与传统教材相比较,本教材的特点表现在以下三个方面:
**,前瞻性。
尽管传统意义上的“函电”已被传真和电子邮件所替代,但从信息内容和形式来看,其基本格式、表达方式和内容都没有大的变化——只是传送信函的方式不同。即使国际贸易中电子商务必须利用标准的格式来完成信息交流,但是在翻译生成EDI标准格式文件前所需要的普通文本文件仍然是信函形式。所以,掌握信函写作仍然是*基本的。但是我们这本教材淘汰了几乎不用的电报及电传(传统教材的这一部分占了很大篇幅),而新增了有关国际电子商务的知识,以满足处理国际电子商务业务的需要。
第二,实用性。
外贸英语函电是一门实践性很强的课程。学习者不能仅从学习概念去熟悉业务,还要通过具体操作来熟悉进出口业务的各个环节,理解相关的业务知识,训练英语表达的技能。因此,要学好这门课程,操练显得尤为重要。本教材设计了大量、丰富的练习题,并在介绍国际贸易业务各环节的同时,加大了介绍合同、信用证及其他常用单证的力度,尤其是增强了填制合同、审查信用证和撰写修改函等基本技能的训练。此外,还设计了SkiU Drilling模块,通过模拟的“技能训练”或“案例讨论”

Unit 1 Modern Business Letters
Text A: The Language of Modem Business Letters
Text B: The Parts of Modem Business Letters
New Words & Expressions
Notes
Key Words : economy, trade, market, marketing
Preposition : AT
Reading
Exercise Skill Drilling
Unit 2 Establishing Business Relations
Text A
Text B
New Words & Expressions
Notes
Key Words : business, deal, transact, transaction
Useful Sentences
Preposition : IN
Reading
Exercise
Skill Drilling
Unit 3 Enquiry
Text A
Text B
New Words & Expressions
Notes
Key Words : enquire, enquiry, offer, bid
Useful Sentences
Preposition : ON
Reading
Exercise
Skill Drilling
Unit 4 Firm Offer & Non-Firm Offer
Text A: A Firm Offer
Text B: A Non-Firm Offer
New Words & Expressions
Notes
Key Words : price, buy, sell
Useful Sentences
Preposition : WITH
Reading
Exercise
Skill Drilling
Unit 5 Counter-Offer & Orders
Text A: A Counter-Offer
Text B: An Order New Words & Expressions
Notes
Key Words : commodity, merchandise, goods, article, stock, refer, reference
Useful Sentences
Preposition : BY
Reading
Exercise
Skill Drilling
Unit 6 Confirmation & Acceptance
Text A: Accepting a Repeat Order
Text B: Confirming an Order
New Words & Expressions
Notes
Key Words: confirm, confirmation,accept, acceptance, acceptable,agree, agreement
Useful Sentences
Preposition : FROM
Reading
Exercise
Skill Drilling
Unit 7 A Sales Xonfirmation
Unit 8 A Sales Contract
Unit 9 Payment & Letters of Credit
Unit 10 Examination of an L/C
Unit 11 Shipment
Unit 12 A Bill of Lading
Unit 13 Insurance
Unit 14 Packing
Unit 15 Complaints and Claims
Unit 16 Electronic Commerce