l.Business English

Online Business English Sources.

Sometimes translation and interpretation are superfluous to requirement and the 'Langue de la bouffe' takes the stage!  Un Alsacien en Angleterre!

Not that everything else on my menu has nothing to do with business English: it all has, but there are some specific resources for business English which are of particular value.  I list these in IMHO a reasonable order of priority / usefulness:

• Learn-english-today.com with its extensive Business English section hereunder you will find just a brief selection from the MANY useful business English resources on this site:
  • Business presentation vocab.
  • Business presentation phrases.
  • Advertising vocabulary.
  • Marketing and sales vocab.
  • Interpreting graphs and figures.
  • Also look beyond the Business English tab on their website – they have a whole host of English grammar and vocabulary and verb/tense-related exercises

• Take TOEIC test. TOEIC is an examination of capability in English which takes 2 hours.  It doesn't focus exclusively upon Business English, although the majority of the second half of the paper concerns business documentation and your understanding thereof. Those who score 750+ (on a 990 maximum possible) are generally considered to have a sufficient measure of capability to be able to work internationally in English….. BUT the test in a multiple choice fomat based upon reading, listening and observation: there is no speaking or writing component – a critical limitation.  Nevertheless, what it does test should provide a good indicator of your basic level of understanding and potential.   I only know of one whole online TOEIC test at http://www.toeic-test.org/.  NB. Don't take the test in parts – do the whole thing.  If you do it part by part and seek to submit the answers it will also give you ALL the correct answers for the entire test (inc. the Qs you haven't attempted yet!).

• Business English Pod. An interesting resource.  It provides professionally- made presentations where you hear a voice-over in a number of different accents (English, American/Canadian and Australian/new Zealand) which also visually presents the words as they are spoken.  Thereafter, the key vocabulary and expressions from the presentations are explored – their meanings, differing pronunciations etc.  There are then exercises to prove that you have correctly understood.  There are some that run from the page but most require you to register for free and download the podcast and associated materials.  It is really good.  Here are some you should try:
  • Project Management
  • The Planning Process