With global businesses continually changing, more people are working on improving their English skills in order to be more effective. Learning business etiquette along with business English helps students be more prepared for the business world. Stress to your students the importance of learning good business etiquette by showing students the value of acting professionally at all times. Using real-world examples and current trends, your ESL class can learn business etiquette simply but competently.

Allow students an opportunity to practice enter and introduce themselves in a formal business setting. A firm handshake, confident look in the eye, and a respectful tone when speaking show the professionalism of the business person and his or her whole company. International businesses expect their representatives to make the company look successful. Look at photographs from magazines or the Internet of a variety of business people, and let students pick the ones that from image alone look competent. Discuss how business attire can influence people's perception. Stress to ESL students that self-confidence is key when speaking in English and people respect their business skills more when that confidence is apparent.

Learn the various titles people in business use. Nothing is more embarrassing that using the wrong title for a person. Study the most formal way of addressing people first. Informality is often associated with a lack of seriousness, and never use just a first name. Use role-play by assigning students titles such as president, vice-president, doctor, professor and so on. Practice saying the various positions people hold in a business such as chief financial officer, head of marketing, vice-president of sales and so on. Learn the hierarchy that most businesses use to recognize the status of business people when introduced.

Work on recognizing nonverbal cues that portray the right attitude. Fidgeting, frowning, daydreaming or slumping over causes people to think you are not interested. Video the class while they are listening to a presentation so they can see the nonverbal cues they give as listeners.

Practice disagreeing civilly. When negotiating face to face, teach students to stand their ground yet be respectful. If circumstances mean you cannot comply with a request, learn to be graceful when declining an offer. In the ESL classroom, allow students to debate and defend certain practices while emphasizing keeping relations friendly and open.

Teach proper business "net-iquette," since many business encounters occur online. Practice writing emails that professionally communicate the information needed. Respond in a timely manner and edit all information before sending. Informal sentences such as "Can u help me?" are not acceptable when communicating by instant messaging in business situations.

Exhibit the right way to build rapport by knowing which topics are acceptable to use as small talk. Avoid personal or potentially embarrassing questions, but ask questions that show genuine interest in learning about other people. Have students research under which circumstances giving gifts is allowed in business, and what gifts are best.