Choose One of our Business English Courses
1. Business Negotiations for Software Professionals
(for those whose first language is not English) – 13 hours – 2 to 3 students
Negotiation is a core skill for software engineers and tech professionals who work with clients, product teams, and internal stakeholders—but formal training is rare, especially in English. This 13-hour, task-based course provides a clear, structured foundation in business negotiation, designed specifically for non-native English speakers in technical roles.
Through realistic role-plays and software development scenarios, participants practice negotiating scope, timelines, pricing, and risk allocation while learning practical English vocabulary and phrases commonly used in software engineering negotiations. You will explore key frameworks such as BATNA and reservation points, and develop skills to identify win-win opportunities.
Each module guides you through the full negotiation process—preparation, framing, exploration, bargaining, and closing—using examples like phased software releases, custom features, and cross-team priority disputes.
Participants will have the opportunity to practice negotiating in English, use negotiation tactics, explore professional negotiation language, and work through scenarios that involve balancing business goals, technical feasibility, and collaborative decision-making.
The class size for this course is 3 participants. For more information about this course or to enrol, please email [email protected]
2. Business Meetings for Software Professionals
(for those whose first language is not English) – 10 hours – 3 to 4 students
This course is designed for software engineers and tech professionals who already work in English but want to participate more effectively in business meetings. The focus is on real meetings you actually attend—status updates, planning sessions, problem-solving discussions, client meetings, and strategy meetings—using clear, practical English.
The course is task-based, meaning you learn by doing. Instead of lectures, you take part in realistic role-plays based on software projects, such as sprint planning, progress updates, dependency discussions, and risk management. You practice speaking as developers, project managers, designers, and analysts in structured meeting scenarios.
A strong emphasis is placed on useful vocabulary and functional expressions commonly used in software engineering contexts. You will practice language for clarifying requirements, reporting progress, raising concerns, negotiating timelines, and agreeing on next steps.
This course is designed for 3 or 4 participants in each class and is ideal for non-native English speakers who want to sound clearer, more professional, and more confident in meetings.
Improve Business Communications Skills
The English Circle (Toronto) helps professionals who need to improve their business communication skills in a work environment. Most employers consider the ability to communicate well as one of the most important factors in both hiring and promoting employees.
Our Business English courses are designed for 2 to 4 participants in each class.
Learn Effective Business Writing Skills
Written communication is especially important at work. To succeed in business you must be able not just to write but to write effectively for business purposes. Whatever you write should be clear and easy to read.
The English Circle tutors will correct common grammar and writing mistakes, but they will also work with you on the specific types of communication you need in your job or profession.
Business English writing follows specific, standard patterns and organization and uses special vocabulary. Your tutor will help you become familiar with a wide range of standard phrases required in business English which you need to learn, particularly if you are not familiar with the Canadian business environment.
Business writing follows very specific formulas in structure and organization which you also need to learn. Business written documents such as office memos, letters, e-mails, and reports have different structures. What is challenging is the fact that they also take on different styles depending on the intended audience. Our tutors will share real-life examples and techniques to help you write effectively for customers, clients, and co-workers.
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