Online language lessons
for professional development
Group conversation classes for business professionals
Learning a foreign language can open all types of doors in your career and boost your communication skills in English too. With PLS you can now study in the comfort of your home with our online courses aimed at business professionals.
All courses focus on the two main skills of Speaking and Listening, and cover topics of interest and relevance to business learners. This will help you to build your confidence when using a foreign language for work. Increased confidence in your language skills will encourage you to reach out more, participate more fully, and ultimately secure more meaningful working relationships.
Register your interest at the bottom of this page today!
Why choose us?
PLS have been providing foreign language training programmes for leading businesses and organisations for nearly 30 years.
We are the Prime Provider of training in more than 50 foreign languages to all the diplomatic staff of the FCO, as well as a wide range of other government departments and agencies.
Courses available: (Classes of 3-8 participants)
Languages offered (other languages are available on a 1:1 basis) | Cost for 12 hours (60-minute lessons, twice per week over 6 weeks) | Levels offered |
|---|---|---|
£145 including VAT (£12 per lesson) | Beginners - Advanced | |
£145 including VAT (£12 per lesson) | Beginners - Advanced | |
£145 including VAT (£12 per lesson) | Beginners - Advanced | |
£159 including VAT (£13.25 per lesson) | Beginners - Advanced | |
£145 including VAT (£12 per lesson) | Intermediate - Advanced |
If you aren't sure which language will be most useful for your professional development?
Why learn French for work?
- France is the UK’s second most important non-English speaking export market
- French is an official language in 26 countries around the world
- French is an official language of many international organisations including the United Nations, International Criminal Court, World Trade Organization
- France is one of the UK’s six top research partner countries
- France is the UK’s biggest market for incoming tourists
Why learn German for work?
- Germany is one of the UK’s most important trading partners in the world
- Germany is the UK’s greatest source of imports
- German is the second most sought after language in industry, with 47% of businesses requiring languages citing German as the language they most need
- German is the most lucrative language for the purpose of employment
Why learn Spanish for work?
- Spanish is the second most widely spoken first language in the world with approximately 437 million native speakers
- Tourists from Spain to the UK are the third largest non-English-speaking group (as of 2017)
- Spanish was rated by the British Council as the most important language for the UK’s future
- Spanish is an official language of the United Nations, International Criminal Court, World Trade Organization and many other international bodies
- Mexico is one of the most open trading nations in the world, and is projected to become the world’s seventh-largest economy by 2050
Why learn English for work?
- Business English skills are crucial for getting ahead at work
- English is the international language of business
- English is the language of the internet and a well-written website will have more impact if in English
- Speaking good English is essential for business travel
- CVs written in English reach a wider audience and being able to get through an interview in English is impressive to potential employers
Why learn Mandarin for work?
- Chinese is the second most prevalent language on the internet, after English
- China is the second largest economy in the world and in the top 5 emerging markets
- DIT rated China as one of the UK government’s top future trade priorities
- Mandarin is one of the FCO’s 5 priority languages for diplomacy
What do our courses include?
-
12 hours tuition in a small group (2 x 60-minute lessons per week, for 6 weeks)
Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and are only guaranteed when payment is received. Refunds are not available once the course has been confirmed. If we have insufficient bookings to confirm the course, a full refund will be provided.
- Start dates
Courses are flexible and can start outside the scheduled period if there is sufficient demand. Lesson timings/days may vary, depending on participants’ availability.
Special offer: discounted 12-month access to a Busuu for Business e-learning course if you also enroll on our group courses
Busuu for Business is a modern and engaging e-learning solution for professionals looking for additional self-study materials. We offer 12 different language courses, covering multiple ability levels. These courses are entirely self-paced, and are a great blended learning option when combined with our tutor-led lessons
Frequently Asked Questions
What do lessons cover?
All our courses focus on the two main skills of Speaking and Listening, covering practical topics of general interest to business learners, helping you to build confidence when dealing with everyday situations.
Note: If you would like a customised language course just for yourself, we can arrange this on a 1:1 basis, either through virtual classrooms or with face to face tuition (depending on your location). Please contact us for further details.
What equipment do I need?
You can access Zoom from any device which permits you to download the app (a computer will provide the best experience). Detailed instructions on how to download and access Zoom will be provided. You will need uninterrupted access to the internet. Headphones and a microphone are recommended.
Do I need a course book?
No. Our courses are all topic-based, and focus on the key communicative skills of Speaking and Listening in contexts which are relevant to the programme’s target audience (business professionals). There is an option to purchase a discounted licence to Busuu for Business to use as a self-study tool.
How many people are in a virtual class?
Classes have a minimum of 3 participants and a maximum of 8. This group size is designed to give every participant plenty of time to practice the key skill of Speaking, and to receive feedback from the teacher.
Are tutors native speakers?
Yes, all our tutors are native speakers, and meet the MPRs (Minimum Professional requirements) set by our corporate clients. They have experience teaching business professionals from a variety of industries and job roles.
What time will the classes take place?
Lessons will run for 60 minutes at the same days/times each week for 6 consecutive weeks. Lesson timings are flexible and can be changed, providing there is teacher availability and agreement from all group members.
How do I know my level?
If you are not sure about your current level, please have a look at the levels chart here. Remember that lessons focus on Speaking and Listening skills, so it’s best to choose a level that matches your abilities in these skills, as it is common to be less proficient in these skills than in Reading and Writing.
Will I need to do any preparation or homework?
A small amount of revision and/or preparation work will be advised in advance of each lesson (excluding the 1st lesson).
What if I miss a class?
Occasionally you may not be able to attend a class due to other commitments, but don’t worry as your teacher will be happy to share lesson materials with you so you can catch up in your own time.
What if I pay but cannot attend the lessons?
We are unable to offer refunds to students who, for whatever reason, cannot attend the whole course. We regret that we are unable to offer pro rata rates for partial attendance of courses. If we are unable to run a course due to insufficient participants, a full refund will be provided.
All our courses focus on the two main skills of Speaking and Listening, covering practical topics of general interest to business learners, helping you to build confidence when dealing with everyday situations.
Note: If you would like a customised language course just for yourself, we can arrange this on a 1:1 basis, either through virtual classrooms or with face to face tuition (depending on your location). Please contact us for further details.
What equipment do I need?
You can access Zoom from any device which permits you to download the app (a computer will provide the best experience). Detailed instructions on how to download and access Zoom will be provided. You will need uninterrupted access to the internet. Headphones and a microphone are recommended.
Do I need a course book?
No. Our courses are all topic-based, and focus on the key communicative skills of Speaking and Listening in contexts which are relevant to the programme’s target audience (business professionals). There is an option to purchase a discounted licence to Busuu for Business to use as a self-study tool.
How many people are in a virtual class?
Classes have a minimum of 3 participants and a maximum of 8. This group size is designed to give every participant plenty of time to practice the key skill of Speaking, and to receive feedback from the teacher.
Are tutors native speakers?
Yes, all our tutors are native speakers, and meet the MPRs (Minimum Professional requirements) set by our corporate clients. They have experience teaching business professionals from a variety of industries and job roles.
What time will the classes take place?
Lessons will run for 60 minutes at the same days/times each week for 6 consecutive weeks. Lesson timings are flexible and can be changed, providing there is teacher availability and agreement from all group members.
How do I know my level?
If you are not sure about your current level, please have a look at the levels chart here. Remember that lessons focus on Speaking and Listening skills, so it’s best to choose a level that matches your abilities in these skills, as it is common to be less proficient in these skills than in Reading and Writing.
Will I need to do any preparation or homework?
A small amount of revision and/or preparation work will be advised in advance of each lesson (excluding the 1st lesson).
What if I miss a class?
Occasionally you may not be able to attend a class due to other commitments, but don’t worry as your teacher will be happy to share lesson materials with you so you can catch up in your own time.
What if I pay but cannot attend the lessons?
We are unable to offer refunds to students who, for whatever reason, cannot attend the whole course. We regret that we are unable to offer pro rata rates for partial attendance of courses. If we are unable to run a course due to insufficient participants, a full refund will be provided.
