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Business English Writing Course for Non-Native English Speakers

Our comprehensive ESL business writing course for non-native English speakers is designed to improve business writing skills, grammar, and punctuation. It provides practical skills and techniques and instructor feedback to enhance clarity and professionalism.

Available for groups as a self-paced online course, instructor-led virtual training, instructor-led onsite training, and for individuals as a self-paced online course.
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Business English Writing Course Overview

English has become the universal language of business, with 1.75 billion people speaking it at a useful level today. Mastering English is no longer optional—it's a vital professional skill.

Many non-native business professionals face challenges effectively expressing their ideas in writing. Our Business English Writing course for non-native speakers is designed to address these challenges by equipping participants with the skills to refine complex ideas and express them clearly, concisely, and correctly. 

This course offers practical techniques and strategies for non-native English speakers to improve clarity, confidence, and effectiveness in written communication. Strong English writing skills are not just a personal asset—they drive organizational success.

INDIVIDUALS

$645

Online self-paced course available for individuals.

Enroll now

GROUPS

Online self-paced and instructor-led training can be customized. Group discounts apply.

Customize for Groups

This Business English Writing Course Includes:


  • Ten interactive lessons on the fundamentals of effective business English writing including both substance and syntax.

  • Downloadable resources and class materials to maintain the practical skills learned throughout the training.

  • A list of tools and resources to continually hone writing skills.

  • Detailed, individualized written instructor feedback on real-life business scenarios.

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Skills gained in this course:

  • Reduce time writing by at least 25%, and become a more skilled writer.

  • Identify and correct your unique grammar and punctuation errors.

  • Improve clarity by using succinct, engaging, and correct language.

  • Understand English business idioms and colloquial phrases to ensure writing is professional.

  • Consistently use correct grammar, English vocabulary, and punctuation to create polished and professional documents.

Individual written feedback for every student

Personal feedback from an expert instructor takes any English communication skills to the next level. To truly improve writing habits and create strong writing skills, both course instruction and feedback on actual writing are needed.

Our feedback includes both subjective and objective feedback, in addition to a personal grammar diagnosis and additional helpful resources.

Objective feedback:

  • Does the document have a clear purpose and objective?
  • Is the document based on the reader's perspective?
  • Does the reader have all the content needed (and none that is not needed) to achieve the business objective of the document?

Subjective feedback:

  • Is the proper use of active voice or passive voice being used?
  • Is word choice clear and strong?
  • Can you cut any unnecessary words?
  • Are there any grammar errors?

Flexible Course Deliveries to Match Your Needs

Online course for individuals or groups

This online, self-paced business English writing course for non-native speakers allows individuals and teams to train on their own schedule with 24/7 access to the course. This method has flexible deadlines for busy professionals and groups across different countries to all receive the same training.

Virtual instructor-led course for groups

Virtual business English writing training allows for highly engaging instruction, exercises, and discussion in a professional setting. Non-native speakers complete activities in breakout rooms with fellow students, break down documents individually, and are encouraged to participate in conversations and ask questions.

Onsite instructor-led course for groups

In-person training is highly interactive, with many individual and shared activities. Groups work together at your location to deconstruct documents, deep dive into individual writing concerns, plan an upcoming document, and more.

Schedule a call to find out more about group training options
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Course Certificate

Participants will earn a personalized certificate after finishing this Business English Writing course. This can be displayed on a LinkedIn profile, downloaded to print and hang, or mentioned in a résumé.
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Course Structure

This English business writing course for non-native speakers is split into several detailed lessons including video lessons and online resources.

Getting Started

An Introduction and Self-Assessment

Tell us about your writing goals, typical documents you write at work, and challenges.

This will help us understand your writing and goals, ensuring that your course instructor tailors her feedback on your writing to what is most important for you. 

Lesson 1

The Optimal 6-Step Business Writing Process

Learn our optimal, proven 6-step business writing process, which has helped thousands of business writers take a step-by-step approach to producing clear, effective, and professional documents.

This lesson covers key stages of business writing, including planning, drafting, revising, and proofreading, to ensure that writing is purposeful and polished.

Participants explore techniques for analyzing their audience, organizing content logically, and refining their message to align with business goals. Emphasis is placed on adopting a structured writing process that will reduce your writing time by at least 25% and result in professional documents every time. 

Lesson 2

Importance of Organization

Learn how to structure writing to ensure clarity, coherence, and logical flow.

This lesson covers techniques for outlining content, using headings and subheadings effectively, and structuring information to meet the audience's needs.

Participants also explore methods for logically arranging ideas, ensuring key points are easy to find and understand. Emphasis is placed on creating well-organized documents that enhance readability and help achieve business objectives efficiently.

Lesson 3

Internal Documents

Learn how to create clear, concise, and well-structured documents tailored for internal audiences such as colleagues, managers, and teams.

Participants focus on various types of memos and other internal documents and learn best practices for maintaining professionalism while fostering collaboration and clarity within the organization.

Lesson 4

Letters and External Documents

Learn best practices when writing to external stakeholders.

Understand the strategies to tailor information to various audiences, provide relevant information, and present it professionally. A writing mistake to a colleague might be overlooked, but writing errors to a new customer, supplier, or regulator is unprofessional and will harm their perception of your skills. 

Lesson 5

Email Use and Structure

Learn how to craft clear, professional, and effective emails that achieve their intended purpose.

This lesson covers essential elements such as subject lines, greetings, body organization, and closings to elicit the desired business response.

Participants also explore best practices for email etiquette, audience consideration, and formatting to improve readability and response rates. Emphasis is placed on writing concise yet informative emails that align with business objectives and maintain a positive professional image.

Lesson 6

Structure and Strategy for Reports

Participants learn how to structure and present information clearly, concisely, and persuasively in reports to meet business objectives.

This lesson covers key elements such as defining the report’s purpose, understanding the audience, organizing content logically, and using appropriate formatting and style. Participants also gain skills in writing executive summaries, analyzing data effectively, and ensuring clarity and precision in language to enhance readability and impact. The focus is on developing reports that are professional, actionable, and aligned with organizational goals.

Lesson 7

Organization and Presentation

Learn how to structure documents for maximum clarity and impact.

This lesson covers strategies for organizing content logically, effectively using headings and subheadings, and applying formatting techniques to enhance readability. Participants also explore principles of visual presentation, such as white space, bullet points, and consistent styling, to ensure their documents are professional and easy to navigate.

Emphasis is placed on tailoring the structure and design to suit the audience’s needs and the document’s purpose.

Lesson 8

Clarity and Word Choice

Learn to craft clear, concise, and impactful documents by removing bloat and incorporating a confident, professional tone.

This lesson focuses on using precise language, eliminating jargon and unnecessary complexity, and using the active voice to enhance clarity.

Participants also explore techniques and word choices for structuring clear sentences and paragraphs to ensure ideas are communicated effectively. Emphasis is placed on tailoring language to the audience and purpose, using English idioms and colloquialisms correctly to ensure that writing is both professional and easy to understand.

Lesson 9

Style and Tone

Learn how to adjust writing to convey professionalism, credibility, and the appropriate level of formality.

This lesson covers techniques for achieving a consistent and professional tone, adapting style based on the audience and context, and balancing clarity with a respectful and engaging approach.

Participants also explore strategies for avoiding overly complex or overly casual language to ensure their writing aligns with business objectives and organizational standards.

Lesson 10

Grammar and Syntax

Learn essential rules and best practices to ensure your writing is grammatically correct, clear, and professional, and receive a formal diagnosis of your grammar errors and correction strategies. 

This lesson covers common grammatical errors, sentence structure, and punctuation, helping participants avoid mistakes that can undermine credibility. Additionally, participants explore techniques for constructing well-formed sentences and paragraphs that enhance readability and flow.

Emphasis is placed on applying grammar and syntax principles to produce polished, error-free business documents.

View the full course outline and list of resources
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What will Business English Writing look like after this training?

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Perfect grammar and punctuation.
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Writing time reduced by at least 25%.
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Well-organized, relevant content.
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Designed and formatted to be easy to read.
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Balanced, professional tone.
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Eliminate writer's block.
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Succinct, clear writing.
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Persuasion is clear and effective.
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Competent, clear, and professional.
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Correct English word choice.

Meet the Mentors of Business English Writing

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Grace Cuddy

Grace has extensive experience in Instructional Solutions' online English courses and also works with individuals and groups from several international companies across Europe as a business writing coach. She is an expert in business English writing and loves to help students improve their English skills.

She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has a keen sensitivity to global writing. She has a strong background in corporate communication and management and successfully developed cross-functional writing and communication processes in a large corporate team.

She enjoys yoga, travel, and dance. She splits her time between New York City and Madrid.

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Bailey Lang

Bailey is a professional writer, editor, and accountability coach with more than a decade of professional experience.

She began her career in marketing communications for a global HR outsourcing company before taking a detour into academia. She earned her MA in rhetoric and writing at the University of Findlay and then completed her Ph.D. in rhetoric and writing studies at Bowling Green State University. Along the way, she wrote and published a book, numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, and more.

When she’s not writing or editing, you'll find her reading, hiking, or knitting.

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KatieAlmeidaSpencer

Katie Almeida Spencer

Katie is an experienced Business Writing and English as a Second Language instructor, business English writing coach, and teacher trainer. She taught Business Skills and Academic Writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

She is very skilled at evaluating both the substance and language of business documents. Her writing critiques, instruction, and coaching have received stellar evaluations from our clients at Chartis Consulting, DuPont, Shell, Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council, and the World Wildlife Fund.

She holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her areas of expertise include business writing and technical report writing, proposal writing, English courses, and syntax and non-native writing.

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Elisabeth O'Quinn

Elisabeth has a unique combination of business and business writing acumen, with extensive background in writing, editing, and content marketing management.

She has supported a wide range of businesses, writing blog articles, white papers, presentations, and editing business documents. She has supported many of our clients with rave reviews of her writing feedback.

Elisabeth lives in Georgia with her cat and rescue pup. In addition to writing, she loves traveling with her twin sister, learning German, and creating watercolor prints.

Read more >>

Course feedback and testimonials

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View our online individual course evaluations on Survey Monkey.

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If you want to reduce your stress level at work, take this course! You will be able to respond faster and confidently to urgent emails.

Environmental Engineer

Dept of the Navy
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It's a lot more about personal development than writing huge essays. Super easy and very fluid. Easy to grasp concepts that are simple to apply to daily work.

Senior Application Developer and Administrator

KLD Engineering
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I think it is a great course to improve your business writing in English for everyone. Especially for those who have not identified the ways to improve your writing yet.

Accountant

Novo Nordisk
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I was impressed with Grace's kind and warm feedback on my writing assignments and course goals/challenges. Thank you so much!

Accountant

Novo Nordisk
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As a non-native English speaker I was able to identify and correct common errors in grammar, text structure, and word choice. I found this training very useful!

Public Affairs Executive

DuPont
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The major benefit is that I can use these techniques in all of my daily work. The grammar corrections helped me identify my typical errors.

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Novo Nordisk
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My instructor was so helpful and her detailed comments about my writing exercises showed me where my writing can have more impact.

Sales Representative

FedEx
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My writing is more concise as a result of the traing. I’ve received strong tools, ongoing support and knowledge.

Business Analyst

USAA
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One of the benefits is to understand how efficient business writing is crucial. This course helped me to write effectively.

Anonymous

MPI

Become a better business English writer.

Sign up today or schedule a discussion to become a stronger business English writer.

INDIVIDUALS

$645

Sign up today and start learning how to become a better business English writer.
Enroll now

GROUPS

We offer customized and flexible online, virtual, and onsite courses, workshops, and classes that match your company’s needs.

Schedule a call

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Business English Writing Course for Non-Native Speakers?

The Business English Writing Course for Non-Native Speakers is a specialized program designed to help professionals whose first language is not English develop clear, confident, and professional business writing skills. This course focuses on improving grammar, sentence structure, tone, and overall writing clarity, enabling participants to communicate effectively in the workplace.

The course is tailored to address common challenges faced by non-native English speakers, such as structuring ideas logically, using professional vocabulary, and refining grammar to meet business standards. It also provides practical tools and techniques to write emails, reports, proposals, and other professional documents with precision and impact.

Delivered as a flexible, self-paced online course or through instructor-led virtual and onsite options for teams, this program ensures you gain the skills needed to succeed in global business environments. With a focus on real-world applications, the course empowers you to convey your ideas with professionalism and confidence.

What are the benefits of the Business English Writing Course for non-native speakers?

The Business English Writing Course for Non-Native Speakers offers numerous benefits to help professionals excel in global business environments:

1. Enhanced Clarity and Professionalism
Learn to write clear, concise, and professional business documents, including emails, reports, and summaries, tailored to the expectations of English-speaking audiences.

2. Improved Grammar and Structure
Strengthen your understanding of English grammar, sentence structure, and word choice to ensure accuracy and polish in your writing.

3. Increased Confidence
Overcome the challenges of writing in English as a non-native speaker and gain the confidence to communicate your ideas effectively and persuasively.

4. Cultural Sensitivity in Communication
Understand the nuances of professional tone, style, and etiquette in English, enabling you to adapt your writing for diverse audiences and business contexts.

5. Practical and Flexible Learning
Access practical techniques and real-world exercises designed to address the specific challenges faced by non-native English speakers. Choose from flexible delivery options, including self-paced online learning or instructor-led training.

6. Enhanced Career Opportunities
Strong English writing skills are a competitive advantage in today’s global business environment, leading to better job performance, career growth, and professional credibility.

7. Collaboration and Teamwork
Develop writing skills that improve collaboration on international projects, facilitate clear communication with global teams, and support seamless business negotiations.

This course empowers non-native English speakers to master professional writing, ensuring success in personal, organizational, and international business endeavors.

How long is the Business English Writing Course, and what is the format?

The Business English Writing Course is designed with flexibility in mind to meet the needs of busy professionals. The course length and format vary based on your chosen option:

1. Self-Paced Online Course

- Duration: Approximately 7-8 hours to complete, depending on your pace and schedule.

- Format: This fully online option allows participants to work through the materials independently, with access to practical exercises, video tutorials, and downloadable resources. Instructor feedback is included.

2. Instructor-Led Virtual Training

- Duration: Customized to meet the organization’s needs, usually spanning 7 hours, delivered in one or multiple sessions based on team preferences. The duration can be compressed or expanded depending on your needs.

- Format: Conducted live via video conferencing by an expert instructor, this interactive option features guided instruction, collaborative activities, and personalized feedback.

3. Instructor-Led Onsite Training

- Duration: Customized to meet the organization’s needs, usually spanning a full day. The duration can be compressed or expanded depending on your needs.

- Format: Delivered at your workplace, this in-person training provides hands-on learning, team-focused exercises, and direct guidance from an expert instructor.

Each format is designed to deliver practical, actionable writing skills, with a focus on improving grammar, tone, and clarity in professional English communication. Choose the option that works best for your individual or team requirements.

Can this course be customized for my organization?

Yes, group training is always customized!

We can base training on our existing Business English Writing Course and tweak exercises and models, combine multiple courses, or even create an entirely new course for your international employees.

Can our team access the course materials after completing the course?

We provide job resources that summarize important concepts and key takeaways of the course.

This ensures that participants have easy-to-access resources that will help them apply what they learn immediately after the training—and long afterward.

How do we enroll our team in the Business English Writing Course?

Please schedule a meeting book a meeting to help us understand your team's writing requirements and current challenges and to clarify training goals. We will support all scheduling and course administration for you.

What support is available if our team has questions during the course?

The Business English Writing Course provides comprehensive support to ensure participants have the guidance they need to succeed. Depending on the course format, here’s the support available:

1. Self-Paced Online Course

- Instructor Q&A: Participants can submit questions directly through the course platform, and an expert instructor will provide detailed responses.

- Supplemental Resources: A library of guides, templates, and FAQs to address common challenges and provide additional learning opportunities.

- Customized Feedback: Participants receive feedback on writing exercises and examples tailored to their specific needs.

2. Instructor-Led Virtual or Onsite Training

- Live Interaction: During the sessions, participants can ask questions directly to the instructor for immediate clarification and guidance.

- Post-Session Follow-Up: After the training, teams can submit additional questions to the instructor for a specified period to reinforce learning.

- Customized Feedback: Participants receive feedback on writing exercises and examples tailored to their specific needs.

Regardless of the format, our team is committed to supporting your learning journey, ensuring your team gains the skills and confidence to excel in business writing.