How Language Learning Fuels Business Expansion

First, Let’s clarify that General English is taught in standard language courses. It is structured to allow learners to become more confident in the four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking)while practicing vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. All this covers areas of general interest, such as holidays, the environment, famous people, etc.

On the other hand, Business English has a very different focus. Although it is quite a generic course – it doesn’t specialize in any specific industry – it allows learners to become more familiar with terminology frequently used in business settings. There isn’t much emphasis on grammar, which is addressed as and when a specific grammar point arises, but it focuses on developing functional skills, such as writing emails, giving a talk or a presentation, replying to complaints etc.

How to choose the right Business English course

When choosing a Business English course for your team, remember what they need to use the language for. A professional Business English teacher should assess your teams’ needs and establish your goals as an employer and their goals as learners and employees. With a personalized course specifically tailored to their needs, you’ll find that the participants will be more engaged and will progress faster.

Tailored specifically to participants’ needs, Business English courses keep learners engaged and motivated, leading to faster progress than General English courses.

A few aspects that you (the employer) and the teacher need to identify are:

learners’ needs, objectives, and proficiency levels through a needs analysis

why and how they will use their English skills (e.g., emails, presentations, meeting new clients, answering customers’ queries, etc)

logistical aspects, such as when and where these lessons should take place without impacting the day-to-day running of the business.

However, if you require a course that is more specific to your industry, the key to success is to find a teacher who will design every single lesson in a way that revolves around your industry and the main topics specific to your company.

Ideally, you want a teacher with considerable teaching experience—not necessarily teaching Business English, but that would be an advantage. Remember that the teacher does not need to be an expert in your field. They help your team (the experts) talk about what they know and do.

Unlike generic Business English classes, an industry-specific course would be more expensive, but it would be a lot more beneficial to your team. Remember that you often get what you pay for. Cheap TEFL certification and courses might seem good for the budget but could be a waste of money.

Level up your team with language proficiency

Business expansion requires linguistic ability. In the current market, this means sharpening your team’s English language skills (and those of your company’s target market) to ensure smooth communication among all parties. Language competence will then bring a number of benefits to your business in areas you might not have expected, such as rapport, reputation, and recruitment.