Courses / Business & Management

English for the Workplace

This course for learners of English helps you with the language you need to find a job and successfully function in the workplace.

English for the Workplace

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Overview
Topics
Start dates
Requirements
Educators
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  • Duration 4 weeks
  • Weekly study 2 hours
  • Learn Free
  • Extra benefits From $59 Find out more

Why join the course?

This course is for people who are learning English and who are interested in developing English language skills for employability and workplace contexts. It will help job seekers and young professionals with the English they need.

Each week, we’ll focus on key aspects of English for the workplace. You’ll watch videos and listen to audio recordings of people searching and applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, taking interviews, starting their new job, and working with new colleagues. Our experienced tutor will examine some of the language used and will draw your attention to useful points that will help you improve your English in workplace contexts.

The course does not follow a language syllabus but takes workplace English as its starting point, and offers functional language phrases and real, authentic workplace scenarios. Short quizzes and discussions will help you measure your understanding and practise your English.

Throughout the course you’ll be asked to share your opinions, ideas and questions with other learners. The best way to get the most out of the course is to be prepared to join in and share your experiences.

What topics will you cover?

Finding a job

  • What do you want from a job?
  • Talking about likes and dislikes
  • Talking about your job
  • Job advertisements
  • Applying for a job

Interviews

  • Preparing for job interviews
  • The language of obligation
  • Talking about your skills and experience
  • Interview technique

Starting a job

  • Talking about job offers
  • Line management
  • Rules and regulations at work

Working together

  • Meeting new colleagues
  • Checking understanding
  • Team building activities
  • Making suggestions, agreeing and disagreeing

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Evaluate your skill set and the kind of employment you would like.
  • Improve English language performance in key areas of applications and interviews.
  • Reflect on the factors involved in successful applications and interviews.
  • Identify the elements of working together successfully.

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at non-native English speakers who have studied English to at least pre-intermediate level (approximately A2 on the CEFR).

What do people say about this course?

It was real pleasure to follow this MOOC, very good quality and excellent teachers who interact with students, that is the greatest point, thanks a million!

Héléna Dégrés
January 2019

Who will you learn with?

Genevieve White

Genevieve White

I've taught English in Hungary, Romania, China and the UK. At the moment I teach in Shetland and I also write English language teaching materials.

David Lewis

David Lewis

I have been working in English language teaching for over twenty years in Europe and Africa, teaching a wide range of classes to everyone from 5 years old and up!

Who developed the course?

British Council

The British Council is on the ground in six continents and over 100 countries connecting the best of UK culture with a global audience and providing high-quality English language courses.

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  • Access to this course for 6 weeks

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  • The freedom to keep access to any course you've achieved a digital Certificate of Achievement on, for as long as the course exists on FutureLearn
  • The flexibility to complete your choice of short courses in your own time within the year
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