How to Really Improve Your Business English Skills

by Rilind Elezaj

English is the most widely spoken language in the world and is the accepted international language of business. If you do business across foreign borders, you'll no doubt know that having a mastery of English is a key way to increase your profits and make those all-important business deals.

But if you're just starting out in international business, or you wish to open up new doors across countries, then it's a good idea to work on improving your English skills. While a good command of the English language is undoubtedly helpful, Business English is a very specific skillset and so it's important to really understand the way the language is used in this context. This will help you gain credibility and mean you're taken seriously by the people you're trying to influence.

Here are some things you can do to improve your prospects with Business English:

1. Learn Business English in London

There are many London language schools that offer Business English as a taught course. These courses will give you the opportunity to gain new skills and may even include time spent in a UK workplace, where you can put your new English prowess into practice. An English course will include things like business vocabulary, how to write documents and emails, giving presentations, how to do a successful interview and appropriate conduct in the workplace. Each Business English course will have its own focus, so it's a good idea to get in touch with any London language school you're interested in, to find out what their course will cover.

2. Practice your written Business English

Practice makes perfect, and this is especially true when it comes to written Business English. A great deal of business today is now conducted via email, documents, presentations and other written media, so it's vital to make sure your written skills are up to scratch. If you have a friend or supportive colleague who is more skilled than you, you could ask them to check your written work before you send it to clients, associates or partners. Here are some tips to help you with your written English:

Keep it formal: avoid written slang and jokes, as it's important writing comes across as being clear and formal.
Think carefully about jargon: your audience may not understand business jargon, so think about who you're writing for before you start using these words.
Sign off your emails and letters properly: try to avoid using colloquial expressions at the end of a message. Instead, find out the correct and accepted ways of signing off a letter or an email, and use them.

Benefits of Business Language Training

Business language training, as the term suggests, is the training of employees in another or other languages. This is mostly done online or in specified centers. There are several reasons why you should consider doing this.

You need training on language if your business is about to venture into new territories. You also need the training if you intend to serve clients or customers in your country who might not speak your language. The training enables you to compete effectively in a foreign land. Expanding your business to foreign lands is important because it gives greater ROI (return on investment). Note that you need not have a lot of capital since you can offer your services over the Internet and you can sell your goods through an e-Commerce website.

Language trainers will teach your staff more than other languages. Language training center in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, USA, India, and elsewhere also teach employees the customs of different people, their beliefs, and other lessons that will come in handy in the new country. The training can even feature tips on business etiquette.

Another advantage of business or corporate training is that it eliminates the need for translators and interpreters. The fact that your staff will be up to the task means you get to save money. Another advantage of this is that third parties will not have access to sensitive company information. Such information could be detrimental to your business if it were to fall into the hands of your competitors.

Language training services offer flexible language training solution. The training often takes place in a language training center, but you can organize with language trainers to do it in the most convenient place for your employees. It is even possible to make use of video conferencing facilities and e-Learning facilities. You also get flexibility in terms of frequency, format, and focus of the lessons. This is the main advantage of this type of training over enrolling your employees in language schools.

Commercial language training is advantageous in that you will get specialist focus. The training could be such that it focuses on your business. This language training is a way of personnel development. Your employees will be happier and consequently more loyal and productive since they will know you are taking care of them. You could also use the training to get tips on the 'sharper tools in the shed'. Training of any kind improves the intelligence of employees and their ability to grasp new concepts fast.

About the writer

Rilind Elezaj is a marketing specialist at SavvySME. He has a passion for sharing things that can help businesses grow successfully.

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