What is a Business English course?

Business English is different. It answers different needs and needs different answers. More and more people around the world are asking for “Business English” rather than just “General English” – it is one of the major growth areas in English Language Teaching – but what is it? What should agents look for when they advise their clients to choose a course or a centre?

The first major difference about Business English (BE) is the student, or course participant. There are two types of BE learner – pre-experience and post-experience. The first is someone who is still training or is perhaps waiting to start a job. The second is someone who is already in a job and needs to be able to work in English. They have very different needs but they are both very focused and need English as a tool, not as a subject of study. They are also both usually very demanding clients.

The second major difference is the course content. Whilst the traditional twins of grammar and vocabulary will still play a part somewhere, most BE courses will focus on skills such as Meetings, Presentations and Negotiations and on Work-related contexts, such as Marketing, Human Resources or Finance. Most of the course materials will be very relevant and authentic or specifically-designed for the student or work sector.

Methodology is another major difference. Any BE course of value will use the techniques of management training in addition to English language training. This will include simulation, case study, team-building, problem-solving, coaching and mentoring.

Next come the teachers, or trainers. It is not enough for them to have an EFL or ESOL qualification. BE teachers should have experience of the business world so that they “speak the same language” as their students. The best BE teachers often have qualifications in other areas such as Economics, IT or Law which enable them to handle specific needs. Classroom management techniques are not often a priority -  experience, expertise and excellence always are.

All aspects of the course and the centre should be of an equally high standard. It is no use having an excellent teacher if the accommodation is poor. The materials may be good but if the equipment is bad, the BE learner will comment. Total Quality is a business concept but should also apply to BE courses.

Finally, the BE course should be student-focused throughout, rather than just follow a course book, an examination syllabus or a teacher’s preferences. This means that there should always be a diagnostic assessment and a needs analysis before the student arrives and continuous monitoring and feedback throughout the course. This is common in business.

How can an agent be sure that they are offering their student the best BE courses? BusinessEnglishUK is the only Special Interest Group of EnglishUK and there are, currently, 35 member schools which satisfy the specific Code of Practice relevant to Business English. For details of BusinessEnglishUK and all its member schools, please look at www.BusinessEnglishUK.org.uk