What phrases can I use to chair a business meeting in English?

Learn practical phrases to open a meeting, get attendees’ attention, introduce agenda items, and keep the discussion focused.

How do I write a formal business email in English to someone I do not know?

Use a professional greeting such as “Dear Mr./Ms. [Surname],” state your purpose clearly, and close politely with “Kind regards.”

How can I describe sales and market trends in Business English?

Use verbs such as “rise,” “grow,” and “decline,” and words like “surge” to describe a sharp, significant increase.

Free Course Image Business English Lessons

Free online course Business English Lessons

Duration of the online course: 4 hours and 11 minutes

4.6

(10)

Speak confidently at work: master meeting, email, interview and presentation English in this free online course, with practical phrases and exercises.

In this free course, learn about

How to chair meetings: opening, setting agenda, managing discussion, and closing
Phrases for attending meetings: introducing yourself, giving opinions, agreeing/disagreeing
Choosing formal vs informal English appropriately in speaking and writing
Writing professional emails: subject lines, greetings, tone, structure, and closings
Job interview techniques: structuring answers and improving clarity and confidence
Answering 'Tell me about yourself' with relevant experience, strengths, and goals
Giving presentations: openings, signposting, engaging the audience, and handling Q&A
Negotiation language: proposing, counteroffering, and politely refusing or stalling
Writing a strong CV/resume: clear responsibilities, achievements, and action verbs
Describing trends and statistics: verbs/adjectives for rises, falls, spikes, and stability
Giving and receiving feedback professionally, including indirect negative feedback
Describing strategy, markets, and products, including ways to expand market share
Business phrasal verbs and idioms (e.g., take over, put your money where your mouth is)
Teamwork and office vocabulary: keeping stakeholders updated and office layout terms

About the free online course

Working in English can feel challenging even if your grammar is good. What often holds people back is not vocabulary, but the pressure of real business situations: starting a meeting without sounding abrupt, writing a professional email to someone you barely know, answering interview questions clearly, or presenting results with confidence. This free online course helps you build the kind of Business English that makes you sound natural, competent, and easy to work with in international environments.

You will learn how to chair and participate in meetings using clear, polite phrases that keep discussions focused and productive. The course also helps you choose the right tone, showing when formal English is expected and when a more informal style is appropriate, so you can adapt your language to different companies, cultures, and relationships.

Business communication is not only speaking. You will practice writing stronger emails with effective openings, smooth transitions, and professional closings that reduce misunderstandings and speed up collaboration. You will also strengthen your performance in job interviews, including answering common questions with structure and impact, and handling the tell me about yourself prompt in a way that highlights your experience and value.

As you progress, you will build skills for presentations and negotiation, from capturing attention and explaining your message logically to responding tactfully when you cannot accept a proposal. You will become more comfortable describing data, statistics, sales figures, and market movement with precise language, and you will learn to discuss strategy, products, and competition in a clear business style.

To support your everyday workflow, the course includes practical language for teamwork, giving and receiving feedback, and using common office expressions, idioms, and phrasal verbs you will hear in modern workplaces. Short exercises reinforce the lessons so you can remember key expressions and apply them immediately. If you want Business English that directly improves your performance and professional opportunities, this course is designed to get you there.

Course content

Video class: Chair a Meeting in English - Useful English Phrases for Meetings - Business English 20m
Exercise: What is a recommended phrase to start a meeting and gain attendees' attention as discussed in the lesson?
Video class: Attending a Meeting in English - Useful Phrases for Meetings - Business English 14m
Exercise: Which of the following phrases is appropriate to introduce yourself in a business meeting when all participants already know their responsibilities?
Video class: How to Use Formal and Informal English - English Speaking and Writing Fluency 21m
Exercise: Which of the following sentences is an example of formal language?
Video class: Emails in English - How to Write an Email in English - Business English Writing 16m
Exercise: What is an appropriate way to start a formal business email when writing to someone you do not know well?

Video class: English Job Interview Tips and Tricks - How to Answer Job Interview Questions in English 20m
Exercise: Which of the following is a technique to improve your answers in a job interview in English?
Video class: Presentations in English - How to Give a Presentation - Business English 16m
Exercise: What is one technique mentioned for effectively capturing an audience’s attention during a presentation?
Video class: How to Negotiate in English - Business English Lesson 18m
Exercise: In a business negotiation, what is a good practice when you cannot accept the other party's proposal?
Video class: Write a CV for an English-Speaking Job - Tips to Write a Great Resume 17m
Exercise: What is a key suggestion for writing the 'responsibilities' section in a CV according to this Business English lesson?
Video class: How to Answer 'Tell Me About Yourself' - Spoken English Lesson 12m
Exercise: What should you focus on when answering the question 'tell me about yourself' in a job interview?

Video class: Describe Trends in Business English - Describing Statistics, Sales and Market Trends 15m
Exercise: What word could best describe a significant and sudden increase in sales figures?
Exercise: What verb can be used to describe an upward movement in sales figures?
Video class: How to Give and Receive Feedback in English - Business English Lesson 12m
Exercise: In a professional environment, when giving negative feedback indirectly, which of the following approaches is typically used?
Video class: Describing Business Strategy, Markets and Products - Business English Lesson 12m
Exercise: In a competitive business environment, what can a company do to expand its market share?
Video class: 24 Phrasal Verbs for Business - Business English Phrasal Verbs Lesson 12m
Exercise: In a business context, if someone is said to 'take over' a company, what does this mean?
Video class: Business English Phrases and Idioms Every Businessperson Should Know 15m
Exercise: What does the idiom 'put your money where your mouth is' mean in a business context?

Video class: English for Working In a Team - Business English Conversation Lesson 14m
Exercise: In a business project meeting, if a team leader wanted to ensure everyone stays informed about the project's progress, which expression might they use?
Video class: 20 Office Expressions to Describe Your Workplace - Visual Vocabulary 08m
Exercise: In which type of office arrangement are employees required to share desks due to limited space?

Learn aboutBusiness English

Explore free online Business English courses designed to improve professional vocabulary, workplace communication, email writing, presentations, meetings, and interview skills. Learn at your own pace, build confidence for global business settings, and earn a certificate with each course to showcase your career-ready English skills.