Business English courses

Business English is a form of English used in business contexts and settings, like in the office, at a work meeting, on a business call, or at a work conference or event. It also serves many business purposes, such as writing an analytical report, giving a sales presentation, crafting business emails and messages, or conversing with clients and colleagues. This type of English is most often utilized when doing business with English-speaking countries or working with global organizations where English is the lingua franca.

Business English is used to communicate in the corporate world as a whole and in the specialized industries within that sphere (e.g., information technology (IT), manufacturing, retail, trade, finance, and marketing). This means it’s made up of general business vocabulary and specific technical language for each field of work.

Other key characteristics of business English include following standard English grammar rules, communicating in a more formal and professional tone, focusing on clarity and conciseness, and avoiding the use of slang, profanity, and other overly vernacular terms.

If you work in an English-speaking country or corporation, you can undoubtedly leverage business English to thrive professionally. Even if you work in a region or organization where English isn’t the primary form of communication, it’s still the global language of business and is spoken by over 1.5 billion people worldwide. This means learning business English can offer you numerous benefits no matter where you work. Some advantages include being able to:

• Compete for jobs in a broader network of multinational companies and English-speaking organizations
• Interact skillfully with English-speaking employers during interviews and throughout recruitment
• Collaborate and converse professionally with English-speaking managers, coworkers, business associates, and customers
• Efficiently execute any job task (e.g., negotiating, reporting, presenting) that requires English proficiency
• Increase job security and serve as an asset in existing roles based on your linguistic abilities
• Keep up with current business trends by reading international publications and networking with professionals from around the world
• Successfully solicit a promotion, pay increase, or other benefit in an English-dominant work environment

The overarching purpose of business English classes is to teach learners how to communicate effectively in the corporate world. Therefore, these courses cover some combination of the following topics, depending on the focus:

• Vocabulary - Using terms that serve general business purposes (e.g., workflow, upskill, streamline) and words that help you operate in specialized industries, like accounting, sales, or advertising
• Grammar - Utilizing standard English grammar rules (e.g., consistent verb tense, capitalization) that enable you to sound professional in both written and oral forms 
• Pronunciation - Clearly articulating yourself and pronouncing business English terms/phrases in a standardized way in order to be easily understood
• Reading - Comprehending and analyzing a variety of business English texts, such as reports, news feeds, and case studies
• Writing - Concisely crafting a range of business content—from proposals to reports to emails to memos
• Listening - Comprehending spoken business English in various professional interactions (e.g., meetings, phone calls, office talk)
• Speaking - Verbally expressing yourself in business English in multiple work contexts (e.g., setting meeting agendas, providing feedback, networking, negotiating, presentations)

If you’re looking for the best way to learn business English, check out the following tips and tricks that can help you take your proficiency to the next level:

How to learn business English quickly

1. Immerse yourself in business English materials (e.g., websites, podcasts, news shows)
2. Set specific goals for yourself (e.g., learn 5 words a day, master your elevator pitch)
3. Choose a study schedule and stick to it (e.g., 6:00-6:30 pm from Monday to Friday)
4. Practice with others (e.g., language exchange with a native speaker or coworkers)
5. Take notes in a journal or online document (e.g., terms you hear at work, business phrases you read)
6. Focus your studies on your specific interests (e.g., design, retail, banking)
7. Use technology tools to supplement your learning (e.g., YouTube, ProWritingAid)
8. Learn word “families” of new vocabulary (e.g., recommend (verb), recommendation (noun), recommendable (adjective))
9. Review grammar notes, vocabulary, or other materials you’re studying right before bed to increase memory and recall
10. Enroll in personalized business English classes or corporate English training with an expert tutor (e.g., Preply)

How to learn business English speaking

1. Speak aloud when learning business English grammar and vocabulary (e.g., describe your work environment, explain your job)
2. Mimic the business English you hear (e.g., repeat phrases heard in the workplace or from videos or audio clips)
3. Find speaking partner (e.g., colleagues, friends, family) for learning business English conversation skills 
4. Read business English resources out loud (e.g., books, magazines, articles)
5. Record yourself speaking and note areas that need improvement
6. Role play relevant business situations with a partner or in front of the mirror alone (e.g., interviews, meetings, sales pitches)
7. Practice saying complete phrases instead of single words (e.g., “Can you expedite the shipment?” v. “expedite”)
8. Prioritize getting your message across versus not making a mistake
9. Use pronunciation guides (e.g., Google, online dictionaries) to listen to, repeat, and perfect your accent
10. Register for business English conversation classes to refine your speaking with a skilled tutor (e.g., Preply)

How to learn business English vocabulary

1. Read through business English publications and write down unfamiliar words/phrases
2. Listen to authentic business English conversations (e.g., work, film, podcast) and record new terms/phrases
3. Join business groups on social media (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter) to learn useful words/phrases from others’ posts
4. Sign up for individualized business English classes or corporate English training to expand your vocabulary with an adept tutor (e.g., Preply)
5. Craft sentences using new terms in a variety of contexts (e.g., conversing with a coworker, manager, and customer)
6. Draw pictures or symbols representative of new terms to visually remember their meaning
7. Use established apps to learn the most common business English words/phrases 
8. Take a ready-made online course dedicated to business English vocabulary 
9. Learn the parts of speech of new terms to easily acquire additional vocabulary [e.g., align (verb), alignment (noun)]
10. Create flashcards of new vocabulary on customizable apps

How to learn business English writing

1. Request past presentations and reports from senior leaders at your organization (or elsewhere) to learn from
2. Explore websites that offer business writing resources (e.g., Purdue Online Writing Lab)
3. Read and take notes on the key characteristics of exceptional business writing (e.g., The Wall Street Journal)
4. Take personalized business English classes or corporate English training to improve your writing with an experienced tutor (e.g., Preply)
5. Take mass-produced online courses focused on business English writing (e.g., LinkedIn)
6. Purchase a style and grammar guide to reference while writing 
7. Learn about what is required to successfully craft different types of business writing (e.g., emails, reports, memos, newsletters, agendas)
8. Use technology tools (e.g., Grammarly) that give you immediate feedback as your write
9. Ask for feedback on your writing from friends, family, colleagues, or supervisors who are skilled communicators
10. Build time into your schedule to practice business English writing every day

Thousands of online resources enable you to learn business English for free: podcasts, instructional videos, practice exercises, and audio lessons. Fortunately, if you plan to learn business English online, you can also access free online courses provided by learning institutes worldwide. Below you’ll find some of the top free business English lessons and courses offered on the web:

• General business English

• English for business communication - Preply
• Business English: Basics - Coursera
• Business English course - Udemy
• Upper-intermediate English: Business and industry - edX
• English for business and entrepreneurship - Alison
• English for career development - Alison
• Effective business communication - Alison

• Business English vocabulary & grammar

• English grammar and vocabulary: Discussing work - Alison
• Business English - Memrise
• Upper intermediate business English - Memrise

• Business English writing

• Write professional emails in English - Coursera
• English for effective business writing - Coursera
• Writing winning resumes and cover letters - Coursera

• Business English speaking

• Speak English professionally - Coursera
• English for effective business speaking - Coursera

• Other business English skills

• Applying for a job in English - Preply
• Business English: Planning & negotiating - Coursera
• Business English: Networking - Coursera
• Business English: Meetings - Coursera
• Business English: Management and leadership - Coursera
• Business English: Making presentations - Coursera
• Business English for cross-cultural communication - Coursera

Both academic English and business English fall under a subset of English called English for Specific Purposes (ESP). Therefore, the main difference between the two lies in their purpose and places of use. Explore their specific differences and similarities in the table below: