Working or Traveling in Singapore? 13 Local Courses to Learn Business English Fast
Do you work in Singapore?
If so, you’ve already made a great choice for your career.
Singapore is an international business hub with a growing economy and opportunities for profit across many industries.
But you probably already knew that.
What you might not know is that Singapore is also a great choice for your business English skills.
There are many flexible, interesting and high-quality business English courses available locally in Singapore!
You can master the finer points of business English much more quickly and effectively if you have a teacher to point out your mistakes and show you how you can communicate more clearly and confidently.
To that end, I’m going to share with you a list of business English courses in Singapore to polish up your proficiency and boost your confidence in the workplace.
But before we get to that, let’s look at how you can get the most out of any business English course you plan to take.
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How to Make the Most of Your Business English Course
- Put in your own time after class. For every hour you spend in class, set aside at least 45 minutes to practice what you’ve learned on your own.
Don’t skip the homework. No matter how busy you are, find time to complete the assignments and tasks after class. This is the only way to confirm that you understood your lessons, reinforce the concepts and make real progress as the course moves forward.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Make it a point to keep up with every lesson. If you miss a class or have difficulties with a certain lesson, reach out to your teacher after class.
If you don’t, chances are you’ll be lost when the teacher starts a new topic. Soon, you’ll be left further and further behind and will have trouble keeping up with the rest of the course.
- Establish a relationship with your teacher and classmates: Build a bond with your teacher and classmates. This will open up opportunities for you to practice the language, ask questions and help one another. By doing so, you’ll improve more quickly.
Business English Courses in Singapore: 13 Top Schools to Explore
Now, let’s look at the selection of business English courses available in Singapore for advancing the language you need to succeed in the workplace or business school.
Most of these institutions require that you take a placement test to assess the level of your English proficiency before you enroll. You may also be interviewed by a consultant to discuss your specific needs and concerns.
Language Works
There are five levels in the general business English course. The course uses case studies and course materials developed with the Financial Times that focus on real-life scenarios and current business trends.
If you’re interested in sharpening your presentation skills as well, you may also take the Business English Presentations module. This short and comprehensive course focuses on presentation skills from all angles: grammar, self-introductions and even body language.
inlingua
If you’re looking for a course with a heavy focus on speaking and listening skills, this is the one for you. There are three modules in every course level, each with 18 hours of instruction and two hours of written and oral assessment.
This course is best for English learners who already have basic communication skills. It’s also a part-time course (twice a week) so it’s perfect if you have a busy schedule.
The course materials are designed with a focus on grammar, vocabulary, speaking and pronunciation practice as well as listening skills that are often required in your day-to-day work. Course activities include case studies of companies and discussions of various business topics.
Yzer Solutions
Yzer Solutions offers specialized business English courses covering business grammar, writing, oral communication and more. Yzer Solutions customizes and contextualizes their courses to your specific needs, which you can then instantly apply to your work or business.
Their training manuals include grammar references and exercises you can use for practice outside of class. You could also purchase additional workbooks with CDs to use in your after-class self-study.
During the course, you can measure your progress with periodic assessments. If you’d like to pursue formal qualifications such as the IELTS exam or the BEC exam, preparation for these tests could also be included in your course.
British Council Singapore
The British Council Singapore offers two distinct classes for business English learners. The Communication Course is a three-month course to develop your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. You may choose to have this course conducted in one of three ways: group classes at the British Council, one-on-one coaching or private group sessions. The one-on-one and private courses can be taken at a British Council learning center, at your home or in your office.
BEST (Business English Skills Training) is a special course designed for Singaporean and Malaysian working professionals who wish to use business English more effectively in the workplace. BEST offers three levels of courses that focus on either speaking and pronunciation or grammar and writing skills, depending on your needs.
English Express
This business English course is targeted at those with an intermediate level of English proficiency, but who don’t quite have the fluency or confidence to express themselves as well as they’d like.
There are five course levels available. The Business Grammar module firms up the basic foundation of your business English, while the Effective Business Communication module will help you speak and write better.
Canadian Education College
This course is targeted at working professionals with intermediate and advanced levels of English proficiency. It aims to develop your business English communication skills for important daily workplace tasks such as business presentations, email writing and participation in business meetings, etc.
As part of the course, you’ll have the opportunity to communicate with native English speakers on various business topics. This allows you to practice your listening and speaking skills as well as improve your grammar and vocabulary.
English Explorer
English Explorer offers 10 levels of business English courses from beginner to advanced. Each level may be completed over two terms of 10 classes each. You may choose to either attend a private or group class.
The course syllabus is accredited by the University of Oxford and helps you improve all languages areas including grammar, vocabulary, making presentations, writing emails and reports, etc.
Ascend
Interested in a short course that focuses on key communication skills you frequently use in the workplace? Ascend offers a 48-hour business English course that consists of three 16-hour modules.
You may choose to complete any or all of the modules to develop your spoken and listening skills such as presentations, emails and report writing.
English Training Lounge
English Training Lounge (ETL) is another program run by the British Council, with locations worldwide including Singapore. The Course in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) focuses on English specific to certain industries such as engineering, finance, IT, etc. For instance, if you’re an engineer, you’ll learn business English related to the field of engineering.
The Corporate English Course focuses on business English that’s more generally used in all areas of business. You’ll learn business English used in emails, meetings, customer service, negotiations, etc. The course also prepares you for the internationally recognized Cambridge Business English Examination. According to ETL, this training is particularly popular among Singapore’s financial professionals.
Aventis Learning Group
Aventis offers short, targeted courses that are perfect for the busy working professional. The one-day courses focus on topics such as:
- “Powerful E-mail Techniques:” How to write professional emails that are easy to read and get results.
- “Mistake-Free Grammar and Proofreading:” Grammar rules, misused words and proofreading.
- “Meeting Minutes Made Easy:” Active listening techniques and how to write effective minutes and reports of meetings.
- “High Impact and Clear Report Writing Skills:” How to write clear and professional reports.
London School of Business and Finance
The Certificate in English for Business is a three-month, beginner-level program covering basic business communication. You can expect to improve listening, reading, writing and speaking as well as your overall confidence in business English.
Best of all, you’ll get to put a certificate in business English from the London School of Business and Finance on your resume once you finish the course.
Amity Global Institute
The Certificate in Business English features a comprehensive syllabus that takes you through the whole range of language skills and structures like grammar and vocabulary building.
There are five levels to this course from beginner to advanced. Each unit focuses on your written and spoken English in different contexts and tones. The workbooks and supplementary material, such as interactive CDs, offer interesting texts and exercises to fast-track your grammar and vocabulary.
In addition, you’ll be regularly assessed through tests, presentations, group projects and other tasks to measure your improvement.
Singapore Chinese Chamber Institute of Business
This course is designed for learners with a working knowledge of English seeking to improve their fluency in grammar, vocabulary and communication skills.
There are five levels to this course from beginner to advanced. You’ll learn to communicate with business associates and talk about companies and products, by participating in interactive activities, conversations and role-plays involving real-life business scenarios.
With so many institutions offering courses to help you master business English, all you have to do now is to take the time to select the one that best meets your specific needs and concerns. Together with my tips on self-study and practice, you’re well on your way to becoming a more confident business communicator!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
