“How was your weekend?”
“Good, thanks. Yours?”
“Not bad. See you later.”
If your adult ESL students are stuck in this loop, they’re missing the conversations that actually build careers. Real professional success isn’t about perfecting small talk—it’s about navigating the complex interactions that happen every day in English-speaking workplaces.
The Problem with Traditional Business English
Most programs teach formal presentations, email etiquette, and meeting phrases. But what happens when your student needs to diplomatically disagree with their manager? Navigate office politics? Build genuine rapport with colleagues?
Your intermediate students already know “I disagree” and “Could you send me the report?” But do they understand the difference between “That’s an interesting perspective” and “I love that idea” when a colleague responds to their proposal?
This is where real communication happens, and traditional business English misses it completely.
Teaching Conversations That Matter
Instead of “How was your weekend?” teach students to say “I noticed you mentioned wanting to develop your project management skills. Have you found any good resources?” These questions show genuine interest and create meaningful professional dialogue.
The magic happens when students move from polite exchanges to conversations about shared challenges, collaborative problem-solving, and authentic professional experiences.
Reading Between the Lines
Half of workplace communication is never said directly. When Sarah says “That’s certainly one way to approach it” about your proposal, she’s not being encouraging. When your manager asks if you’re “comfortable with the timeline,” they’re opening the door for negotiation.
Teaching students to recognize these patterns gives them the cultural fluency to understand what’s really being communicated.
Handling Difficult Conversations
Students need to learn the difference between “You’re wrong about this” and “I see it differently. Can we walk through the reasoning together?” Both express disagreement, but only one maintains professional relationships.
Start with low-stakes practice scenarios—requesting schedule changes or additional resources. Once students are comfortable, introduce complex situations like addressing missed deadlines or performance concerns.
Building Professional Credibility
Many capable students undermine themselves with hesitant language. They say “This might be wrong, but…” instead of “Based on my analysis…” Help them recognize these patterns and develop more confident communication styles.
Practical Teaching Tips
Try the scenario cascade method. Start with a basic workplace situation and let it evolve naturally. Begin with colleagues discussing a project deadline, then add complications. Students learn that workplace conversations require constant adaptation.
Use materials like authentic business lesson plans and TED talks. Create safe spaces for experimentation—learning authentic communication requires vulnerability.
Most importantly, encourage students to become workplace observers. Have them notice how successful colleagues handle disagreements and build rapport. This real-world observation reinforces classroom learning.
The Real Impact
When students can navigate workplace dynamics and communicate ideas with confidence, they don’t just survive in English-speaking work environments—they thrive. Your students have strong language foundations. Now give them the conversational sophistication to unlock their professional potential.
