What is business English?

Summary

In this video, Andrew Smith clarifies what Business English is and what it isn't. He differentiates it from General English, highlighting its use in professional settings like meetings and negotiations. Smith dispels common myths about the necessity for complex grammar and jargon, advocating for clear and concise communication. He offers practical tips for learners, such as finding a good teacher, practicing business-specific expressions, and embracing mistakes as part of the learning process.

Takeaways

• 😀 Business English is a specialized form of English used in the workplace, focusing on functions and situations like meetings, presentations, and negotiations.
• 🏢 General English is learned for everyday use, while Business English is tailored for professional settings and tasks.
• 🌐 In an international business context, it's crucial to communicate clearly and concisely, avoiding overly complex language and jargon.
• ❌ A common misconception is that Business English requires complex grammar and technical vocabulary, but simplicity and clarity are key.
• 📚 Knowing basic grammatical structures like present simple, continuous, past simple, and perfect tenses is more important than complex grammar.
• 💡 The main goal in business communication is to convey messages in the simplest, shortest, and most direct way possible.
• 🚫 Avoid using excessive business jargon, idioms, and phrasal verbs that might confuse non-native English speakers in a global business setting.
• 👨‍🏫 Finding a good Business English teacher or program that fits your needs can significantly help in learning and improving business communication skills.
• 📝 Practice making general English sentences more formal and business-like to transition your language skills into a professional context.
• 💪 Embrace making mistakes as a part of the learning process, and approach Business English with a positive and adventurous attitude.

Q & A

What is Business English according to Andrew Smith?

Business English is a style of English used in the workplace, focusing on specific business functions or situations such as meetings, presentations, negotiations, selling, networking, or public speaking.

How does Business English differ from General English?

General English is the English used in everyday situations, such as talking about travel, food, culture, or family. Business English, on the other hand, is specifically tailored for professional settings and work-related tasks.

What is a common misconception about Business English according to the video?

A common misconception is that Business English requires the use of complicated grammar rules, long sentences, and complex grammatical forms. However, the video clarifies that the main goal is to communicate effectively and directly without being overly formal or complicated.

Why is simplicity important in Business English communication?

Simplicity in Business English is crucial because it allows for clear and efficient communication, ensuring that the message is understood quickly and accurately without unnecessary complexity.

What are some basic grammatical structures that are important for Business English?

Basic grammatical structures important for Business English include present simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, present and past perfect, and future tense.

Does Business English require the use of technical jargon and idioms?

No, Business English does not necessarily require the use of technical jargon, idioms, or slang. It is more about clear, concise, and direct communication that can be understood by both native and non-native English speakers.

What advice does Andrew Smith give for someone starting to learn Business English?

Andrew Smith suggests finding a good Business English teacher or program, practicing formal variations of general English sentences, and not taking the learning process too seriously, encouraging making mistakes as a way to learn.

What is the role of a Business English teacher according to the video?

A Business English teacher helps learners to adapt their language skills to professional contexts, focusing on practical communication in business settings rather than theoretical knowledge.

How can one practice Business English outside of a classroom setting?

One can practice Business English by taking part in business-related conversations, writing business emails or reports, and engaging in role-plays or simulations of business scenarios.

What is the importance of attending a Business English speaking program as mentioned in the video?

Attending a Business English speaking program can provide practical experience and immediate feedback in a business context, which can accelerate the learning process and improve confidence in using English professionally.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Business English

Andrew Smith introduces the concept of Business English in this video, addressing common questions about what it entails and whether it's suitable for viewers. He clarifies that Business English is a specialized form of English used in professional settings, distinct from General English which is used for everyday conversations. Business English focuses on specific business functions such as meetings, presentations, negotiations, selling, networking, and public speaking. Smith emphasizes that the goal of Business English is to communicate effectively and directly in a professional context, contrary to misconceptions about the need for complex grammar or jargon.

05:00

🔍 Misconceptions about Business English

Smith dispels several myths about Business English, including the belief that it requires complex grammar, technical vocabulary, and the use of business jargon. He explains that the essence of Business English is to convey messages clearly and concisely, without unnecessary complexity. The video advises that a good grasp of basic grammatical structures is sufficient, and that simplicity and directness are more valued in business communication than elaborate language. The speaker also points out that in international business environments, it's crucial to use language that is easily understood by both native and non-native English speakers.

10:01

🚀 Tips for Learning Business English

In the concluding part of the video, Smith offers practical advice for those looking to learn or improve their Business English skills. He suggests finding a competent Business English teacher or program, such as the 'We Speak Business Unlimited' program he mentions. He also encourages viewers to practice making general English sentences more formal and business-like, as a way to familiarize themselves with Business English. Lastly, Smith advises learners to enjoy the process, be adventurous, and not fear making mistakes, as learning from these mistakes is a key part of improving one's Business English proficiency.

Keywords

💡Business English

Business English refers to the specific style of English used in professional and business settings. It is distinct from General English, which is used for everyday conversation. In the video, Andrew Smith clarifies that Business English focuses on functions and situations like meetings, presentations, negotiations, and public speaking. It's about using English effectively in the workplace to perform business-related tasks.

💡General English

General English encompasses the everyday use of the language, including topics like travel, food, culture, and personal experiences. It is typically what is taught in schools and language centers, as opposed to Business English, which is more specialized. The video script contrasts General English with Business English to highlight the differences in application and context.

💡Workplace Communication

Workplace Communication is the use of language within a professional environment to achieve business objectives. The video emphasizes that Business English is the language used to perform tasks and activities in the workplace, such as meetings and presentations, which are critical for effective workplace communication.

💡Misconceptions

Misconceptions in the video refer to the common but incorrect beliefs about what Business English entails. Andrew Smith dispels myths such as the need for complex grammar, technical jargon, and the use of business idioms, which are not necessary for effective communication in a business context.

💡Direct Communication

Direct Communication is about conveying messages in a clear, concise, and straightforward manner. The video stresses that the primary goal in business is to get the message across as directly and simply as possible, without being rude, which is a key principle of effective Business English.

💡Grammar

Grammar in the context of Business English does not require complicated rules. The video suggests that mastering basic grammatical forms such as present simple, past simple, and future tense is sufficient for most business communication needs.

💡Vocabulary

Vocabulary in Business English is about using words and phrases that are easily understood by both native and non-native English speakers. The video advises against using overly technical or jargon-filled language, which can hinder clear communication in international business settings.

💡Business Idioms

Business Idioms are phrases or expressions specific to business contexts. The video script explains that while they might be part of Business English, they are not essential for effective communication and can sometimes confuse non-native speakers.

💡Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs to form a new meaning. The video points out that while they are part of English, they are not necessary in Business English, especially in international settings where clarity is key.

💡Learning Tips

Learning Tips in the video are practical advice for improving Business English skills. Andrew Smith suggests finding a good teacher or program, practicing formal expressions of general English sentences, and embracing mistakes as part of the learning process.

Highlights

Business English is a specific style of English used in the workplace.

General English is learned at school and used for everyday conversations.

Business English focuses on functions like meetings, presentations, negotiations, selling, networking, and public speaking.

Business English aims to communicate clearly and concisely, avoiding overly complex grammar.

The main goal in business communication is to convey messages in the simplest and shortest way possible.

Basic grammatical forms are sufficient for Business English; complex structures are not necessary.

Using long technical words is not a requirement in Business English; clarity is key.

Business English communication should be direct and understandable to both native and non-native English speakers.

Business idioms, jargon, and phrasal verbs are often unnecessary and can hinder clear communication.

The video offers tips on how to learn and improve Business English skills.

Finding a good Business English teacher or program is recommended for learning.

Practicing formal variations of general English sentences can help transition to Business English.

It's important not to take Business English learning too seriously and to enjoy the process.

Making mistakes is a natural part of learning and should be embraced.

The video provides a comprehensive overview of what Business English entails and how to approach learning it.

Transcripts

hi everybody andrew smith here and in

this video i'm going to explain to you

what business english actually is

so a common question that i get asked by

students and other

english learners practically on a daily

basis

is they say to me andrew i know that you

are a

business english teacher and we see that

you have this program

but i don't know exactly what it is that

business english is

what is this thing business english and

is it right for me

and it's a really good question because

a lot of people have never even heard of

this term before

and i think there is a lot of

misconception as to what business

english

actually entails and what it means to

learn

this style of english so in this video

i'm going to share with you

what business english is i'm going to

also share with you

what business english is not and at the

end of the video

i'm going to give you some tips on how

you can

learn and improve your business english

skills straight away

so let's start with talking about what

business english actually is

so when we are learning english we kind

of have two

main categories of english we have

general english and i'm going to write

that here

below so we have general english

i'm just going to write

and general english is the english that

we learn

at school right the cat sat

on the mat my favorite food is

noodles i really like to travel

every summer this is what we call

general english it's the english we use

on a day-to-day basis

when we are talking about everyday

things and nothing else

and this is typically the english that

we learn

in school or at a language center or

when we are studying

at university typically we learn general

english

now there comes a point in someone's

life where they will start working

they will start a job or a career

and sometimes people will work

in english speaking environments

and an example of this is the company

siemens

siemens is a manufacturing company and

they completely rely on the english

language

in the office so english is

their working language they don't use

german or spanish or chinese

the main language that they use is

english

so what business english actually is is

it's a style of english that we use

in the workplace so when we learn

business

english we're not learning about

traveling or food or

culture or pets or family members

we're learning about specific business

functions or business situations

such as meetings presentations

negotiations selling networking or

public speaking

and business english is the language

that we use to perform

these work or business related tasks and

activities

and that's what business english

essentially is it's a style of english

that we use in the workplace

now let's take a look at what business

english

isn't or what it is not so

some people that have a fairly good

understanding

of what business english is these people

tend to hold these

beliefs as to what business english

entails

and one of the first things they believe

is that

business english needs to use lots of

complicated

grammar rules they think that

if they are in a business context or in

a business setting

then they need to always be very formal

and they need to always use very long

complicated complex sentences and

grammatical forms

and really the god's honest truth to

this

is that is completely not a nonsense

business english is really all about

getting our point across

in the shortest and most direct way

possible

and if there is one thing that i want

you to take away from this video it is

that

statement that i've just made and i'm

going to repeat it

our main goal in business

is to get our message across in the

shortest

and in the simplest and most direct way

possible

without coming across as too rude

so a lot of people often think that to

speak english in business we need to use

long complicated grammar forms long

complicated sentences

and we really don't because our main

goal in business or in communication

is to get our message across in the

simplest and shortest way possible

so as long as you know very well the

basic

grammatical forms and structures so

the present simple tense present

continuous

past simple past continuous maybe the

present and past perfect

and maybe the future tense then those

are the

main grammar areas that you really need

to know and everything else is not

really

that important to be honest

now another common misconception that

people

believe or think um business english is

is using lots of long technical words or

vocabulary

so they think when they are trying to

explain something

they always need to use very formal

words or very technical words

to get their ideas and opinions across

and as a matter of fact the complete

opposite is really true

because english as a language is a very

direct language

especially when you compare it to a lot

of asian languages like chinese or

japanese and native english speakers

prefer short and concise

text or words rather than long

complicated technical words

and another common misconception that

people believe

is that in business we need to always

use lots of

business idioms and lots of business

phrasal verbs and lots of business

jargon right and again that really is

not true

because when we are working in an

international

business environment we're not only

going to be communicating with

native english speakers we're also going

to be communicating

with non-native english speakers

and how many of those non-native english

speakers do you think

know all of this jargon and these

business idioms and these phrasal verbs

and all this slang

right you know a good 90 percent of them

will have no idea what any of these

words mean

so when we are communicating in an

international

business setting or in an international

business context

it's a lot more beneficial and a lot

more practical and effective

to keep your words short concise

to the point and use words and

vocabulary that you

know other people are going to

understand

so that is what business english isn't

it's not

long complicated technical words it's

not lots of business idioms and slang

and jargon and it's also not using lots

of long

complicated grammatical structures or

forms

it's not really about long-winded

answers

it's more about short concise and direct

communication

so finally to wrap up this video i'm

going to give you a few tips

about what you can do to start learning

business english if you have never

learned before

and the first bit of advice i would have

for you

is to find yourself a great business

english teacher

and a great business english program

and if you're looking for something like

that then you can join

our business english speaking program we

speak business unlimited

wink and you can join unlimited speaking

classes with me

and other native speaking teachers every

single day

and in these classes we will teach you

how to speak

better business english in a very short

space of time

so it doesn't really matter about what

program or what teacher you have

to teach you as long as they are a good

fit and as long as they pay attention to

your you know

needs and your requirements

now the second bit of advice i would

have for you is

start thinking about different

more business related ways that you can

express things you already know

in general english so you can do an

activity

by writing down some simple

general english sentences

and you can have a go at making them

more formal or more business related

so for example a general english

sentence could be

i have to go to a meeting

next week and you can try to make that a

little bit more formal or a bit more

businessy by saying

i am required to attend a meeting

next week right so we make it a little

bit more formal and more businessy

by using the word attend rather than go

so just by playing around with some

variations of sentences

can be a really good way to get your

feet wet in the business english sphere

and finally and i think the most

important point for any of you who are

looking

to start learning business english or

just improve your business english

skills

is to not take it too seriously

have fun be

adventurous and never be afraid to make

mistakes make lots of mistakes

because it is from our mistakes that we

learn but my third bit of advice to you

would be to just have fun

enjoy yourself make lots of mistakes

learn from them

and to not take it too seriously

so i hope that today's video has been

useful for you and i hope by now

you have a more i have a better

understanding

as to what business english is what it

isn't

and what you can do to start learning

straight away

thanks for watching again and i will see

you in the next one