Need Advanced Business English Lessons? Top 10 Sites to Bookmark

Ever heard the English phrase, “the light at the end of the tunnel?”

It means you’re nearing the end of something difficult. You’re almost there.

…Just not quite.

If you’re an advanced business English learner, we’d say that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s both an exciting and a frustrating place to be. You’ve made so much progress so far, and now you just want to be fluent!

Well, that’s exactly what the advanced business English lessons in this article are designed to help you with.

They’ll get you comfortable with specific areas of professional English as well as your overall workplace communication skills.

You’ll be out of the tunnel in no time!

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So, Are You Ready for the Advanced Stage?

• Can you hold a simple conversation in business English without facing any difficulty whatsoever?

• Can you write basic memos, emails and reports whenever you’re tasked to do so?

• Do you wish you had greater mastery over speaking and writing complex sentences with several clauses in them?

• Are you good at facing interviews but still feel slightly nervous at the prospect of meeting a new client?

• Do you wish you were more confident and natural during presentations and conference calls?

If you answered “yes” to most or all of these questions, it’s highly likely that you’re ready to take advanced lessons in business English.

However, it’s always better to take a level test from an English-teaching facility to accurately assess your learning level. You can take this online grammar and vocabulary test from St George International to get a rough idea of where you’re at. This article also has five online business English level tests you can try.

Advanced Business English Lessons: 10 Amazing Resources to Master the Language

Once you’re sure that you’re ready for this final stage, you can browse these resources and choose the ones that apply to you. I’ve divided this section into two parts.

The first part details some very specific language-learning resources for those who are fluent in some areas but have difficulty with others, like job interviews or certain grammatical rules.

The second part focuses on complete online courses that’ll build and polish your advanced skills in speaking, writing, listening and presenting.

Advanced Lessons for Specific Areas of Business English

This is a wonderful video-centric resource that covers advanced vocabulary in several specific industries. Each video is under 10 minutes long and covers topics relating to product management, accounting and finance, legal issues, technology, marketing and more.

You’ll learn the meanings of difficult words as well as the right context in which to use them. This in turn will ensure that your business reports and company presentations are more detailed and enriching, and that you’re using the right terms for your field of work.

Created by the University of Maryland, this series of online courses focuses on the interview process in great detail, covering research, persuasive communication and advanced interviewing techniques.

You’ll also learn how to create strong resumes and cover letters. There’s a special final project called “How to Land the Job You Want,” which will polish your skills further.

By the end of these courses, you should be confident about facing any interview as well as successfully interviewing people for certain jobs under your leadership.

You can even opt to take one individual course from this series, rather than all of them. Since it’s offered by Coursera, a popular online education platform, you’ll get a certificate that you can put on your CV after completion. If you’re interested in similar courses or options for further learning, Coursera has tons of options from prestigious universities across the globe.

This is an advanced English grammar course, taught by a native English speaker, to help you develop your confidence and fluency in the language. The course promises to improve not only your English grammar skills but also your spoken English.

With over six hours of video and numerous downloadable study resources, this course will help you take your English knowledge from advanced to fluent.

It’s offered by Udemy, another great option for online learning, and one where you’ll often find incredible discounts for all types of classes.

Comprehensive Business English Lessons for Advanced Learners

This website has a comprehensive list of grammar rules that you need for everyday use, as well as vocabulary and English practice exercises sorted by skill level.

We recommend that you check out the Business English Vocabulary section, which covers vocabulary for your CV, presentations, emails and more.

The advanced Words Used in News Headlines section covers words that often appear in U.K. news headlines. By regularly completing the exercises listed on this site, the chances of coming across difficult or uncommon words in your daily reading or during conversations will considerably decrease.

The FluentU language learning program focuses on immersion—surrounding you with native English content made by and for English speakers from around the English-speaking world.

While you’ll find plenty of general English videos here (like movie trailers, vlogs, music videos and inspirational talks), you’ll also have a chance to view business-related content. For example, there are business industry discussions, tips for business owners, etiquette at business gatherings and more.

You can filter the videos by difficulty level, including a lower and higher advanced level. Altogether, there are over 500 advanced English videos available at the time of this writing, and more content is regularly being added.

FluentU provides learners with support to navigate these advanced, authentic videos. There are subtitles that show definitions when you hover over or click on a word, transcripts with audio, flashcards that show you other videos where each word is used and more.

Every time you finish a video, you’re tested on the vocabulary and language from the video. You can find new words to study here, too, and add words to your lists. When you’re ready, FluentU has exercises you can do to memorize these words.

MacMillan’s online lessons are ideal for those who are looking to improve both their spoken and written skills in business English. You can opt for their advanced courses either in British or in American English.

All major aspects of business English are covered here including meetings, presentations, conferences and cross-cultural interactions. Their lessons contain over 80 interactive resources and will supply you with the right words and phrases for any business situation.

If you’re looking for an advanced home study program, then this course might be the one for you. You’ll obtain a diploma that you can put on your CV to prove your business English skills.

This course is primarily devoted to polishing your business writing skills, so feel free to sign up for this course if you need greater confidence to write reports, newsletters and business plans.

They also have a one month trial for those who are unsure about whether it’s the right choice. At the end of the course, you’re sure to have become faster and more efficient at your job and thereby increase your chances at a promotion.

This website has a long list of vocabulary and grammar lessons and exercises pertaining to business English. We recommend you take their advanced grammar exams to test your understanding and use of the more difficult grammar rules, such as English modals and the subjunctive.

You can also keep this site bookmarked and use it to brush up on a wide range of topics you encounter at work. These might include business English idioms, workplace euphemisms or the right phrase to close an email.

This online course, another one from Udemy, specifically covers advanced grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

It’s taught by the British English teacher Michael Sisley and is perfect for business English learners who are keen to improve their pronunciation, diction and accent in order to sound more like a native speaker. Videos, MP3 recordings and other downloadable resources will be provided and you’ll also receive a certificate of completion that you can show off on your CV.

This course has been designed for business leaders, managers and other professionals. It’s a 10-week, part-time course that’s guaranteed to improve your communication skills for any formal situation.

You’ll get lecture videos and other learning resources every week. Assignments are submitted online. If you do really well in the final assessment and score a 75% or higher, you’ll receive a certificate that’s sure to impress your business connections and future employers.

Once you’ve crossed the advanced stage and collected all your certificates, you’re more or less fluent in business English. But that doesn’t mean your learning is over. Keep reviewing your old lessons, particularly the ones you found difficult or got stuck with. At the same time, be open to learning new things and keep yourself updated by following the latest business news and affairs of the world. Also, focus on building your confidence and networking skills so that you have the right personality to make the most of your job and advance your career. Trust in your own abilities and you’ll surely succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Archita Mittra is a freelance writer, journalist, editor and educator. Feel free to check out her blog or contact her for freelancing/educational inquiries.