Goal guide: work
At work, the hard part is often tone rather than vocabulary: interrupting, disagreeing, saying no and asking for things without sounding rude or vague. Here are phrases for each situation, two exercises, and an honest look at tutors, live schools, AI practice and apps.
Business English is everyday English used with more care: clear structure, polite softening and the words of your field. For most working adults, a good mix is a weekly one-to-one lesson built on their real emails, meetings and presentations, plus 15 minutes of speaking practice on other days. A structured school such as Lingoda suits people who want a fixed syllabus. Apps help with vocabulary, not with a tense meeting.
A line that often sounds too direct at work, a more natural version, and why. Habits vary, so treat these as safe defaults.
Too direct: "Wait, that's wrong."
Better: "Sorry to jump in, but I think that figure is from last quarter."
Apologise briefly, then give the reason.
Too direct: "I disagree."
Better: "I see your point, but I'm not sure it works with the March deadline."
Agree with part, then name one problem.
Too direct: "OK, we'll see."
Better: "So, to sum up: Marta will send the draft by Friday, and we'll review it on Tuesday."
End with names, actions and dates.
Better: "I'd like to cover three things today: the results, the risks and the next steps."
Then signpost: "That brings me to my second point."
Too direct: "I don't know."
Better: "Good question. I don't have the exact figure with me, but I'll email it to you this afternoon."
Never guess a number.
Too direct: "Your price is too high."
Better: "That's a little above our budget. Is there any flexibility on the price?"
State your position, then invite a new offer.
Too direct: "No, impossible."
Better: "I'm afraid we can't go that low, but if you can deliver by June, we could agree to a two-year deal."
"I'm afraid" softens the no; "If you ..., we could" offers a trade.
Too direct: "Send me the report."
Better: "Could you send me the report by Thursday?"
Question plus deadline.
Too direct: "You didn't answer my email."
Better: "Just following up on my email from Monday. Have you had a chance to look at it?"
The standard reminder, with no blame.
Too stiff: "I am writing to inform you that the meeting is cancelled."
Better: "Unfortunately, we've had to cancel Friday's meeting."
With colleagues, plain reads as friendly.
Too direct: "What? I don't understand."
Better: "Sorry, I didn't catch the last part. Could you say it again?"
Blame the line or yourself, never the speaker.
Better: "Sorry, you broke up for a second."
Or, with no sound: "I think you're on mute."
Weekends, travel and work news are safe; salary and politics are not.
Better: "How was your weekend? Did you get up to anything nice?"
Open questions keep it going.
Better: "Anyway, I'd better get back to it. Nice to catch up!"
A friendly exit matters too.
Too direct: "Do this by Friday."
Better: "Could you take this on? Friday would be ideal. Does that work for you?"
The check invites problems early.
Too direct: "This report is bad."
Better: "The analysis is strong, but the summary is too long. Could you cut it to half a page?"
Strength first, then one change.
Many English speakers, especially British, soften criticism.
You hear: "That's an interesting idea."
It can mean: "I'm not convinced."
You hear: "With respect, ..."
It can mean: "I disagree."
To be clear yourself: short sentences, no idioms, and confirm in writing.
Make each one polite but clear. Other versions can be right too.
A good mix is one live format for feedback plus one cheap format for daily practice.
Good for: Lessons built on your own emails, slides and meetings, with feedback on tone.
Limits: "Business English" on a profile is self-described. In the trial, bring a real email and ask them to improve it.
Good for: A syllabus by CEFR level, regular group speaking, and at Lingoda a certificate per level.
Limits: Fixed class lengths, rotating teachers at Lingoda, little time for your own documents.
Good for: Rehearsing a meeting, pitch or difficult call as often as your plan allows, at any hour.
Limits: AI can be wrong, may miss tone and cultural cues, and does not know your company.
Good for: Vocabulary and grammar in short daily sessions, cheaply.
Limits: Very little speaking under pressure. Babbel shows English courses only if the app is set to one of eight other languages.
Prices from providers' own pages on 25 October 2026; they change and vary by country. We have not taken lessons on these platforms. The order is not a ranking.
Tutor marketplace, subscription per tutor
Suits: A weekly routine with one tutor. Watch out: The trial is paid; unbooked lessons expire at renewal.
Tutor marketplace, pay as you go
Suits: Extra sessions before a big presentation. Watch out: No changes within 24 hours.
Tutor marketplace, lesson packs
Shares an owner with LearnEnglish.life, so it gets no score.
Suits: Trying several teachers free (3 trial lessons, no card); packs never renew. Watch out: Quality varies; no groups or certificates.
Structured live school
Suits: A fixed syllabus and a certificate per level. Watch out: 72-hour cancellation; teachers rotate.
Live classes on credit plans
Suits: Fixed levels, flexible times. Watch out: The trial needs a card; credits expire after 30 days.
AI practice between lessons
ELSA Speak: a mobile app whose Professional tier adds AI coaches for meetings, presentations, sales, public speaking and interviews, plus pronunciation feedback. $159.99 a year on ELSA's US website.
Tospeak (shares our owner): an AI video tutor in the browser, no booking. Topics include Job Interview, Phone & Voicemail and Small Talk Mastery. $20 a month for up to 60 minutes a day.
Watch out: AI can be wrong. Tospeak has no pronunciation feedback or meeting topic; ELSA is mobile only.
Our arithmetic: each price converted to 60 minutes, assuming every minute or credit is used, without fees or taxes.
| Option | Format | Lesson length | Price per 60 minutes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preply | One to one | 25 or 50 min | $3.60 to $120 (typical $26.40 to $33.60) | Weekly lessons |
| italki | One to one, pay per lesson | 30 to 90 min | $4 to $60 | Extra sessions |
| See Guru (shares our owner) | One to one, packs | 25 or 55 min | $6.05 to $11.11 (cheapest teacher) | Free trials, no renewal |
| Lingoda | Small groups or private | 60 min | €9.37 to €33.00 | Structure, certificates |
| British Council English Online | Groups or private | 55 or 25 min | $16.29 to $19.20 (groups, US) | Fixed levels |
| ELSA Speak Professional | AI coach app | Not published | $159.99 a year | Pronunciation |
| Tospeak (shares our owner) | AI video tutor | Up to 60 min | $0.67 to $2.00 (Daily plan) | Speaking volume |
| Busuu Premium Plus or Babbel | Self-study apps | 3 to 15 min | $16.99 or $17.95 a month | Vocabulary, grammar |
Preply: 50-minute prices × 1.2 ("typical" from its $22 and $28 averages). Tospeak: full daily use to 20 minutes a day. Apps: US prices; Busuu's varies by price test group.
We have not reviewed corporate plans or prices. Based on consumer terms, ask these questions in writing and pilot with a few people first.
Cambridge English estimates about 200 guided learning hours per level, as a guideline.
One lesson or class a week, plus 15 minutes on four other days: the week's phrases aloud or with an AI tutor.
Week 1
Start from your job
Take the level test, list the five work situations you face most, and record two minutes about your job.
Week 2
Rewrite three real emails (names removed) with these softeners; ask your tutor about tone.
Week 3
Calls and video
Role-play a call that goes wrong: a bad line, a missed point, a question you cannot answer.
Week 4
Meetings
Rehearse interrupting, disagreeing and summarising in a mock meeting that ends with actions.
Week 5
Presentations
Record a three-minute update with signposts, cut the filler, then present it and take questions.
Week 6
Negotiation
Role-play a price or deadline discussion with "If you ..., we could ..." and a polite no.
Week 7
People skills
Practise small-talk openers and exits, giving feedback, and decoding polite phrases.
Week 8
Review
Re-record your week-one talk and compare; run a mock meeting and retake the level test.
Not sure what fits your budget and level? The quiz suggests a format and a shortlist.
We read providers' prices, help pages and terms on 25 October 2026, without taking lessons; See Guru and Tospeak facts come from their own sites. Check before you pay: Preply, italki, Lingoda, British Council, ELSA Speak, See Guru, Tospeak. More in our editorial standards.
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