English is the international language of the global society we have created in the 21st century. It is the language of international business, government, international air traffic control, maritime communication, science, the professions and popular culture.

English is also the international language of travel. Much of the information, for example, that countries release to those outside their borders is in English. In addition, nine-tenths of the world's electronically stored information is in English. This presents a huge challenge in how to access and respond to all that information.

These are sources of information which can help you improve Business English skills including:

• The internet
• Business magazines 
• Electronic newsletters
• English language newspapers
• English language sports magazines

Here is an example of a typical business conversation in English, using 'idioms' (words and phrases which have a meaning other than the literal one).

I am at loss to know why the bean counters think that there is an across the board change in my ball park figures. I've always said that it's about getting bang for the buck. They work bankers hours and think they're big guns. If the bottom falls out of the market, the bottom line will be that the boys in the backroom assume that we might only break even. Next thing you know, they'll want to start a budget squeeze. No way, not by a long shot.

Here is a key to the puzzle:

• at a loss to know: find it hard to understand
• bean counters:accountants
• across the board:everything
• ball park figures:rough estimates
• bang for the buck:value for the money spent
• bankers hours:short working hours
• big guns:important persons
• bottom falls out:falls below a very low price
• bottom line:the end result
• boys in the backroom:unknown men who make decisions
• break even:have expenses equal to profits
• long shot:hardly possible

This type of practise is useful because readers, if not already employed in the business world, are at least oriented to it. They may have reached the stage of speaking the English language reasonably well. The focus now is probably on fine tuning their regular English so as to incorporate Business English into their vocabulary, including commonly used business idioms.

Tour guides, as one example, are better off memorising a speech rather than reading one from a card. People will pay more attention to you and understand you more clearly if you look into their eyes as you speak. You might have started by asking your guests if they have understood you, by asking 'Are there any questions about this?' or 'Is everyone clear about this?' 

Also, tourists will appreciate any helpful advice you can give them, such as where to exchange money, where to find taxis or where to hire a car. And if there are any matters of etiquette that you think tourists should be aware of, now is the time to tell them.