9 Hip and Handy Business English Apps for Android

You’ve just woken up.

The sun is breaking over the horizon.

You reach over the side of the bed, eyes still a bit blurry.

And what’s the first thing you grab?

If you say, “my Android,” then this article is the perfect thing for you!

Most of us can’t really imagine a day without our smartphones. Since we’re virtually attached to them, why don’t we use that to our advantage in stepping up our business English skills?

It can be hard to find the time to fit in a classroom lesson or an hour of self study when there’s so much to do as it is. So being able to learn business English on an app is the perfect remedy.

The next time you browse through the Google Play store for something to entertain yourself during those free moments of the day, why not search for a business English Android app instead?

We’ll show you nine of our favorites for learning business English anytime, anywhere.

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

How to Maximize Learning Outcomes from Apps

We have to use these business English Android apps to their maximum potential, otherwise they just end up becoming a waste of space—virtually speaking! Before delving into an exciting new Android app, take note of these methods to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.

• Set small, achievable goals: Try not to overwhelm yourself with too much at the start. Instead of going in different directions all at once, pick a skill area you want to focus on and set achievable goals.

For example, do you want to focus on industry vocabulary, English grammar or listening skills? What small goals can you achieve to get better at your chosen skill? By focusing on one target area at a time, it’ll be easier to measure your progress and stay motivated.

• Develop a system: All of us learn languages in slightly different ways. Once you’ve established your goals, you can plan a system that best works around your learning style and daily schedule. Set a timetable for learning or practice on your selected Android apps.

• Do it! Putting your learning plan to action and creating an “app habit” is by far the toughest thing. Commit to opening your app every day—sometimes that’s the hardest part! Once you’re there, it’ll be easier to get practicing.

You could even set a reminder on your phone or tablet for when it’s time to practice English.

• Review it! Do you remember what you’ve learned? Don’t forget to review and recap! Set aside moments in your schedule for quick revisions.

This is a great way to reinforce learning. Many business English Android apps are designed with this in mind, but take it a step further and try recalling new vocabulary, grammar or skills from memory.

9 Hip and Handy Business English Apps for Android

Check out these Android apps that you can go back to time and time again. Mix and match them to fit your learning objectives and see which ones you like best.

FluentU

For an all-around app to master business English the way native speakers really use it, download the FluentU app for Android.

Every video comes with interactive subtitles. You can click any word for an instant, in-context definition plus grammar info and example sentences. This way you can build your vocabulary while absorbing natural business English at the same time.

Once you’re done watching a video, FluentU gives you flashcards and fun quizzes to make sure you remember everything you’ve learned. Plus, remember how we just discussed the importance of reviewing your English material? FluentU uses an algorithm to recap your vocabulary just before you forget it.

The videos are conveniently organized by format and level (six levels from beginner to advanced). You can also improve your general English without leaving the app—there are hundreds of entertaining videos like movie trailers, commercials, music videos, etc.

FluentU isn’t just for Android, either. You can also use it on your computer or on iOS devices. Check out a free trial and start learning with real English business videos on your next coffee break!

Business Writing

Writing skills often get neglected in our quest to communicate in a new language. The Business Writing app is a great help for writing day-to-day business communications such as letters, emails and reports.

While it’s not specifically designed for English language learners, it’s still incredibly useful for intermediate and advanced business English learners to challenge themselves with focused writing projects.

Each category is explained with helpful guides on formatting and common abbreviations. As you read through the examples, you’ll learn useful vocabulary and structures for professional writing.

Business English Pod on Android

Business English Pod really is all about business. There’s something for everyone from beginners to advanced learners, and it’s fantastic for improving listening skills. Each audio lesson has real-world interactions and conversations in mind, with plenty of different expressions to learn.

Business English Pod releases new lessons weekly so you’ll never get bored. Plus, each clip comes with complete transcripts. This allows you to make sure you understood every word.

Instead of a subscription, you pay for lessons that interest you. Take your pick from their immense library covering topics such as business development, business idioms and project management.

Business English Listening

Here’s another cool Android app for improving your business English listening skills. This compact app is great for beginners up to intermediates because you can go through each lesson quickly and easily.

Sometimes you just want something short and sweet that you can complete while you’re on the go. So just pick a topic from themes like marketing, management and transportation, listen to the lesson and then do the quizzes.

TED Talks on Android

If you love inspiring stories and innovative thinking, you’ll love improving your business English with TED Talks. Watch a wide range of fascinating talks on video with presenters from all over the world and improve your listening skills and vocabulary.

You can collect your favorites in a playlist, download them for offline viewing and even sync saved talks to other devices. Most importantly, TED Talks videos can be watched with single and dual-language subtitles to aid your business English learning.

The wide variety of topics means you’ll be constantly challenged with interesting vocabulary, expressions and exposure to global English accents.

English Phrasal Verbs

Most students I’ve worked with absolutely dread phrasal verbs! I don’t blame them. Native-speaking business professionals use a ton of phrasal verbs in everyday situations, which can make it hard to understand them—especially in already complex business situations.

This free app will help you start mastering phrasal verbs to make professional communication less stressful.

English Phrasal Verbs compiles 247 most commonly used phrasal verbs in a neat package for you to learn and practice with. Tackle them in alphabetical order or at random when you come across a new phrasal verb you’ve never seen before. You can also test yourself in the app to check your understanding.

Longman Dictionary of American English

As you learn more and more complex vocabulary, an English dictionary should become your new best friend.

Unlike book dictionaries, having an Android app like the Longman Dictionary of American English will support your listening and pronunciation, not just vocabulary building. Tap on words to hear them spoken and practice by repeating them out loud.

This ensures you’re getting the right intonation and emphasis especially on advanced business English vocabulary.

And best of all it’s free to use!

WordReference Dictionary

With the WordReference Dictionary on Android you can increase your vocabulary in a different way. WordReference is a translator and dictionary that provides real-world examples of the words you search for.

By reading the English definition, translation in your native language and examples, you’ll gain a quick understanding of how vocabulary is used.

WordReference is a popular tool among translators for good reason. Now you too can go bilingual by having convenient access to it. It’s free to use on Android, with options for in-app purchases. It requires internet access.

Oxford Dictionary of Finance and Banking

If you’re in the finance and banking sector, you’re in luck. There’s a dictionary just for you!

Sometimes a general dictionary just isn’t detailed enough. The Oxford Dictionary of Finance and Banking is all about financial jargon that covers many sectors in the industry, so you can be sure you’re using the right business terms in the right circumstances.

Their advanced search tools support “fuzzy search” (to find a word even if you spell it wrong) and voice search, making it easy to find new vocabulary.

As you can see, there are so many cool options out there when it comes to learning business English on your Android device. No bits of paper flying about, no heavy books, no fixed classroom sessions. It’s literally learning at your fingertips!

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