Course Overview
The BEST: Business English Skills Training course is designed to help you develop the skills needed to communicate effectively in international business settings. Over two focused weeks, you will strengthen your oral communication abilities in key areas: professional introductions, telephone and virtual communication, business meetings, presentations, and negotiations. With an
emphasis on intercultural communication, the course provides practical strategies to navigate diverse professional environments with confidence and clarity. This course is ideal for students and professionals who want to improve their ability to build relationships, express ideas clearly, and engage successfully in global business contexts.
Empowering learners to be the BEST in Business English.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course a successful trainee will be able to:
1. Confidently introduce yourself and network in professional settings using culturally appropriate communication strategies.
2. Communicate effectively and professionally in telephoning and virtual meetings, demonstrating clarity, tone, and etiquette.
3. Participate actively in business meetings by leading discussions, contributing ideas, and respecting intercultural norms.
4. Plan and deliver clear, structured, and engaging presentations tailored to professional audiences.
5. Apply negotiation strategies to achieve win-win outcomes and deliver persuasive pitches in business contexts.
Course Content
The course will cover five broad themes:
1. Professional Introductions and Networking
Develop confidence in introducing yourself and others in professional settings. Learn cultural nuances of networking, exchange contact details, and practice follow-up communication.
2. Telephoning and Virtual Communication
Improve clarity, tone, and etiquette when handling phone calls and virtual meetings. Practice scheduling, inquiries, problem-solving, and managing technical challenges.
3. Active Participation in Business Meetings
Build confidence to contribute effectively in meetings. Learn meeting protocols, lead discussions, and prepare short business presentations.
4. Delivering Effective Presentations
Plan, structure, and deliver engaging professional presentations. Practice handling audience feedback with professionalism.
5. Negotiation and Persuasive Communication
Master strategies for successful negotiations and persuasive pitches. Engage in simulations to resolve conflicts, handle pricing, and deliver impactful sales pitches.
Instructional Method
A blended-learning approach will be used during the course consisting of online resources and in-class workshops. Online resources (videos, documents, quizzes) on a dedicated Moodle platform will provide pre-workshop preparation and postworkshop consolidation activities of course content. Workshops will involve pair and group work on task-based, discussion-based, and practical activities.
Completion of online activities and full participation in workshop activities will be necessary for the achievement of the learning outcomes.
Required Course Materials
Trainees will need access to a computer with an internet connection. Email, Presentation (Canva, PowerPoint, etc.) and Virtual Meeting (Teams, Zoom, etc.) software will be used during the course.
Assessment
The course includes daily formative assessments with role-plays, simulations, and immediate feedback to develop fluency, clarity, and intercultural communication skills. Short reflections will help participants monitor their progress.
For the final assessment, participants will deliver an individual business presentation and engage in a negotiation simulation. Both tasks will evaluate their communication effectiveness, structure, and ability to apply persuasive strategies in professional contexts.