Business English is an integral part of modern life today. I have been working in businesses in and around Vienna for more than 10 years. In my experience, some of the most common challenges of speaking a foreign language such as English within the professional environment are being able to communicate concisely and accurately, as well as eliminating misunderstandings which may arise through incorrect pronunciation. Advancing these areas of your language skills will make you sound more professional so that you can earn the respect of both clients and colleagues alike.
Preparing for formal presentations, practising email writing, telephoning, negotiation, navigating business meetings and discussing business related topics such as project management and international working environments in English are just some of the aspects relevant to the world of work. Of course, with a healthy dose of conversational English for those minutes of small-talk before a meeting!
What do you bring to the table within your team? Do you need to go back to the drawing board on a project? Does a colleague need to get you up to speed after your summer holiday? Business English can have very different vocabulary and learning the lingo will save you time and help you avoid confusion!