English for Business B1 from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Looking for a job

By the end of this week you will be able to read and understand how to look for a job effectively, describe your qualifications and competences and prepare your CV, and prepare to answer and ask questions appropriately in a job interview.

Effective presentations

By the end of this week you will be able to prepare, and present effectively, the relevant content, and some basic slides or materials, to introduce yourself, your company and your company’s products or services.

Written communications in the workplace

By the end of this week you will be able to read and respond effectively to a variety of internal company communications, write a basic report on company results, and handle external email communications.

Spoken communications in the workplace

This week you will study and practice a variety of communication tasks that are useful when attending an international conference. These include leaving phone messages, making small talk, arranging meetings and participating in discussions and decision-making.

Workplace effectiveness

By the end of this week you will have the language to understand and talk about effective practices in the workplace like promoting employee well-being and happiness, and encouraging effective collaboration and teamwork. You will also learn and apply the language to describe charts and graphs.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on practical skills such as writing emails, reports, and presenting, which are essential for effective communication in the workplace

Emphasizes real-life tasks and interactive exercises, providing learners with hands-on experience and building competence in various business scenarios

Covers essential topics such as job hunting, presentations, written and spoken communication, and workplace effectiveness, providing a comprehensive overview of business English

Includes a module on understanding and discussing effective workplace practices, such as employee well-being and teamwork, which are increasingly important in modern business environments

Teaches learners how to describe charts and graphs, which is a valuable skill for presenting data and communicating insights in a business context

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in English for Business B1 with these activities:

Brush up on Grammar Fundamentals

Show steps

Reviewing grammar fundamentals will improve the clarity and professionalism of written communications, a key skill emphasized in the course.

Browse courses on Sentence Structure

Show steps

Review basic grammar rules online.
Complete practice exercises on grammar websites.
Focus on areas where you struggle.

Read 'Business English Vocabulary Builder'

Show steps

Expanding your business vocabulary will enhance your ability to understand and participate in workplace communications, presentations, and negotiations.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Read a chapter each week.
Make flashcards for new vocabulary.
Use new words in practice sentences.

Create a Mock Presentation

Show steps

Practicing presentations will build confidence and improve delivery skills, directly addressing the 'Effective Presentations' module.

Show steps

Choose a business topic.
Create a short presentation with slides.
Record yourself presenting and review.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Practice Writing Business Emails

Show steps

Regular email writing practice will improve speed and accuracy in composing professional correspondence, a core skill covered in the course.

Show steps

Find email prompts online.
Write a response to each prompt.
Review and revise your emails.

Develop a Personal Branding Portfolio

Show steps

Creating a personal branding portfolio will solidify your understanding of self-presentation and job-hunting skills, enhancing your professional profile.

Show steps

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Write a compelling cover letter template.
Prepare answers to common interview questions.

Read 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'

Show steps

Understanding principles of effectiveness will improve your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in the workplace.

View The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th... on Amazon

Show steps

Read one habit per week.
Reflect on how to apply each habit.
Discuss the habits with colleagues or friends.

Design a Company Newsletter Template

Show steps

Designing a newsletter template will reinforce your understanding of written communication and internal company communications.

Show steps

Research effective newsletter designs.
Create a template using a design tool.
Write sample content for each section.

Career center

Learners who complete English for Business B1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Coordinator

A Project Coordinator ensures projects run smoothly by managing tasks, resources, and communication among team members. This role relies heavily on clear and effective communication, both written and spoken. The English for Business B1 course provides practical experience in writing reports and handling internal and external email communications, all of which are critical for maintaining project clarity and tracking progress. Furthermore, this course's focus on spoken communication in the workplace, including participating in discussions and decision making, helps a Project Coordinator communicate effectively with team members during meetings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Coordinator

Business Development Representative

A Business Development Representative identifies and nurtures new business opportunities through outreach and relationship building. This role requires excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, especially when presenting products and services to potential clients. The English for Business B1 course directly helps with preparing and presenting products and services through its curriculum, which includes interactive exercises to gain competence in these areas. A strong grasp of business English is essential for this role, and this course helps develop proficiency in writing emails and messages, which are crucial for daily communication with clients and internal teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Representative

Sales Associate

A Sales Associate works directly with customers, presenting products and services to close sales. This role requires excellent spoken communication skills and the ability to develop strong rapport with clients. The English for Business B1 course includes learning how to present products and services, focusing on developing effective communication skills, which are essential for a Sales Associate to convey product value and build relationships. This course's training in negotiation and handling customer interactions also helps a sales professional effectively guide clients through the sales process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Associate

Recruiter

A Recruiter is responsible for identifying, attracting, and hiring qualified candidates for open positions. This role requires strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact effectively with potential candidates. The English For Business B1 course includes techniques for preparing a CV, preparing for job interviews, and writing emails. These are all tasks that are commonly performed by a recruiter. These skills will also be beneficial for internal communication with the human resources department and hiring managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Office Administrator

An Office Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operations of an office, including managing communications, organizing meetings, and handling administrative tasks. This role requires strong communication skills, both written and spoken, to interact effectively with colleagues and clients. The English for Business B1 course provides experience in writing formal communications, such as emails and reports, and practices spoken communications, such as attending international conferences. Both of these skills will be useful for an office administrator when interacting with diverse groups of people within and outside the company.

See salaries and explore the career path for Office Administrator

Account Manager

An Account Manager focuses on building and maintaining relationships with clients. This role requires exceptional verbal and written communication skills. The English for Business B1 course helps those in this role hone their skills in various communication tasks, including presenting products and services, as well as writing emails and messages. This course’s focus on workplace communication and interactive exercises may be especially beneficial in this client-facing role, where interacting with clients effectively is of the utmost importance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Account Manager

Human Resources Assistant

A Human Resources Assistant provides support to the human resources department. This role requires strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to interact professionally with employees at all levels. The English for Business B1 course emphasizes writing effective emails, messages and reports, which are all commonly used in human resources correspondence. Additionally, the course focuses on workplace effectiveness to promote employee well-being, which gives the HR Assistant a head start on creating positive employee experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Assistant

Customer Service Representative

A Customer Service Representative is responsible for addressing customer inquiries, resolving issues, and ensuring satisfaction. This role requires excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact effectively with customers. The English for Business B1 course helps by teaching practical language for workplace communications, with a focus on writing messages and emails to external clients. This course also teaches spoken communication for making small talk and participating in discussions, which are used in customer service interactions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative

Public Relations Assistant

A Public Relations Assistant supports the public relations team by crafting communications and interacting with stakeholders. This role requires strong written and verbal communication skills. The English for Business B1 course may be useful, as it focuses on writing emails, messages, and reports, and also on spoken communications in the workplace. The ability to present information clearly and interact professionally in various contexts are key to success in the Public Relations field, both of which are provided by this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Assistant

Marketing Assistant

A Marketing Assistant supports marketing campaigns and promotional activities. This role requires strong written communication skills, often used in drafting marketing content and reports. The English for Business B1 course may be useful for this role, as the course focuses on writing emails, messages and reports, as well as preparing and presenting products and services. Also, it teaches workplace effectiveness, which may be helpful in understanding how marketing communication impacts the workplace. Learning the language to describe charts and graphs may also be beneficial when producing marketing reports for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Assistant

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for products or services, and this role requires a mastery of written communication. The English for Business B1 course helps build a foundation for this role as the course teaches techniques for writing reports and handling external email communications, all of which can be utilized by a Technical Writer. This course also familiarizes its learners with the language of workplace effectiveness, useful for describing charts and graphs, often used in technical documentation. A technical writer will also benefit from the course’s focus on clear and concise communication.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Training Coordinator

A Training Coordinator organizes and facilitates training programs for employees. This role requires strong communication skills, both written and verbal, combined with an ability to present information clearly. The English for Business B1 course helps in this role because it provides a practical knowledge of written communications, such as emails and reports. It also emphasizes spoken communication skills such as presenting products and services. These skills can be directly applied by a Training Coordinator in the development and delivery of training programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training Coordinator

International Conference Planner

An International Conference Planner coordinates all aspects of international conferences, from initial planning to execution, working with vendors and presenters. This role benefits from strong verbal communication skills, including experience with small talk, arranging meetings, and participating in discussions. The English for Business B1 course may be helpful, as it includes practice in these communication tasks, as well as general workplace effectiveness and the language used to describe charts and graphs. This course's focus on communication in international settings is particularly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Conference Planner

Communications Specialist

A Communications Specialist is responsible for developing and managing internal and external communications. This role requires strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to ensure clear and effective messaging. The English for Business B1 course may be useful, as it provides a background in writing effective emails and reports, and helps develop strong communication skills in a workplace context. Also, the course's focus on workplace communication can be directly applied in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Communications Specialist

Administrative Assistant

An Administrative Assistant provides support to an office or department by handling administrative and clerical tasks. This role requires organization and communication skills, both written and verbal. The English for Business B1 course may be useful as it provides experience in writing effective emails and messages, handling workplace communications and presenting products. These are common tasks that an Administrative Assistant will frequently perform.

See salaries and explore the career path for Administrative Assistant

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in English for Business B1.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Save

Focuses on expanding business-specific vocabulary, which is directly relevant to the course's emphasis on workplace communication. It provides practical idioms and phrases that can enhance spoken and written communication skills. While not a core textbook, it serves as a valuable resource for enriching vocabulary and improving fluency in a business context. It is particularly useful for students aiming to improve their understanding of nuanced language used in professional settings.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

Check price

Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

Check price

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Save

Provides a framework for personal and professional effectiveness, aligning with the course's focus on workplace effectiveness. It offers insights into teamwork, collaboration, and communication, which are essential for success in a business environment. While not directly focused on English language skills, it enhances overall professional competence and provides a foundation for applying effective communication strategies. This book is best used as additional reading to supplement the course materials.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th...

Hardcover

English for Business B1

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses