BUSINESS ENGLISH
INTERMEDIATE - ADVANCED (B2-C1)
Your Path to Success: Choose the right Business English course for You
Universities all around the world now offer Business English courses as part of a degree in subjects such as Business Administration, Business Studies, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Media Studies, Design, Engineering and so on.
This is in response to the explosion in the adoption of global English in the 21st century.
But what is Business English exactly?
Why should you study it?
What should you look for in a course?
What can you expect to learn?
In short, how can you choose a course can will benefit you and give you the greatest advantages and perfect springboard to both your career and working life.
You can’t ignore Business English but you can understand what it is and know what you should demand from a course.
This video outline 6 Tips to help you find the right course for you:
- English today
- do you need Business English?
- research your target university
- what to look for in the syllabus
- three examples of course content
- who are the teachers?
- check the class size
- trust your gut instinct
- what you can and can’t expect
- take care – it is a separate discipline.
Business Structure: essential concepts and vocabulary
Your success on a Business English course depends not only on learning a lot of vocabulary but also understanding the concepts and ideas behind this vocabulary.
You will get the best grades if you truly learn and understand what business is all about and can express yourself confidently and accurately in both spoken and written English.
Getting the most out of your course will give you a solid foundation to build a successful career.
This video explores business structure and clarifies all you need to know to pass an exam or assessment:
- describing business sectors
- exam questions
- how to learn about business
- size of organisation
- company ownership.
Company Organisational Structure: why it matters & how it works
1. why companies are organised
2. what company organisation reflects
3. vocabulary
4. three organisational structures
5. why you need to learn about company organisation.
Organisational Culture – essential concepts and vocabulary
If you are preparing a paper, preparing a presentation or answering an exam or assessment question, it is easy to exploit your knowledge so that you can use concepts bout company organisation to discuss organisational culture.
In this video, Charles Handy’s four dimensions of organisational culture – power, role. task and culture – are outlined and the link to company organisation is demonstrated.
The video then goes on to explain how Edgar Shein’s organisational model can also be used in discussions on company organisation and organisational culture.
- the 4 dimensions of organisational culture (Charles Handy)
- the link to organisational structure
- Edgar Schein’s organisational culture model.
Money, Money, Money
As a learner of English, you need to be able to talk about money. Money is a part of your daily life and being able to talk about money gives you a basis to deal with all those money issues in English.
If you are studying and your course includes modules on finance and economics, you need to be able to talk about money so that you understand and can learn to communicate about finance and economics.
Dealing with money and talking about money is part of many jobs and careers. This video covers the basics for talking about money:
- why money?
- common English verbs for money
- dealing with a bank account
- types of payments
- some idioms.
What do they do in Finance?
- the what and why of finance in business
- what income and expenditure does a company have?
- finance for a Business English course
- what does a finance department do?
- what is the basic documentation?
- five useful idioms.
Get the Best Results with the Best Strategy – How to Describe Graphs & Charts
Describing graphs, charts and diagrams in English is a part of working in business – a very good reason why many university exams for Business English and tests such as the IELTS and TOEFL tests have a question where you have to describe a graph, chart or diagram.
This kind of question is a great chance for you to improve your grade. But this depends on you taking a systematic approach and learning some basic vocabulary and grammar.
This video takes you through a procedure for describing numbers, figures and trends on graphs that you can use.
You need to describe:
- the graph in general terms
- the graph in specific terms
- the trend itself
- the size & speed of the trend
- the timeline
- the reasons for the changes
as well as use:
- adverbs & adjectives
- the right prepositions
The final part of this video discusses a typical sample test question from an IELTS test and demonstrates how you use the above procedure to answer the question.
IELTS Home of the IELTS English Language Test https://www.ielts.org/
IELTS sample test questions https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers…
Describe the Economy with Colourful and Engaging English
Get attention by using these colourful expressions.
Be engaging and clear in your communication.
In English, we use a good number of expressions to describe business and the economy that have their roots in gardening, farming and agriculture.
Governments prepare the ground and make policies so that the economy grows and we experience periods of prosperity.
In this video, I explore, discuss and give examples of a number of such expressions that you can incorporate in your English. I also discuss why using figurative language and metaphors is a sign of a good communicator who truly connects with other people:
- preparing the ground
- seeds
- roots
- weeds
- buds
- fruit & pickings
- land & ground
- crops
- reap the harvest
- green shoots
- plough back
- prune back
- using metaphors in communication.
Examples of the phrases are taken from The Guardian newspaper: https://www.theguardian.com/uk
Economics: Master all the Vocabulary You Need
- GDP
- GNP
- FDI
- CPI
- BOP
- BOT
- cost of living
- standard of living v. quality of life
- minimum wage
- hidden economy
- income
- employment
- trade
From Boom to Bust using the Business Cycle
If you have the ability to describe and apply the Business Cycle, you will be able not only to answer not only direct questions about the Cycle itself but also indirect questions where you can incorporate your knowledge of the Cycle.
It is a beneficial tool for both business and life!
This video explores:
- 4 reasons why you need to be able to apply the Business Cycle
- facts and vocabulary
- more useful vocabulary using opposites
- hints on learning vocabulary and concepts
- how to incorporate the Business Cycle in an exam answer.
Performance Management: All the Answers
Be fully prepared for your business life and career!
Business is about management and managing people and you need the concepts and vocabulary to do this.
This video introduces you to the process of Performance Management. It gives you all the necessary concepts and vocabulary so that you can answer any question that you get in any course, assessment or test that addresses Performance Management:
- what is performance management?
- tools for performance management
- what are the benefits of performance management?
- are there any disadvantages
- vocabulary to describe successful performance management
- what management skills are required?
Define & Structure Objectives using SMART
- setting objectives
- defining SMART
- specific
- measurable
- achievable
- relevant
- time
- a study SMART objective
- a business SMART objective using SMART in course work & exams
- the difference between goal, objective and targets.
Decoding Management Styles: X & Y Theory
Knowing about the effect of management style on motivation not only means you get to know what you want from a manager but also get to know how to become a better manager yourself.
Knowing about motivation and what triggers your motivation will help you in both your studies and your working life.
Knowing the concepts and vocabulary you need to discuss management style using Theory X and Y will be of great benefit to you in any Business English course or exam.
This video contains the following sections:
- Theory X beliefs
- Theory X management style Theory Y beliefs
- Theory Y management style effects on motivation
- 7 factors affecting management style
- origin of Theory X & Y motivation
- Theory Z.
Management By Walking Around
Don’t just sit there!
Management By Walking Around (MBWA) is a technique that gets managers walking around their company to interact with employees. Because they are visible and engaged, these managers get valuable insights into how their company is operating and into what exactly needs to be solved or improved.
In this video, I give two examples of companies.
In company 1, The CEO does not adopt Management By Walking Around (MBWA)
In company 2, The CEO adopts MBWA in company.
What’s the difference?
- company 1 – without MBWA
- company 2 – with MBWA
- review of concepts and vocabulary
- origin of MBWA
- is MBWA relevant today?
The Why, What & How of Mission & Vision Statements
- provide clarity and direction
- help employees understand their role in achieving the company’s goals
- give all stakeholders a clear understanding of what the company stands for.
- 5 reasons to know more about mission & vision statements
- definition of mission statement
- definition of vision statement
- 7 guidelines for good mission & vision statements
- why companies produce mission & vision statements
- example of poor mission statement
- examples of good mission & vision statements
- the grammar.
The Difference between Managers & Leaders?
The courses and modules you choose at university or college mention the words manager & management and leader & leadership.
There is some overlap between the roles of a manager and a leader but are they the same thing?
A manager can certainly be a leader but not all managers are leaders and someone who is not a manager can still be a leader.
In this video I explore:
- the difference between a manager & a leader in general terms
- authentic leadership
- mindful leadership,
It’s a Great Place to Work! – Employer Branding
Employer Branding is the way a company or organisation markets itself as a great place to work to potential job candidates and current employees.
Employer Branding is an essential part of company strategy today.
Make sure you understand the concept of Employer Branding and can discuss the strategy in English.
In this video, I describe:
- relevant vocabulary and concepts
- how Employer Branding works
- some features of Employer Branding
- why Employer Branding in important
and finally give some follow up activities and questions for students and teachers.
What do they do in Marketing?
What exactly do people do in Marketing?
A marketing department is responsible for a very wide range of responsibilities that can vary depending on the company and the industry sector.
This video breaks these responsibilities into seven functions and goes on to describe each function with the necessary concepts and vocabulary:
- What is Marketing?
- Market Research
- Marketing Strategy and Planning
- Product Development and Management
- Branding and Communication Campaigns and Promotion
- Sales Support
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Examples Marketing Manager job posts.
FREE STUDY GUIDE with full transcript, vocabulary, comprehension questions and answers.
Just click the download button.
How You Discuss the Marketing Mix
Two pens, two watches, two shampoos? – the purchasing decisions you make depend on how a company uses the Marketing Mix framework to develop and implement its marketing strategy.
What is the Marketing Mix?
This video explores the 4 Ps of the Marketing Mix giving you the concepts and vocabulary you need to fully discuss these followed by three real life examples of global brands applying them – Apple, Coca-Cola and Nike.
The extended framework with the 7 Ps is then examined with the concepts and vocabulary you need. Apple is given as a example of the extended framework in use.
In addition, you find out the origins of the Marketing Mix and consider its relevance today:
- The 4 Ps
- Product
- Price
- Place
- Promotion
- three brands (Apple, Coca-Cola, Nike) – Product
- three brands – Price
- three brands – Place
- three brands – Promotion
- the 7 Ps
- Apple – the extended framework
- where does the marketing mix come from?
- is the marketing mix relevant today?
FREE STUDY GUIDE with full transcript, vocabulary, comprehension questions and answers.
Just click the download button.
How to discuss Market Segmentation
It’s essential that you can discuss market segmentation as part of your Business English course so that you can deal fluently and competently with any question concerning marketing or strategy.
Market segmentation is the process of dividing a market into smaller segments based on certain characteristics or criteria. Effective market segmentation enables companies to target markets by understanding customers, delivering tailored products or services and building stronger relationships. Businesses can improve customer satisfaction, increase sales, and ultimately achieve higher profitability.
This video explores all the concepts and vocabulary you need:
- Example of Market Segmentation
- What is Market Segmentation?
- Essential Vocabulary
- Purpose of Market Segmentation
- Process of Market Segmentation
- Final Words
FREE STUDY GUIDE with full transcript, vocabulary, comprehension questions and answers.
Just click the download button.
What is International Marketing?
So, you want to work internationally or for an international company?
Selling and promoting products and services in countries outside of your home market requires you do extensive market research and adapt your marketing strategies – face new challenges.
This video explores international marketing and what it means to you:
- what is international marketing?
- why do you need to know about international marketing
- product example market research
- adapting the marketing mix
- getting things wrong
- English
- vocabulary
FREE STUDY GUIDE with full transcript.
Just click the download button.
Is it a dog? – how to use the Boston Matrix
In this video:
- diversification
- what is the Boston Matrix?
- Stars
- Cash Cows
- Question Marks
- Dogs
- Product Life Cycle
- example exam question
- vocabulary
- check list comprehension questions
Vocabulary:
Market Share:
The portion of a market that a company controls often expressed as a percentage.
Relative Market Share:
The market share of a product or business unit compared to its largest competitor.
Market Growth Rate:
The rate at which a particular market is growing or shrinking.
Product Portfolio:
The range of products a company offers.
Cash Cow:
A product with high market share in a slow-growing market, typically generating steady cash flow.
Star:
A product with high market share in a fast-growing market, often requiring substantial investment.
Question Mark (Problem Child):
A product with low market share in a fast-growing market, typically requiring additional resources and investment.
Dog:
A product with low market share in a slow-growing market, often generating minimal profits.
Competitive Position:
How well a product or business unit competes in its market, determined by its market share and growth rate.
Diversification:
The strategy of entering new markets or expanding product lines to reduce risk and achieve growth.
Resource Allocation:
How a company allocates its resources based on the Boston Matrix analysis.
FREE STUDY GUIDE with transcript & slides.
Just click the download button.
Sequencing: why it is important & how to use it
Be clear, effective and successful. Learn to sequence – ordering and arranging your information, ideas or thinking in a structured and logical way so that you improve your:
- Business English
- ability to put across your ideas
- communication
- performance.
in this video, I explain why sequencing is so important in business communication and how you can master this skill:
- what is sequencing?
- basic structure of business communication
- transitions
- progression of ideas
- timeline
- priority
- contrast & comparison
- hierarchy
- image
- final thoughts.
STUDY GUIDE
full 0%-100% range of agreement of disagreement phrases.
Just click the download button.
Deal or No Deal? – Strategic Agreement & Disagreement
A vital aspect of effective communication and interpersonal skills is using different degrees of agreement and disagreement accurately.
You:
• engage with others respectfully and build relationships
• navigate agreements and disagreements
• contribute positively to discussions and meetings
• do business more successfully.
This video gives you a full guide on learning to agree and disagree strategically so that you can build successful outcomes and relationships both in life and business. There is a full set of phrases that you can use immediately. Comprehensive examples show you how to implement language strategically and the effects that tactics can have:
- introduction
- first examples
- what is range of agreement & disagreement?
- useful phrases
- example strategies in action
- benefits of developing your skills
- final exercise.
Corporate Image: Why we Love and Hate Brands
This video gives you the concepts, ideas and vocabulary you need to discuss corporate image, going from understanding where corporate image comes from and what influences corporate image.
Then, there’s an example of a company actively changing its image which is followed by an examination of crisis and how a company should react to crisis in the form of crisis management. At the end, some ideas for follow-up study are given for you to consolidate your learnings.
- vocabulary
- what is corporate image?
- what influences corporate image?
- change corporate image
- crisis
- crisis management
- follow-up study.
Why and How to Use the Third Conditional in Business English
If you can learn to express the third conditional in Business English and understand its use, this will be an incredibly useful tool for you.
Mastery enables learners to assess, evaluate, analyse, imagine and reimagine past actions to make future improvements. The third conditional is therefore used in many aspects of business such as Project Management and Crisis Management:
- the grammar
- uses in Business English
- could & might
- examples
- exercise.
Describe this Advertisement – a 7 Step Strategy
“Describe this Advertisement! “
This is a typical question in a Business English exam.
This video takes you through a model answer to this question step by step and in the process gives you a 7 part strategy that you can use yourself.
All the advertising concepts and vocabulary are explained and suggestions for expanding your answers in a number of directions are explored:
- promotion – products – target audience
- visual aspects
- text
- brand recognition
- AIDA
- overall effectiveness
- media placement.
Steering Your Way to Success with the Project Life Cycle
The Project Life Cycle provides a structured approach for moving a project through 5 stages. It helps ensure that the project meets its goals and objectives in a systematic way – just like the captain of a ship steers through challenges, keeps an eye on the destination and makes sure the crew works together smoothly.
This video takes you through the 5 stages outlining all the concepts and vocabulary you need to describe each stage and then gives you 3 project management tools:
- the 5 stages
- initiation
- planning
- execution
- monitoring
- closure
- Work Breakdown Structure
- communication plan
- Gantt chart.
How You Discuss Project Timelines
Poor communication kills projects time and time again. Don’t fail because your communication is poor!
Today, English is used more and more on international projects. It’s more important than ever that you can express yourself clearly, concisely and accurately when dealing with the fundamentals. Managing time is one of those fundamentals.
This video takes you through example project plan giving you the vocabulary you need to communicate project schedules and timelines:
- why projects fail
- example project schedule
- vocabulary and idioms
Branding – the Top 10 phrases you need!
Make sure you can answer any question about marketing, promotions or brands by learning and understanding the use of these 10 essential phrases and concepts.
The video ends with a short test to consolidate and strengthen your learning.
What Do They Do in Human Resources?
People are a company asset. They have to be managed so that they can contribute to the development and success of the organisation. This is where Human Resources come in. HR is pivotal. Understanding what happens in HR is fundamental to understanding business and extending your Business English range.
In this video, I explore the main functions in Human Resources and outline the vocabulary you need:
- Recruitment
- Onboarding
- Training & Development
- Compensation & Benefits
Policies & Compliance
Grievances
Disciplinary Actions
Talent Management & Succession Planning
Analytics & Reporting
Technology & Systems
The Qualities of HR Managers.
Why You Buy Products
What prompts you to buy a product?
Do you always buy the same washing powder, breakfast cereal or brand of car?
Do you get home from a shopping trip and find you have lots of products you didn’t intend to buy?
Think about the last expensive product or service you bought and the processes you went through to make the purchase.
This video explores the business concepts and vocabulary you need in order to discuss the customer journey:
- supermarket shopping
- buying a tech product
- sales funnel
- marketing
- upselling & cross-selling
Happy Customers – The Best Marketing
- customer experience
2. customer service
3. customer satisfaction
… is there a difference?
What are the actions that companies take to improve customer experience, service and satisfaction?
This video explores all 3 concepts in detail so that you have the ideas and vocabulary you need for your Business English course and exam:
- customer experience
- customer service
- customer satisfaction
- customer relationship management
The Life of a Product
- development
- introduction
- growth
- maturity
- decline
You Need Formal English in Business
Companies can have an informal or formal culture and you may have to negotiate with clients who are used to a formal environment or write an important letter that has legal consequences.
Business English exams test this skill and your abilities.
But how do you go about learning formal English? This video explores why you need formal English and how you get it:
– Corporate Culture
– Context
– Exam Requirement