What does good business English training look like?

If you’ve ever sat through a “business English” course that felt more like a school language lesson, you’re not alone. Too often, business English is mistaken for a rigid, one-size-fits-all syllabus when, in reality, it should be anything but.

Business English isn’t about memorising vocabulary lists or perfecting sentence structures. It’s about real communication in the workplace, across cultures, industries and levels of proficiency. So what does good business English training look like?

Business English: more than just language

First, let’s clear up a common misconception: business English is not a specific type of English. It’s not British English or American English, it’s English as a lingua franca. It’s the language professionals use when speaking to a supplier in Germany, a client in the UK or a colleague in India. Some will be fluent, others won’t, but what matters is getting the message across clearly and effectively.

That’s why a good business English course goes beyond language. It focuses on:

• Communicating with clarity – ensuring your message is understood, regardless of who’s listening
• Maintaining professional relationships – striking the right balance between politeness and directness
• Navigating different cultures – understanding how workplace expectations vary across countries
• Adapting to your industry – using the right terminology and communication style for your field

Tailored, not standardised

If a business English course follows a generic, standardised syllabus, then it’s not really business English. True workplace communication training is tailored to the industry, the company, and the individuals in the group. A legal team, an IT department, and a sales force all have different needs, and a course should reflect that.

Off-the-shelf coursebooks can only go so far. While they can provide a structure, the most effective training adapts to real-world situations, company goals and workplace challenges.

It’s about communication, not just accuracy

Language accuracy has its place, but a business English course shouldn’t feel like a return to school. The priority isn’t whether a sentence is technically perfect, it’s whether it’s effective.

A good business English programme focuses on:

• Interaction and real-world scenarios – meetings, negotiations, emails, small talk and presentations
• Getting the job done – communicating efficiently without unnecessary complexity
• Maintaining status and professionalism – being polite but also assertive when needed
• Intercultural awareness – recognising different communication styles and expectations

Because in the workplace, saying “Let’s discuss this further” with the right tone is probably more important than whether you used the correct verb tense.

Testing learning, not learning to test

One of the biggest differences between business English and traditional language learning is the approach to assessment. Too many learners are used to studying for a test - memorising structures and model answers that might help them pass an exam but won’t necessarily help them in a Monday morning meeting.

Good business English training tests real-world skills:

• Can you write an email that is clear, professional and to the point (whether you use AI or not)?
• Can you lead a meeting where everyone understands the key takeaways?
• Can you handle a difficult conversation diplomatically?

If the answer is yes, that’s what success looks like, not just a high score on a multiple-choice test.

Practical, interactive and thought-provoking

At its core, business English training should be:

• Practical – focusing on what you need to do in your job, not just textbook exercises
• Interactive – because communication is a skill, and skills improve through practice
• Thought-provoking – helping learners think critically about how they communicate
• Transferable – building skills that can be used across roles, industries, and situations

Good business English isn’t about perfect grammar, it’s about effective communication. It’s about feeling confident, sounding professional and making sure your message is understood, whether you’re speaking to a native or non-native English speaker.

So if your business English course feels like an exam preparation class, it might be time to rethink what real workplace communication training looks like.

Does your team need a business English course that actually works? At Lektor, we tailor our training to your industry, your goals, and your real workplace communication needs. Because business English should be more than just another language course - it should be a game-changer.

Lektor – inspire change.