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Business English - an undervalued skill
English, as a global language, is a necessity for business transactions. English is not just used by foreign companies when working with British or American businesses, but is increasingly the common language between European nations themselves. While most people will have had English lessons at some stage in their education, most will find limitations in the specific area of business. However well you can order a meal in a restaurant; the advanced technical vocabulary, reflected in the business pages of major newspapers like the Guardian; the awareness of register, shifting between formal and informal; the accuracy of writing skills: all these aspects may perplex even an advanced English user.
A common problem for users of English is the risk of appearing curt or even rude. One cannot view language as simply a matter of learning by rote; one must feel the context and make decisions about which ‘type’ or ‘register’ to use. The ability to distinguish between formal and informal language is paramount. In a language such as French, the language is divided between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ forms; however, in English, there is no such obvious divide. A business email that states, “I want you to call me at 13.00”, will be viewed as condescending to an native English speaker, which could potentially damage business relations. The ability to use modals is imperative in such a context, and it is such choices that must be made by the speaker at every stage of communication.
A good grasp of vocabulary is essential for effective communication, and there are as many lexical groups as there are job titles. For every speciality - from finance to insurance to administration - there are hundreds of words that will be new to students. Think about the misunderstanding that could develop from a simple noun like ‘market’. If you are thinking of the fruit and vegetable stalls at Borough Market, you may have problems when a colleague says that they are putting a product ‘on’ the market,
Writing is sadly under-represented in many students’ education. Many learners of English who have reached advanced speaking levels cannot compose a simple accurate written sentence. For business people, writing is a valuable skill. Spelling and grammatical constructions are important for producing professional emails and correspondence. As a major business centre and for those looking for an English school London is the perfect place to be. London Language schools such as www.stgeorges.co.uk run business courses that centre on giving students the writing skills they need to achieve accurate writing productive skills.
To develop effective business communication is a difficult, but rewarding task, which will undoubtedly benefit many companies.
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