The Introduction to Business English is course is designed for students who are either at an early stage in their careers or students who have not yet started working.
The aim of the course is to give you a good general knowledge and understanding of the use of English in business situations. You can choose to study 25 or 30 lessons per week (18.75 or 22.5 hours). There is a core of 25 lessons per week focussed on Business English. If you choose the 30 lesson option, for the extra 5 lessons you will study on one of our electives. For example, if you felt that you need to work more on speaking, you could choose our 'speaking, pronunciation and listening' elective.
Initially, the course focuses primarily on key Business English skills, with an increasing emphasis on integrated exam practice and strategy sessions as it progresses.
The IBE course introduces you to specific business-related skills such as:
- applying for a job (writing CV/resume + covering letter, job interviews)
- conducting and contributing to meetings and negotiations
- giving presentations
- writing reports
- socialising (welcoming visitors and making small talk)
- negotiating
- communicating effectively on the telephone
- corresponding effectively in business (emails, letters and memos)
- understanding inter-cultural differences
The course also prepares you for the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry English for Business exams - reading and writing papers - at Level 1 and Level 2.
Our minimum age for individuals is 16, but we occasionally accept 15 year olds on the General English course in international classes provided they are part of a group with a group leader.
Fact File
- full-time intensive exam courses, Monday to Friday, with the exam at the end of the course
- all course books/materials included
- e-learning included from point of booking to 3 months after course en
- exam fees not included
- IBE exam fee in 2021 = £90. Price includes postage of certficate
- regular homework
- regular tutorials to give individual help and study advice
- the LCCI exam is held on the final Friday of the course
If you are planning to study for 24 weeks or more, the Introduction to Business English course can be taken as part of our Study Year Programme.