate teaching professor, Penn State University
"A vital resource for teachers and students who are serious about learning Spanish for international business. Its outstanding integration of language instruction and intercultural communication theories makes it a fundamental practical guide. Pérez Castillejo's approach to teaching and learning is unique, using real-life examples and case studies to connect academic knowledge and practical demands. If you are looking to expand your professional Spanish skills and cultural awareness, Claves is the book for you. It will change the way you approach teaching languages and business Spanish."—Dianne Ruggiero, professor of Spanish, University of Memphis
About the Author
Susana Pérez Castillejo is associate professor of Spanish at the University of St. Thomas and cofounder of a global educational technology company.
