Business English is a category of English communication that includes the language skills used at work. These language skill categories include – but are not limited to – speaking, listening, reading, writing reports & emails, presentations, negotiations, meetings, small talk, networking, socializing & conversation, selling, persuasion, leadership.
Business English emphasizes effective communication among international colleagues. Business English is not about being perfect, but it does require a moderate to high level of proficiency.
English Center courses are offered face-to-face at great locations in Amsterdam, Den Haag, and Amstelveen, as well as online. Always with a native speaker trainer.
Our customized courses, private and in-company, are certified by the CEDEO, here in the Netherlands. Explore our Business English Training Options.
Good business English communication means that you can, in general, do the following things well and with relative ease.
So how do you think you measure up? Ready for a course? Find the perfect Business English training for you.
Would you like to take our FREE quick Business English Test? It’s just 25 questions, and there’s no grammar!
There are many general English tests available, from fairly expensive tests – such as Cambridge, IELTS and TOEIC – to the modestly priced Oxford Online Placement Test: a great test at a low cost.
We have two free tests: our Quick Business English Test (25 questions) and our English Level Test (50 questions). Take them now and get instant results and feedback.
HR departments use CEFR (Common European Frame of Reference) scores to describe employee and job applicant English levels. Below, you will find descriptions of B and C levels on the CEFR scale.
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You are B1 lower intermediate if you can speak and understand a moderate amount of English. You can do pretty well when the topics are familiar and not too abstract. At this stage, you still sometimes need clarification from the people that you are speaking with, but you understand a lot of what you hear and you can usually keep talking, even though you make mistakes.
You notice that other speakers are willing to talk to you and your confidence starts to grow. Your vocabulary has many words, but you still need many more. You cannot understand many common idioms and this sometimes leaves you unable to follow conversations.
It tires you to speak English and you get stuck sometimes. You have to ask for people to repeat or explain. When you write, you may still be translating from your native language. You are uncertain about many grammar points. At this level, you will not qualify for many jobs.
You are B2 upper intermediate if you can interact with a certain degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular English interactions with English speakers not too difficult. You can be very active in conversations, and sometimes, you even take the lead! Your vocabulary is pretty big, and you understand and can use quite a few idioms.
Your sentence structure has fewer mistakes, and you can speak about and understand reasonably complex subjects. You do not need much help in conversations, but you still tire if you have to speak too long. You are still learning idioms. Writing is easier because you are thinking more in English. Your grammar is improving but you still make mistakes. At this level, you will qualify for many jobs, but you may still be asked to improve.
You are C1 Advanced if you can express yourself fluently without much searching for words. You can use English flexibly and effectively in professional situations. Your writing is quite good with just occasional errors. You can express your ideas and opinions in a precise way and you rarely need assistance from the people you are speaking with.
You are an independent user. You make some errors of idiom but they do not interfere with others understanding what you are saying. You still get a little tired if you have to speak a lot, but you feel (and sound) quite competent. You will qualify for most jobs with C1 English.
You are C2 Near Native when you can speak in a flowing, precise and natural way that is appropriate to the situation. Your written English rarely has errors and people do not notice that you are not a native English writer. You speak very much like a native speaker with a rich vocabulary and full access to idioms.
You can easily lead sophisticated conversations on complex subjects. If your pronunciation sounds native, some people will not even notice that English is not your first language! Your errors are minor and very infrequent. It is easy for you to use the language and it costs you little or no extra effort. Congratulations! Your English is great and sufficient for any job in any sector!
You can’t fake business English like you faked grammar in high school, studying the night before the test and passing with a 6 or a 7 ;-)! At work, your communication skills are on full display with colleagues and clients every day – every time you open your mouth or write an email. There’s no question; good business English communication is essential for your career success. But how good is good enough? That depends on the job, the sector and the company.
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From customer service to the executive suite, almost all positions require some English. But the level required depends on the job and the company. Good enough to get hired at “Company A” may not even get you a first interview at “Company B.” Some companies want C level speakers, and some companies are fine with B level.
We offer a variety of fully customized learning packages, ranging from short courses to weekly and intensive courses. Would you like to start with a free “get-to know-you” appointment? In that appointment with a native-speaker trainer from our Amsterdam-based team, we’ll learn about you, your career and your goals. And of course, we’ll answer your questions about our approach, resources, scheduing, our English Center locations, etc.
3 Popular courses
If you are not sure which course might be good for you, it can be helpful to know which courses are the most popular. Here are our top three :-).
The courses above – and all our courses – are offered in Amsterdam, Den Haag, online, plus at your corporate locations. See all our classroom locations.
Finally, if you are in HR or L&D, let’s talk. We customize corporate business English courses for all kinds of industries, from pharma to real estate and from logistics to sustainable energy.
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Author: Brenda de Jong-Pauley, MA. Brenda is an American living in the Netherlands. She studied psychology and education in the US and is the director of The English Center. This article was first published at The English Center website in 2021 and updated in 2025.
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