BUSINESS ENGLISH COURSES, EXAMINATION ENGLISH, ENGLISH TESTS AND EXAMS

Who needs a business English course?
The people for whom business English is most useful are probably those who are already working in businesses where English is necessary for some part of their work, and who have therefore had the opportunity to see what they can and can't do effectively in English. These, together with people who are on the point of changing their jobs and facing new demands, are usually called "post-experience trainees".
Of course others can benefit too - people who are just going to start on a career in business, having perhaps finished a university course. However, the English emphasis in these cases is a little different; such people need to study the world of business at the same time as they are learning the language - they are learning business in English, rather than English for business. These people are usually called "pre-experience trainees".
Finally, there are some people who are in a way, learning business English as a kind of 'insurance'. They have no immediate or clearly identified need, but just feel that it could be useful some time. These are also "pre-experience trainees"
These are quite different needs, and they can not always be satisfied in the same teaching group, even when the levels of English are similar.
Are business English courses about special terminology?
It depends firstly on whether you are a "post-experience" or a "pre-experience" trainee. Most post-experience trainees already know the terminology of their own area of business in English, but don't know enough other English to use their specialist knowledge effectively for doing business in the real world. For these people a business English course is mainly not about special terminology.
On the other hand "pre-experience trainees" will still be learning, or be going to learn, the terminology of their chosen area in their own language, and will not yet be clear about what terminology they might need. They will need to study general terminology as part of their course.
As with Question 1, above, these different needs can not always be met within the same teaching group.
Is 'Business English' the same as 'English for Special Purposes'?
No, it isn't. In relation to the business world, English for Special Purposes would deal more with the terminology and expression which is specific to one particular area of business - and sometimes even to one task, such as producing the company's annual report. A balanced Business English course will assume the person has the expertise in his or her specific area but requires practice in the functions (s)he has to perform. An additional function of a business English course, can be to introduce the basic terminology and expression of specific areas.
(As an extra note, when a school claims to offer English for Special Purposes (ESP) this suggests that the trainers have professional qualifications and experience in the specialism(s) offered - so you should expect a trainer teaching an ESP course for lawyers to have worked (or even still be working) as a lawyer him/herself, in addition to being a trained and effective teacher. In fact this is very difficult to achieve; a lawyer who is any good as a lawyer will probably not want to go into the equally difficult but much less well paid job of teaching! So note that good ESP courses tend to be expensive, and you need to check the qualifications of the trainers.)
What is a business English course?
Although the world of business is hugely diverse, the practical functions that people have to perform in their work are broadly similar. A good business English course will take advantage of their similarities and help trainees to tailor them to their particular professional fields. For example, many businessmen have to attend formal meetings, and although the content of such meetings will vary, the functions that people need to perform in the meetings are predictable - they will need to interrupt (and to avoid interruption!) to explain, to approve, to make proposals, etc. A good business English course will also help the trainee to re-code the English of everyday situations into language suitable for business contexts.
Do I need to take any exams in business English?
For the majority of business people doing courses in an English-speaking country the question doesn't arise, because they are focused on the challenges and needs of the particular role they are performing or going to perform. Moreover they are normally doing short, intensive courses, where preparation for an exam is not practical.
However it can be a good idea, from the points of view of both motivation and qualification, when a student is on an extensive course - perhaps in his/her own country - and there are several possibilities. One possibility is given on our Examination FAQ page.
Do I need experience of business before I study business English?
No, you should be able to find a course suitable for "pre-experience trainees" (if the school doesn't give this category in its publicity, don't be afraid to ask) which would approach the subject in a way that assumes little or no experience. Similarly, if you have a lot of experience in business, it is a good idea to check that you will find yourself with other experienced business people.
Does a business English course include grammar?
Yes, it must - you can't have language without grammar. But the way it is approached is usually different from grammar in a general English course. A good business course will look at the trainee's professional needs first and then concentrate on the grammatical structures of most immediate practical use. It is one mark of a good course that it will use the practical functions related to the trainees' experience to teach and practise the grammatical forms. A less good course often separates business functions and structure, teaching the mechanics of grammar rather than use.
How do I choose a business English course?
Obviously the same criteria you would apply to a general English course mostly apply to a business English course, so to begin with click here to have a look at our suggestions for points to consider generally. However there are are further points which must be considered specifically in relation to business English courses:
- The experience of the staff teaching the course is fundamental. Take the attitude that you have a right to know in some detail the relevant experience of the staff who will be teaching you business English, and if the school's publicity does not contain enough information, ask for more. (You can also ask about qualifications, but in business English these are of less importance - even a Masters degree in EFL teaching does not necessarily indicate expertise in business.) As evidence of experience,
  - Age is important. The more time a teacher has taught business English, the better.
  - Length of experience is important because teaching business English is a two-way process. The teacher widens her/his experience and knowledge of the business world through contact with business trainees.
  - Width of experience is important too. Look for the range of companies a school claims that its teachers have provided business English for.
  - It is often valuable if staff have undertaken in-company work, because the teacher gets a deeper understanding of the work environment
- It is an advantage if the school has experience of working with companies similar to yours. Again, if you don't know, ask.
- The proportion of the whole course specifically timetabled as "business English" needs to be considered. In business contexts, the proportion of language that is specific to business, compared with the amount of general English needed is probably quite small, so you need a good balance of general and business English.
- The size of the classes. Having one or two other trainees to interact with is good, but in general the smaller the class, the better.
- The maturity of the other students in the school. Many schools allow students from 16 years old on their business courses.
- Whether the school can provide individual tuition if you require it.
How can I prepare to get the best from a business English course?
The more information a school has about any particular needs you may have before you arrive at the school, the better they can prepare. Especially if you are going to have individual tuition, take with you as many examples of the ways in which you have to use English as you can - reports, formal letters, journals, circulars, etc. Such materials as brochures in your own language can be helpful too.
It shouldn't need saying, but if possible try to ensure that your course will not be interrupted by constant calls from your colleagues on your mobile phone - unfortunately it happens! If you feel that continual contact will be necessary, check with the school first, to see what times are best for colleagues to phone you.
Finally, don't forget the vital importance of a relaxed frame of mind: people under stress do not usually make good language learners.

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