Business English books: 7 great choices to improve your business English

Improving your English skills in the workplace can help you get more opportunities and lead to more career success. However, learning business English can be frustrating if you’re not using suitable materials.

With all the business English textbooks out there, it can be tricky to decide which one best suits your unique professional needs and goals. We know learning business English is hard enough, so we’ve compiled a helpful guide to the best business English books in 2022 below.

7 top business English textbooks

We’ve listed our top 7 business English textbooks and detailed costs, pros and cons, and how to find the best book for you. We ranked the books based on well-structured content, various topics, and resources that allow you to do additional practice.

Market Leader (Pearson/Longman)

It’s called Market Leader for a reason. This business English book has been expertly developed alongside the FinancBusiness Builder (Macmillan)

With a total of nine modules split into three volumes (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced), Business Builder helps business English students strengthen their skills from day one.

This textbook lays out objectives and achievements with worksheets to track your learning progress. Modules 1-3 cover “Social English,” “Telephoning,” and “Job Interviews.” Modules 4-6 include “Discussions and Meetings,” “Business Correspondence,” and “Report Writing.” Modules 7-9 finish the series with “Presentations,” “Company Product and Customer Relations,” and “Negotiations.”

The book includes “Teacher’s Notes” intended to guide ESL business teachers, but their tips, ideas, and cultural hints are great if you’re looking for extra resources.

Price

$65 to $70 on resale sites like Thriftbooks.com

Pros and Cons

Pros

Business Builder includes activities that make it easy to improve the area of business English that is relevant to you.

Cons

Like Market Leader, Business Builder can be hard to buy directly from the publishing company for individual learners. Also, be warned — if you’re looking to learn anything other than British English, Business Builder may not be the best business English book for you.

Best for

Groups and individual learners who are motivated by self-studying and British English.

Total Business (Cengage)

If you weren’t impressed by Business Builder’s nine modules, don’t worry. Cengage’s Total Business textbook offers twelve. This three-level business English course outlines current, business-related topics in three major sections: “professional business vocabulary,” “essential communication business skill,” and “learning strategies for the business context.”

Total Business is especially focused on integrating grammar (think the difference between who and whom or using can and could) with everyday business English. It does this through a wide range of learning activities and an accompanying workbook that includes an answer key.

Price

$30 to $55

Pros and Cons

Pros

Total Business lives up to its name by covering a wide range of topics. These include tips on the professional world, company profiles, products, services, and manufacturing processes.

Beyond covering business travel and professional health and safety, this business English book also offers advice on career development, the job market, and insights on the future of business.

Cons

Total Business is a classic business English ESL textbook that relies primarily on written exercises to facilitate learning. More interactive learners may find it hard to adapt to this less interactive style.

Best for

Learners looking for a comprehensive textbook with activities that covers all aspects of business English and grammar.

Intelligent Business (Pearson/Longman)

Intelligent Business considers itself as the most accessible business English book to students “whatever their level or business experience.” By featuring authentic material from the Economist, Intelligent Business introduces core business English concepts targeted at students who have not yet entered the business world.

Intelligent Business also includes a “Skills Book for focused training in communication skills, including “Culture Profile” and “Grammar Reference” guides for quick access to functional business English. Like Market Leader, Intelligent Business offers study support for the CEF and Cambridge BEC exam.

Price

$60

Pros and Cons

Pros

You can access and download online review tests to check your progress and perfect your skills. Bilingual glossaries and business English dictionaries are especially helpful to business professionals that are new to business ESL.

Cons

Intelligent Business’s content is on the basic side. For example, there is advice on how to craft English emails. Students who already have foundational business English skills may want to move on to more advanced books.

Best for

Business novices looking to gain a solid introduction into the business world and improve basic business English skills.

Business one : one (Oxford)

Oxford University Press’s Business one : one textbook comes in two levels: Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate Plus. Like many of the business textbooks listed here, Oxford offers a whole host of online learning resources, including grammar practice activities, email practice, and an editable glossary.

What sets Business one : one apart is its short, to-the-point lessons that introduce natural-sounding vocabulary and phrases to new business English learners and increase more experienced students’ fluency.

As the name suggests, Business one : one was written with individual learners in mind, so if you’re used to learning independently or outside of a business English class, this book will suit you. The online site even offers a printable “Lesson Record” document that reminds you to note three new words, three useful phrases, and any important points to remember from the lesson.

Price

$15 to $50 on used book sites like SecondSale.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Each lesson is only two pages, which makes it easy to cover material in a short amount of time. If you prefer a little extra support while self-studying, the digital practice activities offer helpful hints and tips to keep you engaged.

Cons

If you want to go more in-depth into some of the topics, you may be disappointed. Lessons are relatively short compared to other business English textbooks.

Best for

Intermediate, independent learners on a busy schedule who are looking to make their business English sound more natural.

Oxford University Press

As well as Business one : one, Oxford University Press boasts an entire library on English Language Teaching, with over 200 textbooks to choose from. Series include American English File, Oxford English for Careers, and English Express. Of these, the English express suite is our favorite.

English Express is handy for those looking to bridge their business English skills with other industries like accounting, fashion, technology, human resources, marketing and advertising. For those who prefer digital learning, Oxford University Press offers 14 different e-books for English students.

Price

Starting at $31 (for online resources)

Pros and Cons

Pros

With such a wide selection, Oxford University Press (OUP) is sure to have something for everyone. Also, language experts have developed all the OUP textbooks, so you can be sure the content is highly accurate and up-to-date.

Cons

The majority of Oxford University Press content is framed around British English, so if you’re looking to break into the US market, you may need to supplement your learning with American resources. Also, paper copies of their textbooks can be difficult to find.

Best for

Business English ESL students who want to improve their British English for the office in different industries and practice with online activities.

Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press’s 10-set business English collection is hard to beat. It covers everything from international business to start-ups. Each set includes different components, with varying levels and workbooks.

Though this publisher offers lots of great resources, English365 and Cambridge English for Job Hunting stand out if you’re looking to hone your practical English skills. English365 combines social English, traditional business English, and English for the public and voluntary sectors. It provides a global view of professional English in a wide range of environments.

On the other hand, Cambridge English for Job Hunting offers specific advice on knowledge and communication skills that job-seekers need to apply for secure jobs, including CV preparation, cover letter writing, and answering interview questions.

Price

$30 to $75 for individual components

Pros and Cons

Pros

The subjects covered in Cambridge University Press are highly relevant to all aspects of business English. Also, unlike most textbooks, these books are easy to order direct-from-sellers.

Cons

Cambridge University Press textbooks can be expensive ($30-$75 per book). Each set generally contains five to ten separate books (though certain parts, like the Teacher’s Guide, don’t have to be purchased.)

Best for

Highly dedicated learners looking to update their business English vocabulary and for the twenty-first-century job market. Cambridge English for Job Hunting is also a must for anyone looking for a new job.

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Finding the right textbook for you

As you can see from the list above, there are lots of options for business English books. However, you still need to ensure any book you buy will meet your needs as a business ESL student. The right textbook will fit your level, fulfill your business English goals, and suit your preferred learning style. So how do you find the right textbook for you?

Find your level

When researching and purchasing a new textbook, first determine your current level of business English. Now is not the time to be overly generous or too critical of yourself.

Textbooks with content that is too easy won’t improve your skills, and textbooks with content beyond your reach will only frustrate you and make you dislike learning English. Be honest with yourself; the right book will be challenging enough to keep you motivated, but you first need to know your level.

Set some goals

Next, ask yourself a few key questions, such as: What are my goals? What do I want to get out of learning? What would I like to be capable of communicating once I finish this business English book?

If you know what you want to achieve, for example, “to complete a work placement in a marketing company” then you are much more likely to choose the right book for you.

Know your learning style

Finally, establish how you learn. Are you a visual or auditory learner? Do you like to listen to new vocabulary words, or do you prefer to read them? Do you remember grammar better when you’re quizzed or when you follow personalized activities?

Choosing a textbook that has activities that suit you is key. If you are trying to learn in a way that doesn’t suit you, you will find it more difficult and less enjoyable, so make sure you check what teaching style the book follows before you buy.

Remember, it doesn’t matter how many different topics it covers, how much vocabulary it packs into each lesson, or how complex its grammatical structures are. If the book doesn’t fit your level, style, and goals, it won’t help you improve your business English skills.

What makes a good business English book?

Though there’s no single answer to what makes the best business English book, there are three components to look out for when choosing though: organization, clear goals, and variety.

Organization

First, a well-organized textbook will have a clear table of contents, a grammar section, and a glossary of terms or indexes. This makes creating a learning plan easier to organize and execute.

Clear goals and progression

Second, a good business English textbook will have clear goals and progression. From the first to the final lesson, you should feel you are progressing from foundational to more advanced skills to maximize your learning and stay challenged throughout the course. (The best textbooks will even include learning outcomes.)

Variety

Lastly, a good business English book should have various topics and lots of ways to practice them. These topics should be broad and cover a range of industries and professions. Ideally, the textbook will also provide various practical exercises to improve all aspects of business English: grammar, speaking, reading, writing, and listening.

Business English textbooks: A summary

There are various business English books out there depending on your level, style, and professional needs. Beyond fitting your personal learning goals, the best books for business students will be well-organized, follow a clear, skill-building path, and offer a wide range of skills and practice activities.

While studying from business textbooks can greatly improve your business English, it’s always helpful to have a live conversation partner who can provide feedback on your business English progress.

On Preply, thousands of business English tutors can help you practice what you’ve learned and take your business English to the next level. So what are you waiting for? Time to invest in your business English skills and maximize your returns!

If you want to learn more about our corporate language training programs for teams, check out

ial Times, one of the biggest financial news sources in the English-speaking world.

Market Leader includes interviews, case studies, and specific business English skills like presentations, negotiations, meetings, and small talk, so you can grow your financial knowledge while practicing your business English ESL skills.

The book is available in five levels (Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, and Advanced), so you’ll be sure to find a fit that works for you. Plus, if you’re looking to study for the Cambridge Business English Certificate (BEC), Market Leader offers specific support for the reading and writing elements for the top two levels, BEC Vantage (B2) and BEC Higher (C1).

Price

Varies depending on your region, but ranges from $45 to $75 depending on the level and retailer.

Pros and cons

Pros

Market Leader pairs free online resources with the textbook for seamless and immersive learning. For additional support, Pearson offers complimentary specialist titles, including Accounting and Finance (supports ICFE exam); Business Law (supports ILEC exam); Human Resources; Logistics Management; Marketing; and Working Across Cultures.

Cons

This textbook can be difficult to order online if you’re an individual buyer. You’ll also need consistent access to the internet to utilize all the practice modules fully.

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