No matter what the focus of your ESL class, all your students will benefit by knowing how to submit a resume, make a call to a client, communicate effectively during a job interview or conduct a successful business meeting. Many individuals learn English to communicate better with their business associates and improve their professional lives. By using simple, relevant and engaging classroom activities, you can provide your students with practical experience and useful business vocabularies.

Conduct a needs analysis. Every group of students is different. Some might already be fluent in business vocabulary, and others may want to focus on different areas of English. Ask your students to share their opinions, individually or as a group. Assess how much time and what kinds of business vocabulary will be most useful for your class. Remember to adjust the complexity of the questions based on the skill level of your students.

Incorporate business vocabulary into existing lessons. After you conduct your needs analysis, continue with the usual curriculum. Gradually incorporate business vocabulary into other classroom activities and exercises. One example is modifying a telephone etiquette lesson to include professional phone calls as well as personal. When you introduce business English to the classroom gradually, you avoid neglecting other lessons. Business English is part of a larger picture, not the sole focus.

Combine business English with grammar lessons. In addition to teaching your students business vocabulary, incorporate general grammar into the lessons. One example is practicing present simple and present continuous verb tenses by carrying out mock conversations with coworkers or bosses. Have students talk about their plans for the weekend or discuss upcoming changes for the company. Combining business vocabulary with grammar and etiquette provides a cohesive approach for your students.

Cover a variety of business-related situations. Don't focus too strongly on a single area of professional life. Consult your needs analysis and address the needs of every student, from secretaries to aspiring CEOs. Some of the major areas in business English are applying for jobs, making telephone calls, conducting and attending meetings, giving presentations and carrying out negotiations. As your students advance, go beyond vocabulary to address specific etiquette and customs.

Include writing exercises as well as vocal exercises. In the business world, proficient writing skills are just as important as speaking skills. Students need to know how to compose emails, business letters, resumes and cover letters. If your students are more proficient at writing than speaking, writing could be a good transitional exercise. For instance, you could begin with composing professional emails and then convey the same information in a conversation.

Teach abbreviations and lingo. While most business English is professional and formal, students also need to be aware of abbreviations, symbols, slang, lingo and other workplace customs. One idea is to use a worksheet with words that can be shortened. For instance have your students practice using $ instead of "dollars" or writing "ASAP" instead of "as soon as possible."