How to learn business English for a career, not just for a check: top 3 mistakes and key skills

Today, business English is one of the most popular requests. But at the same time, it is one of the least understood areas of study. People study business English en masse, but often do not understand how and why to use it in real working life.Another problem is that there are almost no quality materials for business English. General English is universal – it's roughly the same in Australia, China, and Ukraine. But business English is not: the business context is always local, even in international companies, and it changes much faster than textbooks can be updated.That is why business English courses are created from scratch today, and not by "adapting textbooks". In a conversation with LIGA.net Anna Romanyshyna, an entrepreneur and CEO of the PROGRESS English language school with over 10 years of teaching experience, shares which skills truly work for a career – and why years of studying often don't yield results.Which business English skills are truly critical for a career, and which are overrated?Anna Romanyshyna explains that one of the biggest mistakes is to learn business English as a set of "smart words" or abstract topics. As a result, a person may know the terms but not be able to use them.Among the truly critical, but not obvious, skills, she singles out three.The first is small talk.At first glance, this doesn't seem like a business or a big deal. But in reality, it's the foundation. Ukrainians often lack a culture of small talk: they avoid it or immediately get straight to the point. In an international context, this can be perceived as tension or rudeness.Second, self-presentation without self-praise.This is especially true for women: many underestimate their own contribution. She explains: there is a big difference between the phrases "I was responsible for the results and controlled the deadlines" and "I participated in the project." In the second case, the person effectively erases their role.Thirdly, assertiveness.That is, the ability to defend your position calmly, politely, and without aggression. In Ukrainian communication, there are often two extremes: either silence or a sharp reaction. In business English, it is critically important to maintain boundaries without losing face.At what level of English do people most often get "stuck," and why does this become a career stopper?Most often, people get stuck at the Intermediate level. The transition from Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate is one of the most difficult and longest. There is even a concept called the Intermediate Plateau.The English teacher explains that English is quite simple at the beginning, but at the intermediate level, nuances begin to appear: there are many ways to say the same thing, and even more ways to convey shades of meaning. That is why this stage takes more time than Elementary or Pre-Intermediate.According to her, many people drop out of their studies halfway through: they know something, but they don't feel confident. And in a business context, confidence is often the first thing that's perceived – even before grammar.For most work situations, Upper-Intermediate is more than enough, but you need to get there and learn how to use it.What does business really lack – perfect grammar or the ability to communicate clearly?As the CEO of the English language school emphasizes, today, with the existence of AI tools, the need for perfect written English has sharply decreased. Business letters, messages, complex formulations – all of this can be dictated to ChatGPT in one's native language, and the desired tone can be set."If work is limited to correspondence only, you can theoretically not learn English at all. But business critically lacks something else – the ability to speak clearly and confidently, represent the company's interests, negotiate, and react in real time. This is something that no tool can replace. You need practice, well-practiced vocabulary, and inner confidence," says Anna Romanyshyna.What are the typical mistakes made by people who learn English "for their career" but don't see any results?The most common mistake, according to the expert, is not understanding what kind of career a person is building. Different professional trajectories require different English: different vocabulary, phrasing, and communication scenarios.Therefore, the key question is not "which course to take," but who you want to be in 2-3 years and in what context you want to use the language.What should effective business English look like today?According to her, self-presentation and speaking skills come first. Next are skills for interacting with other cultures. Ukrainian communication is often straightforward; in an international context, the same "honesty" can be perceived as abruptness or rudeness.Therefore, it's important to learn not just how to speak English, but also how your words are perceived by others. To be able to distinguish between styles, tones, and levels of directness. And to constantly practice this in real-life situations.The written part is increasingly being covered by AI tools. But they won't replace speaking, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.Practical advice for those who want to increase their income through EnglishThe expert's main recommendation is to switch to English-language content. For example, read professional media such as Harvard Business Review, industry articles, and analytics from leaders in your field. What reaches us in translation is often years behind.It's important to make English the norm for consuming information, rather than a separate "lesson." Then people start to notice not only the content, but also how others speak, argue, and present ideas.At this point, English ceases to be an end in itself – it becomes a natural tool for moving in an already chosen direction.Read alsoFour-day work week – is Ukraine ready for it and what does global experience say?

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