5 Business English Courses to Confidently Conquer the Workplace

With the corporate world becoming increasingly competitive, it's important to be fluent in an international language that will support professionals to advance in their careers. For students considering business English courses, these programs can be a great step towards future career success. Students will gain valuable skills that will keep them ahead of their competitors when they enter the job market. These courses teach them how to write professional emails, create strong presentations, and speak confidently in English within business settings. 

What is the Benefit of Enrolling in Business English courses?

Those who enrol in Business English courses will benefit in the following ways:

• Those who thoroughly complete Business English courses will experience an improvement in business communication skills, which helps them express ideas clearly in various business situations.
• Students gain expertise in business terminology and jargon in English which help them understand and participate effectively in industry-specific discussions and meetings.
• Those who successfully complete these courses are able to write clear and concise business emails and reports as per professional standards and expectations.
• Business English courses add valuable skills to students' resumes to demonstrate their expertise in professional communication.
• Those who plan to work for international companies or need to interact with English-speaking clients in the future. 

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Let us take a look at 5 effective business English courses that help get ahead of others in the race.

1. Effective Business Communication: Master Persuasion and Influence

This course focuses on learning persuasion techniques to influence people through effective communication strategies. By completing the course, learners can understand audience dynamics and build a strong presence both in-person and online. This course is designed for managers, leaders, and emerging leaders who want to strengthen their interpersonal communication skills for professional purposes.

Why Choose This Course?

• Trainers: Hal Weitzman is an executive director at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. He has a master's degree from Oriel College, Oxford. Hal Weitzman is a Frank Knox Memorial Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
• Value for Money: This online course is available in three languages including English, Spanish and Portuguese. It has a flexible schedule that comes with interactive discussion boards, live sessions and a simple-to-use interface to ensure an effective learning experience.
• Certification Value: The certificate awarded by the University of Chicago is accredited by AACSB.
• Learner's Experience: As per learners, "Professor Weitzman's teaching style is extremely engaging, which allowed easy uptake of the material. The communication strategies and supporting structures that he delivers in this program have given me a useful framework for presenting." (as stated on the University of Chicago’s website)

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What Will You Learn Through This Course?

The course covers the following modules:

• Understanding Persuasion: Analysis of current communication skills and identifying areas of improvement are a part of this course's curriculum. The aim is to make daily communication more focused and goal-oriented.
• Analysing Communication Skills: Here, the focus is on assessment and improvement of communication skills. This section of the course covers verbal, nonverbal, and written communication. Students will learn techniques for active listening and effective speaking. Different communication styles will also be analysed.
• Tools for Analysing Audiences: This module includes methods for understanding the target audience. It covers demographic and psychographic analysis. Students will learn about audience segmentation techniques. In addition, tools for gathering and interpreting audience data will also be discussed.
• Role of Narratives in Influencing Audience: Another important aspect is the structure and elements of effective narratives. Students will learn how communication can evoke emotions and result in action. The use of personal anecdotes and case studies in persuasion could be addressed.
• Methodologies to Engage Audience: Strategies to capture and maintain audience attention will be covered alongwith interactive presentation techniques. Students will learn about using multimedia and technology for engagement.
• Communication Techniques: This section covers advanced communication strategies and techniques like framing, priming, and social proof.
• Building Professional Networks: Students will learn the importance of networking in professional settings. It will include strategies for effective networking at events, using social media for professional networking, and techniques for maintaining and leveraging professional relationships.

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2. Write Professional Emails in English

This course is curated by the professors of University of Georgia. The aim is to help learners in enhancing their skills to write effective business emails. It is designed for individuals who have low to intermediate proficiency in English as a Second Language (ESL) with a focus on improving grammar, vocabulary, and overall English writing skills specific to professional email communication. Students will learn structures for different types of business emails and the impact of cultural influence on communication styles.

Why Choose This Course?

• Trainers: Garry Landers graduated from Georgia State University with a major in Spanish. Most of his work experience is in the education industry with a five-year teaching experience at the University of South Alabama. The instructor has been rated 4.8/5 on Coursera by 4,985 enrolled students.
• Value for Money: The course helps students write professional emails in the English language. The course is explained in a simplified manner ensuring that basics are covered. As per online reviews, the course is structured technically to help everyone learn from the basics.
• Certification Value: Georgia University awards online course pass outs with the following certification:
• Learner's Experience: Coursera students state that:

"This a short and concise course on professional email writing. One can attend the whole course and then return back while writing important emails to ensure one leaves a strong impression on reader."

“Brief and accurate course. It provides useful information for writing professional emails. It´s a pity that the free version does not include assignments and peer´s review.”

What Will You Learn Through This Course?

The course covers the following topics related to writing a business email:

• Email and editing basics: Fundamental rules of writing email, structure of an email and making it look professional is the aim of this course. It also teaches students how to check an email for mistakes before sending it.
• Subject line and email text: This part explains the importance of the subject line in grabbing the recipient's attention and setting the tone for the email. students will also learn how to write the main body of the email in a reader-friendly format. This will enhance the overall readability and understanding.
• Introductions and announcements: Students will learn how to start email in a friendly but professional way. This section also covers how to share news or make announcements through email.
• Requests and apologies: Students will learn ways to request politely in an email. It also covers apologising correctly if students have made a mistake or need to deliver bad news.
• Cultural considerations: This part helps students understand how email etiquette can differ across cultures. Students will learn the type of content that can be polite or rude in emails from different countries. The course covers ways to write emails that will not sound offensive to people from other cultures.

Hone your soft skills for successfully interacting with clients

3. Business English Communication Skills Specialization

This business English specialization course is suitable for those who want to advance in their careers by improving their English language skills specifically for business purposes. Students will learn to successfully deal with business negotiations, presentations, meetings, and other professional interactions in English.

Why Choose This Course?

• Trainers: Wendy Asplin is an English language teacher as well as a teacher trainer. She holds a teaching experience of more than 20 years in the International and English programs at the University of Washington. Wendy Asplin has been rated as one of the top instructors on Coursera which adds to the credibility of the course.  Richard Moore teaches International and English Language Programs at the University of Washington. He has trained over 400,000 learners online.
• Value for Money: The course teaches students about the terminologies and skills that help in successful business negotiations, writing reports and emails as well as professional presentations.
• Certification Value: The University of Washington offers a career certificate after completing this course.

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What Will You Learn Through This Course?

The course covers the following topics:

• Networking: This helps determine whether the objectives of this course align with the learning goals of students. Students will be able to evaluate their level of proficiency in business English communication.
• Meetings: This Business English course helps students learn English to set up meetings by email and phone. The course teaches students appropriate words and phrases for in-person meetings and video calls. 
• Introductions and announcements: Students will learn to negotiate in formal and informal settings. They will be able to write announcements for business events after venue selection.
• Presentations:  Another important element of this course is the method to prepare presentations in the English language by implementing techniques explained. They will also develop well-organized presentations using graphs and charts. 

4. Business English Specialization

This course specialization is designed for students who want to enhance their proficiency in English language for business-related purposes including negotiation, management, marketing, etc. Students will learn ways to draft business documents including proposals and executive summaries to conduct meetings, sales pitches, and negotiations.

Why Choose This Course?

• Trainers: Andrea Mürau Haraway and Jessica Cinco are two of the top instructors at Coursera. Wanda Huber, Jenny Young and Beatriz Fuentes-Anderson are the other instructors who have trained thousands of students on Coursera.
• Value for Money: Through this course, students will learn to write proposals, executive summaries and marketing materials. Students will also learn language structures for making sales, negotiating business transactions and running a meeting.
• Certification Value: Students get ASU certified after completing this online course. 
• Learner's Experience: One of the students on Coursera stated “I highly recommend this course to everyone. There is a lots of valuable information that we can embrace in our life or in business activities. Both instructors are skilled and well-educated. Good luck to everyone!”

What Will You Learn Through This Course?

The course covers the following topics related to writing a business email:

• Recruiting and training a professional team:  This module focuses on the language skills needed for human resources and team management.  Students will learn English vocabulary and phrases for job advertisements, interviewing candidates, and onboarding new team members. 
• Managing meetings: This section teaches you how to conduct effective meetings in English. Students will learn phrases for starting and ending meetings, keeping discussions on track, and encouraging participation. 
• Efficient telephone conferences:  This section will focus on the challenges of communicating in English over the phone. The course teaches students about setting up conference calls, introducing participants, and managing technical issues using clear English instructions. 
• Writing professional emails: This module concentrates on written Business English for email communication. Students will learn the structure of effective business emails, including appropriate greetings and sign-offs. 

5. Business English: Marketing and Sales

This course is useful for those who want to progress in the field of marketing since this domain requires professionals with great communication skills. Students will learn to clearly express their ideas through reports, emails and presentations. 

Why Choose This Course?

• Trainers: Andrea Mürau Haraway and Jessica Cinco are among the top instructors at Coursera.
• Value for Money: The course is beneficial for sales, advertising and marketing professionals. By enrolling in this course, students will become a part of the business professionals network to develop English communication skills for business purposes.
• Certification Value: Students get ASU certified after the course completion. 
• Learner's Experience: As reviewed by one of the students, “This felt more like a Social Psychology course, than one in English. I thought this would be about copywriting and such. It was well done and fun, but since I already have social psychology knowledge, I didn't find it very challenging or useful. ”

What Will You Learn Through This Course?

1. Product marketing technique: In this module, the process of product launch is brainstormed. Effective brainstorming techniques, why these work effectively online and the impact of group dynamics on decisions are discussed in this module.
2. Product Perception: Students will learn about charts, graphs and relevant questions for creating an effective survey. Students will also learn the significance of accurately interpreting these graphs and charts before the presentation.
3. Promotion: Graphic design, perception and making marketing meaningful is the main objective of this module. Perception in visual communication, strategies and appropriate language for social media marketing are discussed.
4. Persuasive techniques: Cialdini's Principles of Influence are discussed in this module including the details of influential language. Vocabulary practice related to persuasive techniques is also done in this module.
5. Pitch: In this module tips for pitches, formal presentations, sales scripts, impromptu speeches and sales presentations are discussed. Students will learn methods to prepare presentations, sales script language and elevator pitches.

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Free Business English Courses to Confidently Conquer the Workplace

Those who want to become proficient in business English skills without investing money can consider checking out the following courses as well. Do remember that these courses will help in learning skills but will not offer certification to validate the skillset. 

Here are some free Business courses available on YouTube:

Conclusion

Those who are planning to set up their own business globally or are interested in corporate must be fluent in business English to ensure successful business interactions. For those interested in expanding their business globally or for those, who want to get into email marketing, the University of Georgia's Write professional emails in English course is an excellent choice. Those who plan to get into talent acquisition or are in the HR department can opt for Business English Specialization course from the University of Washington. Learners who want to plan a career in sales and marketing should enrol in Business English: Marketing and Sales from the University of Washington. The business English courses that have been mentioned here have different learning outcomes. According to the requirements, students must choose the course that can help them gain the relevant skills.