How To Teach Business English Online
How To Teach Business English Online
Are you an English teacher looking for a flexible way to make extra income?
Or maybe you’re hoping to leave your regular job and become a full-time online English teacher.
Teaching Business English online can be a very rewarding option, allowing you to work from anywhere while helping professionals around the world improve their English skills for work.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about how to teach Business English online.
We’ll explain what Business English is, why it’s in demand, what kind of students take these classes, the skills you’ll need as a teacher, how to find online Business English teaching jobs, tips for having a successful online lesson, and more.
What is Business English?
Business English is a specific branch of English teaching that focuses on the language and skills needed for workplace situations and professional contexts.
This includes technical vocabulary related to different industries and job functions, communication skills like negotiating, presenting, writing emails, participating in meetings, and more.
Business English students are usually already at an intermediate or advanced level of general English proficiency.
They are working professionals who need to use English in their careers, often for communicating internationally or working for a multinational company that uses English as the corporate language.
Why is Business English in Demand?
In our globalized world, English has become the lingua franca of business across countries and cultures.
For companies that operate internationally or even locally in multilingual environments, having employees with strong Business English skills is crucial.
Workers need to be able to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients, and partners from other countries where English is used as a common language.
Beyond just basic conversational English, these professionals require very specific language abilities related to their industry and job roles.
That’s why many employers are willing to pay for corporate language training programs or for their employees to take specialized Business English classes.
From the employee’s perspective, improving their Business English skills can help them get hired, earn promotions, qualify for expatriate assignments, and become more effective communicators overall in their workplace.
Given the career advantages, many motivated professionals choose to invest in Business English training themselves.
For online English teachers, this demand represents a great opportunity to tap into a market of working adults with disposable income and a very practical need to improve their English abilities for their jobs.
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Who Are Typical Business English Students?
The students in your online Business English classes will generally be working professionals, usually in their late 20s to 50s.
They could work for any type of company, from a small local business to a huge multinational corporation.
Their professions could include areas like:
Business & Management
Finance & Accounting
Marketing & Sales
Human Resources
Customer Service
Hospitality & Tourism
Law
Healthcare Administration
Information Technology
Engineering & Manufacturing
And many more industries where English is used for workplace communication.
These students tend to be motivated, with clear goals for why they want to improve their Business English skills.
They are often willing to pay premium rates for quality instruction that is convenient and directly applicable to their jobs.
What Skills Do You Need to Teach Business English Online?
While the core skills of being an effective English teacher still apply, there are some specific qualifications and abilities that will help you succeed as an online Business English instructor:
A TEFL/TESOL certification, preferably specializing in Business English and/or teaching English to adults
Previous experience teaching Business English, corporate classes and/or adult professionals (very valuable but not always required for entry-level roles)
Strong understanding of common workplace situations, business concepts, industries and professional communication in English
Ability to source, create and adapt engaging, practical materials for different Business English needs
Familiarity with online teaching tools and virtual classroom technology
Excellent internet connectivity and access to a quiet, professional teaching space
Strong organizational and time management skills for scheduling classes with students in different time zones
If you have experience working in a corporate environment yourself, that can also be very beneficial for relating to the backgrounds and specific language needs of your Business English students.
Finding Online Business English Teaching Jobs
There are a few main ways that online English teachers can find Business English opportunities:
1. Online tutoring marketplaces
Websites like Preply, Verbling and Italki allow you to create a tutor profile and be hired directly by students for online lessons.
You set your own hourly rates and schedule. These sites have specific sections for listing Business English as one of your specialties.
2. Adult education companies
Many online education companies, like Engly, OpenEnglish and Lingualink, have corporate training programs and offer specialized Business English courses.
As an independent contractor, you can apply to teach in their virtual classrooms.
3. Direct-to-consumer companies
Platforms like GoFluent and TutorABC enable individuals and small groups to book affordable online English tutoring, including some tailored for Business English learners.
The hourly rates are often lower than the premium corporate programs.
4. Language learning apps
Mobile tutoring apps like Cambly and Palfish hire remote tutors to conduct English conversations, including some career-focused Business English practice.
The pay rates are typically lower than other options.
5. Your own tutoring website or freelancing
As you gain experience, you can also market yourself independently and find your own Business English students online via methods like your own tutoring website, freelance job boards, social media, and more.
The Best Practices for Successful Online Business English Lessons
Once you’ve secured some Business English students, here are proven strategies to deliver engaging, effective online lessons:
Assess your student’s goals & needs
Before the first lesson, understand the student’s reasons for taking Business English classes. What is their current job role and core English requirements?
What skills do they need to prioritize improving? Use this information to customize your lesson focus.
Use the right materials & resources
Generic English textbooks likely won’t be very relevant for your Business English students.
Find or create workplace-specific materials covering things like business correspondence, meeting skills, negotiations, presentations, industry terminology and more.
Leverage authentic situations
The best way for students to prepare is to practice real-world business scenarios.
Role playing exercises, analyzing/writing authentic documents, and discussing current events from their industry can all be effective learning activities.
Highlight key vocabulary
One major focus should be introducing and reinforcing the precise vocabulary used in different professional contexts, like finance, IT, healthcare, marketing, etc.
Make vocabulary lists, flashcards and focused vocabulary practice a priority.
Provide feedback & error correction
As the instructor, give clear explanations, corrections and feedback so students can identify and improve their weaknesses, especially regarding communication strategies and polishing their professional English skills.
Assign practical homework
Follow up each lesson with homework assignments where students apply what they’ve learned to real workplace situations.
For example, writing practice emails or reports, preparing presentations, interviewing role plays, etc.
Leverage online teaching tools
Take full advantage of technologies that can enhance the online learning experience, such as screen-sharing, virtual whiteboards, breakout rooms, messaging tools and more.
Getting comfortable with these online platforms is key.
Teach essential soft skills
In addition to industry-specific language, be sure to cover important soft skills like cross-cultural communication, giving/receiving feedback, negotiation tactics, email etiquette, collaboration, and other interpersonal professional abilities.
Those are some of the core best practices for delivering high-quality, relevant Business English lessons in an online environment.
With experience, you’ll get better at tailoring your teaching approach to each student’s specific goals and needs.
The overall key is to make your lessons as practical, engaging and applicable to the real business world as possible.
That’s what working professionals value most in order to get a true return on their investment in these English classes.
If you have a passion for teaching English along with some related business experience or interest, getting started as an online Business English instructor can be a very rewarding way to utilize your skills.
The market demand is growing, and you get the flexibility of setting your own schedule while positively impacting the careers of motivated students worldwide.
With the right preparation and teaching strategies, you’ll be positioned for success in this exciting field.
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