3 Things to Consider When Selecting a Business English Course
Learning English as an adult is no easy task.
If you already know some English, you need to start practicing with native English speakers.
This is the fastest way to improve Spoken English.
What kind of English courses do you need to take to learn English as an adult?
Business English Courses (also known as Adult English Courses) are targeted towards people with jobs.
The general perception is that Business English Courses are more suited for working professionals than standard General English Courses.
An important questions that comes up often is “what kind of Business English Course do I need to take to improve English Speaking?”.
The answer, unfortunately, for this questions is “it depends”.
Here are 3 basic questions you should ask yourself before joining a Business English program.
What are you trying to achieve in terms of learning English?
What are the most important things you are looking to gain out of the English Course?
Are you looking for Business English videos to watch and learn?
Are you looking to do role plays that relate to your job?
For Example, are you a doctor who wants to practice English conversations similar to what you would have with patients.
Is your goal to do well in an exam like IELTS or TOEFL?
Or is it to improve your English speaking in general so that you can be a better communicator in English.
Are you looking for 100% Conversational English or do you need help with writing and listening too?
Whatever your goal is, make sure you have a good understanding of what the Business English Course has to offer.
Remember, most Business English Courses might not cater to your individual needs unless they are 1 on 1 private lessons.
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The key to become fluent in English is to learn how to think in English
Think of how you have studied English in the past…
You probably did a lot of our English study through textbooks and written exercises.
May be you also practiced sentence patterns in class.
Some English classes use flashcards and role plays.
However, when we you in English, you find out that this is not enough.
It is impossible to think fast enough or find the right words.
Most English students feel as if they are drowning in a fast-moving river.
How can you gain the speed and flexibility needed to speak English in real time?
The best way to active this goal is to be practice speaking with native speakers.
This is what you should focus on as an adult learning Business English.
Why most English Courses suck!
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How do you like to learn English? And what level are you at currently?
Not all of us learn English (or anything for that matter) in the same way.
You might be a beginner of the language who needs to learn more grammar rules or someone who needs help improving there vocabulary and pronunciation.
On the other hand, you can be someone who has learned English in school for a few years but needs to be more fluent in speaking.
Either way, pick a Business English program (or adult English program) that is suited to your style of learning and level. This becomes especially important if you are learning in a group setting, where you are not receiving one on one tutoring. If the English Course is too advanced or too elementary for you, you will not benefit from it.
Important – If you already know some English….
If you already studied basic English as school, don’t waste time re-learning grammar in your Business English classes.
Instead, focus on things like idioms.
Nothing is worse when learning a language than the feeling of “I know what all those words mean individually, but not together” and that often happens when an idiom is used.
Native English speakers from countries like the US, UK, Canada and Australia use idioms commonly in everyday conversation.
If you want to speak English eloquently, getting to know some common idiomatic expressions can greatly help with fluidity and comprehension of a conversation.
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Learning idioms can come hand-in-hand with the learning slang and phrasal verbs.
All these little elements make the English conversations more real.
If you know idioms and slang, even if you don’t use them while speaking, you will understand them better when native English speakers use them in front of you.
This is a huge advantage.
So invest an a Business English program that explores advanced English areas like slang and idioms.
Don’t get fooled by the name of the Business English course
There are a multitude of names used by English teachers and English schools to describe the course/programs they offer. It is super confusing!
Here some examples we found from the internet.
Adult English course
Intensive English Course
English for Work
Mini-Intensive English
English For Adults
General & Intensive English
English for Professionals
Professional English
Intensive Business English
English for Young Adults
Executive English Course
Corporate English Course
English for Academics
Business English Course
General English Course
Onsite Business English
Online Business English Lessons
English Courses for the workplace
Online Adult English Lessons
This is JUST what we found by searching the internet for 5 minutes.
For English language students this is a lot to process.
Are these all these the same English course? Or are their differences?
If so, what are they?
If you are experienced ESL student who has explored multiple avenues to improve English, you will probably know that most of the time, these different names represent very similar services.
For example the Executive English program will use the same materiel and teacher as the Professional English course.
So don’t get confused by the name. Or more importantly, don’t let the name of the Business English course fool you!
Summary
The key to increased fluency is to take a risk and step outside of the safe and predictable vocabulary and grammar classes.
Taking a good Business English course online is a start, but you must keep practicing what you’ve learned in real-life situations
Exposing yourself to authentic sources of the English language such as TV and Podcasts are some of the best ways to build confidence and fluency in the long run.
Before you know it, not only will you be speaking naturally, but enjoying all that your community and the world at large has to offer!
Learning Business English (or any type of English) must be a fun process!
When learning English as an adult, the most important thing for you is time.
Learning English is just ONE thing you do in your busy life, with a job, a family, and a ton of other responsibilities. You absolutely don’t want to be wasting time at the wrong English language program.
Consider the 3 factors above before enrolling in a Business English Course and make the most out of the time you spend.
And as always remember, the fastest and most logical way to improve your English at any age is to practice with real, native English speakers and to immerse yourself in the language.