Advanced English Conversation for Professionals

  • In-Person, Online
  • $440 - $455

This course can be applied to the UBC Award of Achievement in Business English for International Professionals or it can be taken as a stand-alone course.

Take the skills and tools you learned in the Speaking Clearly series and put them into advanced practice. Designed especially for professionals whose first language is not English, this fast-paced and dynamic course empowers you to improve your conversational skills for today’s business environment. Develop the confidence to feel successful in one-on-one discussions, workplace meetings, interviews and business negotiations.

Through a variety of activities, case studies and group exercises, increase your use of business vocabulary and idiomatic expressions while learning to be an active listener. Scenarios will change based on the instructor and on student needs, but some conversation scenarios you might practise include:

  • one-on-one discussions such as workplace meetings, interviews and business negotiations
  • collaborating and communicating in team settings to resolve tricky or challenging situations
  • negotiations and debates
  • conflict situations
  • giving feedback, expressing opinions, agreeing/disagreeing and making proposals
  • teaching, explaining processes and overseeing projects

While the instructor may offer occasional feedback on pronunciation, this course focuses specifically on providing supportive and advanced practice with effective communication strategies for the workplace.

Who is this course for?

Participants in this course have either completed Speaking Clearly in English 2, or have demonstrated core communication competencies for the workplace. Although Speaking Clearly in English 1 and Speaking Clearly in English 2 are not prerequisites, some students find it helpful to complete both levels before taking this course.

How am I assessed?

This is a non-credit course without letter or numerical grades. You receive verbal feedback on your English communication skills from your instructor during class. Short homework assignments are typically reviewed and discussed in class. Some lesson modules may include quizzes.

Record of completion

A record of completion will be emailed to students who participate and satisfy the course requirements within two weeks of the course end date. Course completion means 80% attendance and/or 80% completion of mandatory assignments.

Course format

This course is offered both in-person and 100% online.

Materials will be available in Canvas for three weeks after the course ends, after which time you will no longer be able to access the course.

About online learning

Our online English communication courses offer you a real-time virtual classroom experience where you can see and interact with your teacher and classmates. Each week, you log in at a set time to your class using our intuitive learning management platform, Canvas. Through Canvas, you access Zoom, a web conferencing app, for your live class. Just like in a classroom, you do individual, pair and group work, ask questions and receive verbal feedback from your instructor.

Outside of class time, you can access handouts and other materials online at your own pace and rhythm. You might be doing readings or watching videos to prepare for your next class, or practising with the material you have learned in your previous class. You do get out what you put in.

In order for a virtual classroom to be successful, we want to see your faces! Please be prepared to participate with your video turned on. We provide virtual drop-in sessions for you to test out the Zoom app before your first day of class. We will also send you instructions on accessing Canvas before your course begins.

Learn more about online learning at UBC Extended Learning.

Available sessions

Available course sessions
Dates Days Time Format Tuition Description
Tues 5:30 pm Online $440
Wed 7:30 pm In-Person $440
Wed 7:30 pm In-Person $455
Wed 7:30 pm Online $455

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How can we help?

We’re here to answer your questions, discuss learning options and provide insights, recommendations and referrals.  

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