5 Essential Topics to Cover in Online Business English Classes (Part 1)

People learn English for a variety of reasons, and for many adult learners, English proficiency is a key skill for advancing and excelling in their careers. 

As an online English teacher, you can help your students succeed professionally by tailoring your lessons to the unique demands of their business world. 

Here are five essential topics to cover in your online business English lessons. (More to come in future articles!)

1) Professional Email Writing

In many workplaces, emails serve as the first point of contact, making the ability to write clear, concise, and professional emails in English an essential skill. A well-crafted email demonstrates professionalism, attention to detail, and effective communication.

Teach your students to differentiate between formal and informal email structures. Provide them with common phrases for the opening and closing of an email. Introduce vocabulary for different email purposes, such as making requests, providing clarifications, and following up. 

Activity Idea:

• Ask students to write emails for different scenarios, such as requesting time off, asking a colleague for help, or explaining a process to a client.
• Provide poorly written email samples and have students analyze and improve them.

2) Business Meetings and Presentations

Equip your students with the vocabulary and confidence to participate in meetings and deliver presentations. Introduce key meeting vocabulary and phrases, such as “taking minutes,” and “could you elaborate on that?”

Teach your students how to structure a presentation with a clear introduction, main points, and a strong conclusion. Additionally, prepare them for Q&A sessions by discussing commonly asked questions and practicing responses. 

Activity Idea:

• Role-play a meeting where students practice presenting ideas and responding to questions. 
• Have students do a presentation on a topic of expertise in their field.

3) Phone Call and Video Call Etiquette

Communicating over the phone or video calls can be challenging, especially when dealing with accents or technical issues. Teach your students various phrases for starting and ending a call, such as “Hello, this is [name] from [company]. May I speak to [name]?” and “Thank you for your time today. I will follow up soon.” 

Additionally, provide phrases for polite interruptions and clarifications, such as “Sorry to interrupt, but may I add something here?” and “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you repeat it, please?” Depending on the scenario you’re discussing, you can provide your students with a list of appropriate phrases to help them navigate the situation. 

Activity Idea:

• Present a scenario and ask students how they would respond.
• Pair students for mock phone calls or video calls with simulated business scenarios. 

4) Negotiation Skills 

Negotiating is a crucial business skill requiring tact and persuasion. Focus on phrases for making offers, counteroffers, and compromises, such as, “I’d like to propose [offer],” “We appreciate your offer, but we’d like to suggest [counteroffer],” and “Let’s find a middle ground that works for both of us.” 

Negotiation skills also involve polite disagreement and agreement language. Share some ways your students can express disagreement without sounding confrontational or rude. For example, they could say, “I see your point, but I have a slightly different perspective.” Encourage them to acknowledge the other person’s viewpoint before presenting their own. 

Activity Idea:

• Conduct mock negotiations for imaginary deals, like pricing a service or agreeing on project timelines. 

5) Business Vocabulary and Idioms

A strong grasp of business-specific vocabulary and idioms can help students communicate effectively and sound more natural in professional settings. Focus on terms relevant to their industries, such as “market share,” “ROI,” or “supply chain.”

Provide a list of frequently used idioms in business discussions, such as “think outside the box,” “hit the ground running,” or “back to the drawing board.” Emphasize the context in which certain idioms or phrases are appropriate to avoid misuse and misunderstanding. 

Activity Idea:

• Create a vocabulary and idiom quiz where students match the terms to their definitions or complete sentences using the correct phrases. 

What other business topics do you think are essential for adult English learners? Share them in the comments below!