Top Tips On How To Teach Business English

By Adriana Noton

People start learning English for a variety of reasons, but one of the most in demand styles of English language instruction is business English. Many business people decide to learn English as a way to broaden their business interests overseas or as a way to get promoted within their current companies.

If you live overseas in a non-English speaking country, then you are likely to be able to find many business English students either as private students or through working at a language institute. Business students tend to be higher paying than some other English teaching jobs since they generally want to be able to improve their skills rapidly.

Business English courses are different to normal language classes. You will not only have to help them improve their grammar knowledge and all the regular skills that are taught in language levels, you will also have to provide specialized language practice in situations they are likely to encounter in the business world.

An important part of teaching business English is that you have to be able to impart social customs and expectations to your students. Doing business in different parts of the work involves differing norms and customs. Teaching them to give a firm handshake and other aspects of business are just as important as the language proficiency.

Role play is an essential part of a successful business English class. This allows your students to practise the required language they would need to cope with different business situations, which makes them prepared for when they see it in real life. Many people forget about the importance of role play, but when it comes to business English it is crucial. It will also make your students more confident in real life situations if you have taken a very communicative approach to the classes.

You will need to analyze the type of business that your students are involved in and cater to their needs. This will most likely require that they are taught specialized vocabulary specific to their individual types of business. Business English is much more diagnostic than other styles of teaching as you will have to find where the holes in their language skills are and fill them up.

Some essential components of good business English classes include: role play, negotiating in English, email and formal letter writing, learning English formal language, telephone conversations and customer service. Teaching your students how to successfully engage in small talk is also an important part of doing business successfully.

You should always start out with your business students by having an open conversation about what they require from the classes. This will make it easier for you to plan your classes and meet their needly effectively. Knowing what your client wants is a key part of having satisfied customers.

Teaching business English can be a well paid and satisfying from of ESL. You will find that business English pupils are more motivated and eager to improve than many other students. Business English students tend to improve their language skills fast, and will do even better if you put into practice the above advice. - 33385

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