Quick answer: Teaching business English means helping working professionals use English for meetings, presentations, negotiations, emails and networking. It's one of the best-paid corners of TEFL because learners are motivated adults with a specific purpose, and much of it is one-to-one, so you can build your own freelance client base. You don't need business experience yourself, but you do need to know how to run a needs analysis and tailor lessons – skills a specialist business English course teaches. Here's what the work involves and how to start.
English is the international language of business. So if a business person in Spain is speaking to someone in China, Brazil or Germany, they are most likely to be using English as their language of communication. It's crucial for these business people that their English does not disappoint. That's where a good business English trainer can make all the difference.
Read on to find out what teaching business English looks like and how you can get started in this important English language teaching sector.
Why does business English pay more?
Teaching business English is fantastic if you like teaching motivated adults for a specific purpose. This form of teaching usually pays better than general English, and since business people often learn one-to-one, there are real opportunities to build up your own freelance business. Learners – or their employers – are paying for results, and they value a trainer who can target exactly what they need.
What do business English learners actually need?
A business person might need to practise and improve their English for negotiation, meetings, making presentations, dealing with phone calls and emails from suppliers and customers, or simply socialising with contacts and business partners.
What about general English, grammar etc.? The business English learner may still need to know why “I've been to Germany in 1998” is wrong, but the key elements of English – grammar, writing, speaking, reading and listening – will be tailored around business rather than general themes. Internationally recognised exams like the Cambridge Business English Certificates give a sense of the level and topics employers expect.
How do you teach business English? Three top tips
A good TESOL/TEFL course is key – you still need to know how to teach the core elements above. Beyond that, the typical business learner requires bespoke lessons, tailor-made to their business functions. Here are three tips for teaching business English lessons successfully (also covered in the video below):
- Always start with a Needs Analysis to identify their aims and what they need to do in English. This should be thorough. Never leave a first lesson without a few ideas on what to cover next. Be prepared to drill down – if they say they need English to speak to customers on the phone, ask questions like: “What do you speak about in English? Can you give me some typical topics?”, “What do you find difficult about speaking English by phone?” and “Is perfecting your phone English a priority?”
- Invest in good materials but be prepared to adapt them – no two business learners are the same. The best material often comes from your student: their experiences, company publicity, documents and dialogues.
- Regularly check your learners' priorities. These may change if, for example, they have a sudden conference or meeting. Being able to adapt to their ongoing needs is important.
Do you need business experience yourself?
No. You don't have to have been a manager or run a company to teach business English well. What you need is solid teaching methodology plus the ability to analyse a learner's needs and build focused lessons around them – which is exactly what a specialist course trains you to do. A background in business is a bonus you can draw on, but it is not a requirement.
Where is business English popular?
All over the world, but in particular in France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and the UAE.
How do you get started in business English?
Consider adding our 30-hour Teaching Business English course to your TESOL course. You'll find lots of information on teaching business English, including how to conduct a needs analysis and prepare a course of lessons tailored to individual students. It will help your qualification stand out from the generic TEFL or CELTA courses, which don't provide this type of training. You'll also learn how to create highly focused lessons that keep even your most demanding business student coming back for more. Not sure which main course to pair it with? See which TESOL course is best for you.
You might also like
- I teach English in Germany – an interview with business English trainer Nick Ponter.
- How a business English qualification added to my skill set – a graduate's experience.
- How I mastered teaching business English in France.
- Our friendly Facebook group, where you can ask questions about our courses and working around the world.
- Watch the short video below for my top tips on Teaching Business English.
Louisa Walsh, Course Director, Global English TESOL
Teaching business English FAQs
How much more do business English teachers earn?
Rates vary by country and setting, but business English generally pays more than general English because lessons are specialised and often delivered one-to-one or in-company. Many trainers charge a premium for corporate clients and build a freelance income on top of, or instead of, a school salary. Your earnings depend on your qualifications, experience and how you position yourself.
What is taught in a business English lesson?
Lessons focus on the language of work: meetings, presentations, negotiations, telephoning, emails, reports and networking, plus the underlying grammar and vocabulary these require. Good lessons start from a needs analysis and are built around the learner's real tasks, documents and situations rather than a generic textbook.
Do I need a specialist qualification for business English?
It isn't always mandatory, but a specialist business English module makes a real difference. It teaches you how to run a needs analysis and design tailored lessons – skills a general TEFL or CELTA course doesn't cover – and signals to corporate clients and schools that you can meet their specific needs, which helps you win better-paid work.