How to Improve Your Business English in Five Simple Steps

Language learning can be an abstract process, and many language learners can find it hard to see or feel progress. Quite often, they become frustrated and eventually give up.

Why is that the case?

If we look closely at the reasons why it is generally because of a) poor teachers, b) abstract study programmes which don't connect with learners' needs, and c) students' learning habits.

However, the good news is we can quickly solve all of these issues, so read on to find out what you and your teacher or school should be doing.

1. Clarify your goals precisely

First and foremost, you need to clarify your objectives before you begin studying. Just enrolling on any course of English is not enough.

Why are you giving up your valuable time and money to learn business English? What are your language goals, and how do they connect with your career or life plans? Are you an accountant working in an energy company who needs to master financial presentations for the board of directors? Do you work in HR and need to learn how to conduct interviews in English?

If you have found a teacher or a school, then the first thing they should be doing is a needs analysis. This involves a closer look at your day to day work responsibilities, career plans, and professional goals and connecting these things to your language course.

2. Programmes for any career

Most schools offer a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. They have a generic textbook and try to mould the student to the programme.

In terms of business, this is a classic mistake.

It's impossible to cover every industry and every career with one resource. Businesses need a more tailored approach to learning. They need courses directly connected to their area of business and day-to-day needs.

Most courses and textbooks have to be adapted to meet your average corporate client's needs. Better still, create a unique programme from scratch for your clients directly connected to their needs. An experienced, professional provider can do this, so make sure your teacher and school are qualified to follow this approach.

3. Set measurable goals

As mentioned above, language learning can be an abstract science, and quite often, it is not always easy to see or feel quick progress. So, it's always important to set clear and measurable goals, and you can do this in several ways. Let's say you want to improve your business vocabulary. You could set yourself a goal of learning seven new words per day (boosting your vocabulary by approximately 2,500 new words per year).

Or let's imagine you want to learn how to make a presentation in English? You could start by learning how to report first, focusing on financial reports or the research results, and master these areas before moving on to other types of talks. You could also zoom in on the different parts in a presentation and master 'Introductions' before moving on to 'Presenting slides' or 'Answering questions'.

The key idea here is to break things down into manageable, bite-sized chunks. That will make learning and retaining new information much easier.

4. Create good habits

If you are motivated to learn English, then you need to be organized and devote a small part of every day to learning. Aside from lessons, you should spend a minimum of 20-30 minutes every day reading, listening, revising vocabulary, and, if possible, getting some speaking practice. It's just like going to the gym. If you miss a few sessions, your muscles will get weaker. It's the same with language learning. So study, study, and study some more!

5. Revise and repeat. Then repeat again

Your teacher should set you regular revision activities in the classroom, recycling grammar and vocabulary for you to use again and in different contexts. Just ten minutes in every class will help you remember key concepts and turn passive language into active knowledge, something you can use instantly and confidently.

Outside the classroom, try to spend at least twenty minutes every day, revising vocabulary and grammar.

So, there's a lot both the school and the student should be doing to improve learning and speed up language acquisition. Motivation is a two-way thing. Teachers can do a lot to stimulate students by creating a programme that meets students' needs head-on. And students can help themselves by maintaining their own level of motivation through being disciplined, developing good habits, and setting themselves small daily, weekly and monthly goals. Ultimately, finding a professional school or teacher who can help you with all of the above is vital.

Most of all, believe in yourself and enjoy the experience! You can do it!

For more information on corporate language courses and how to accelerate your learning, get in touch with Anthony Kent @ BBLC today.