Business English Communication Skills

Build English Skills for Business

Improve your ability to speak, write and understand English in professional settings.

About This Specialization

This Specialization is designed to teach you to communicate effectively in English in professional contexts. You will expand your English vocabulary, improve your ability to write and speak in English in both social and professional interactions, and learn terminology and skills that you can apply to business negotiations, telephone conversations, written reports and emails, and professional presentations.

Created by:

5 courses

Follow the suggested order or choose your own.

Projects

Designed to help you practice and apply the skills you learn.

Certificates

Highlight your new skills on your resume or LinkedIn.

Courses

Intermediate Specialization.: Some related experience required.

COURSE 1
Business English: Networking
Upcoming session: Sep 25 — Nov 6.
Subtitles
English, Mongolian, Chinese (Traditional)
About the Course
This course begins with a welcome message and an overview of the Specialization. After this introduction, you will be asked to take a proficiency test to see if this course is right for you. During the course, you will begin learning vocabulary and customs related to socializing and networking in English. The goal is to enable you to interact with business contacts in person, on the phone and over email in a professional way. Course Learning Objectives • Determine whether the objectives of this Specialization align with your learning goals • Evaluate your current level of proficiency in business English communication • Present relevant information about yourself in a discussion forum • Develop your networking skills • Write short emails with appropriate formatting • Recognize and produce formal and informal language in emails • Develop vocabulary related to jobs and companies
You can choose to take this course only. Learn more.
COURSE 2
Business English: Meetings
Upcoming session: Sep 25 — Oct 30.
Commitment
4 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week
Subtitles
English
About the Course
This course will teach you vocabulary and skills related to participating in meetings. You will learn terms and phrases used both in email and in speaking to arrange, participate in, and conclude meetings. The goals of this course are to enable you to participate effectively in on-site meetings and teleconferences and to prepare you to write a proposal as an outcome of a meeting. Course Learning Objectives • Arrange a meeting though email and by telephone • List expectations and protocols related to on-site meetings and teleconferences • State phone numbers, dates, currencies and sales figures accurately • Write a proposal with appropriate organization and vocabulary
You can choose to take this course only. Learn more.
COURSE 3
Business English: Planning & Negotiating
Upcoming session: Sep 25 — Oct 30.
Commitment
4 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week
Subtitles
English, Mongolian
About the Course
In this course, the context is hosting an event and finding an appropriate venue for it. You will learn language and strategies for successful negotiations culminating in a written announcement for an event. Course Learning Objectives • Negotiate strategically in formal and informal settings • Identify and resolve customer issues after a negotiation has taken place • Evaluate and compare services and features of two venues • Plan a business event using negotiation skills • Write an announcement for a business event after selecting a venue
You can choose to take this course only. Learn more.
COURSE 4
Business English: Making Presentations
Upcoming session: Oct 2 — Nov 6.
Subtitles
English
About the Course
This course teaches you language and techniques that will help you make effective presentations in English. The final task is to develop a well-organized, persuasive presentation using charts and graphs that sells your city as a venue. The course focuses on students who have an intermediate level of English, with a minimum of two years of formal language study. Course Learning Objectives • Present information in an organized and engaging way • Share data in charts and graphs • Use persuasive language in a presentation
You can choose to take this course only. Learn more.
COURSE 5
Business English: Capstone Project
Upcoming session: Oct 2 — Nov 27.
Commitment
7 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week
Subtitles
English
About the Capstone Project
The capstone project will give you opportunities to demonstrate your competence in the learning objectives for this Specialization. For the project, you’ll use formal, written methods and more casual visual and audio methods of communication to demonstrate your ability to use language appropriate for different business contexts. The goal of this course is to demonstrate competence in writing and presenting a plan using skills and language appropriate for business. Course Learning Objectives • Use appropriate vocabulary to write a mini business plan • Communicate a business plan orally in an organized and engaging presentation
You can choose to take this course only. Learn more.

Creators

Learn with one of the largest, most established international and English language programs in the United States.
Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest state-supported institutions of higher education on the West Coast and is one of the preeminent research universities in the world.

Richard Moore
Extension Lecturer, International & English Language Programs
Daphne Mackey
Extension Lecturer, International & English Language Programs
Wendy Asplin
Extension Lecturer, International & English Language Programs

FAQs

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