Business English is expected to continue to grow in the next 5-10 years, so now is a great time to specialize in this teaching niche. In this blog post, I’ll share the most important basics you need to know about teaching business English that I learned through the Bridge TEFL Teaching Business English Specialty Course and working as a business English teacher in Australia.
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What is Business English?
Business English is a specialty niche of ESL teaching where you are typically working with adult students. Your students may be preparing to enter the business world and need general Business English classes, they could be high-level executives looking to polish their skills with very specific, tailored 1:1 classes, or somewhere in between.
Let’s take a look at some important concepts to understand if you want to dive into this fulfilling, challenging, and lucrative niche of English teaching.
Concept # 1: English as a Lingua Franca
When you think of teaching Business English, you might think of the more traditional model of teaching non-native speakers how to communicate with native English speakers. But, in today’s business world, this isn’t what is actually happening. There are more non-native speakers conversing with other non-native speakers, but using English as a lingua franca, or their language of communication.
As a teacher, the main focus is on using English for communication over accuracy. Your role is to guide your students so they can communicate with confidence and be understood.
Concept #2: Teach Culture as Well as Language
It’s your job as a Business English teacher to not only teach grammar and vocabulary and different phrases that your students can use, but also to teach the culture of the countries where your students will be working. This is a little bit tricky if you have students who are doing a general Business English course, and they might not know where they’re working yet.
However, if you’re working with a specific group of students inside a company, or learners who know where they’re going to be working, then you can help them better understand cultural norms. For example:
- Germany: Meetings start on time, and punctuality is highly valued.
- Japan: Business cards are exchanged with both hands, and formal greetings are essential.
Including cultural norms like greetings, gestures, and professional etiquette ensures students feel confident in real business situations.
Concept #3: Having a Sponsor or Company Involved in Learning
In some situations, one key difference between teaching Business English and teaching general English is that a sponsor is often involved. A sponsor is typically a representative from the company who pays for their employees’ Business English classes.
Sponsors can put extra pressure on your students, especially if the sponsor is expecting them to reach a specific level in a specific amount of time.
This means you’ll need to communicate with the sponsors and balance two sets of needs:
- The student’s learning goals
- The company’s expectations
Concept #4: Needs Analysis for Students and Sponsors
You will need to perform a Needs Analysis not only for your students, but also for the sponsoring company. A Needs Analysis for students is a survey to understand students’ goals, motivations, and levels. A Needs Analysis for a Sponsor or company is a survey to understand the company’s goals, requirements, and timelines. However, if you’re teaching Business English through a langauge school, this might not be necessary.
Performing a Needs Analysis can help you adapt your materials and plan out your curriculum. You’ll want to do this before you start teaching and during your course to help you adapt everything to your students or sponsors’ needs.
The Bridge TEFL 60-hour Teaching Business English Course includes templates that you can use with sponsors. It covers all the details you need to know about conducting a Needs Analysis.
Click here to learn more about how to get certified to teach Business English.
Concept #5: Main Ways to Teach Business English
You can teach Business English in two primary ways: at an English language school or directly at a company or office, known as in-company classes. I personally taught Business English through a language school in Australia for both general students and private 1:1 Business English clients. I also taught a business English student in Spain at his home as a freelancer.
Teaching Business English: English Language Schools
Here’s what it can look like teaching Business English at English language schools:
- Your students often have different language levels
- Students may work in different industries or not be working anywhere yet
- They are often looking for more general Business English classes
- You may have private or small group classes with students from the same company, either at the school or at the office (but set up by the language school)
- There’s more control over the learning environment
- You might not work directly with sponsors
- These classes tend to be more stable throughout the year
Teaching Business English: In-company Classes
Here’s what it can look like teaching Business English through in-company classes:
- Lessons usually take place at the workplace, meaning that you are traveling there
- Classes could be 1:1, small group, or large group – either in-person or online
- Students are usually from a similar industry or team
- You may not have much control over the learning environment
- During busy times, you might not have as much work
- You could be contracted to teach in-company classes through a language school or find them on your own as a freelancer
- You’ll likely be working with a Sponsor
Concept #6: Student Motivation
Student motivation can vary depending on who’s paying for the classes. When students pay for their own lessons, they tend to be highly motivated. Whether they need a promotion at work or want to move to an English-speaking country and get a better job, your students are likely to attend your classes.
On the other hand, if a company is paying, there’s often extra stress on employees to reach a specific level by a specific time. You’ll notice a difference in student motivation. As the teacher, you need to recognize what their motivation is and where it’s coming from so you can best support your students.
Concept #7: Needs Vary Based on Student Business Experience
If you have students who are new to Business English or maybe never had a job before, then you’ll likely be teaching more generalized courses. This is where textbooks come in handy. There are general Business English textbooks that go through different topics and help your students develop skills like presentations, giving sales pitches, and writing reports and formal emails. I used these with my students at the language school in Australia.
If you’re working with specific clients, typically in a company, they will need a more specific course. They may want to focus on a particular industry or a culture where their clients are based.
If you’re teaching Business English, consider the type of students you have and where they are in their learning journey. Are they earlier in their career, in the middle, or very advanced?
Concept #8: Keep Up To Date With Business Trends
As a Business English teacher, you aren’t expected to have a background in business or know everything about the industry. You’re being hired for your ability to teach English and knowledge of the language. That being said, it is still important to understand the latest trends and topics in the industries your students are working in.
You can do this by keeping up to date through YouTube videos, blogs, and news. You can even use these materials in your classes.
Concept #9: Teaching Materials for Business English
As mentioned earlier, in a general Business English course, textbooks are often used. However, you may also want to incorporate a lot of authentic materials and task-based learning. For authentic materials, you’ll find that your students have questions about emails, reports, or news articles they are currently working with.
For task-based learning, think about recreating different tasks that your students may be doing, such as giving presentations or sales pitches. They could practice writing formal emails and how to reply. Having group discussions and practicing presentations is important as well. Let your students share their opinions and keep it as real as possible. Don’t forget those cultural norms as well!
Concept #10: Assessments When Teaching Business English
In terms of assessments, you’ll want to use a variety of informal and formal forms for your Business English courses. Unlike general classes, Business English classes usually don’t have weekly quizzes or a test at the end of the unit. Instead, you’ll want these to be more practical and related to your students’ work tasks. You can ask them to deliver a presentation, write a report, and simulate an informal interview. Make sure to create a rubric beforehand so they know what to include and how they will be evaluated.
Check in with your students throughout your course to evaluate their progress. If you have a Sponsor involved, they will also want periodic reports on their employees’ progress.
Get Certified to Teach Business English
If you’re interested in getting certified to teach Business English, I highly recommend the Bridge TEFL 60-hour Teaching Business English Course. This is a self-paced online course that walks you through all the important concepts mentioned in this blog post.
The courses includes helpful readings and activities, video learning tasks, infographics, templates, module quizzes, and an assignment. I wish that I had taken this course before I started teaching Business English classes because I would have felt more prepared!
Click here to see a sneak peek of what the course is like on the inside (starts at 9:04).
Ready to enroll?
Click here to sign up for the Bridge TEFL Business English course. You can use code ESL365 at checkout to get an additional 10% off.
Bridge TEFL Teaching Business English Course Modules
- What is Business English and Why Is It Important?
- Analyzing Stakeholder Needs
- Shaping the Course
- The Business Model and Assessments
- Practices in Professional Development
Final Thoughts
Teaching Business English is a fantastic niche for anyone who prefers teaching adult students. You are also able to charge more since it’s a more specialized area of ESL teaching.
Happy teaching!
Jamie
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What are the key skills for teaching Business English?
Answer: Teachers must be able to adjust their teaching to different industries, levels, and individual student needs. You’ll focus more on improving your students fluency and communication skills than accuracy.
Question: What are some resources for Business English teachers?
Answer: Use established Business English coursebooks like Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. Task-based learning is also important to simulate real-life work situations. Include authentic materials like emails, newspapers, videos, presentations, and more.
Question: Do you need business experience to teach Business English?
Answer: Language schools or companies will hire you for your teaching expertise, not corporate experience. However, staying updated on industry news and trends will make you a more effective Business English teacher.
