Understand the English Americans use at work

Speak Business English Like an American by Amy Gillett helps you learn American business idioms and workplace expressions through realistic dialogues, explanations, and audio practice.

For international professionals, business students, and English learners who want to follow workplace conversations and express themselves more naturally.

Look inside: free sample pages

Ready to order the book and audio CD? Choose your language version and use Add to Cart above.

What you’ll practice

Workplace expressions

Understand phrases such as ballpark figure, touch base, and step up to the plate in context.

Business conversations

Explore realistic dialogues that show how idioms and expressions fit into everyday professional communication.

Listening and pronunciation

Use the accompanying audio CD to hear the dialogues and practice the sounds and rhythm of American English.

English beyond the textbook

Knowing the individual words isn’t always enough. A colleague who asks for a ballpark figure wants a rough estimate. Someone who says a business is in the red means it is losing money.

The book helps you recognize these expressions and see how they work in conversation. Read a dialogue, study the explanations, and listen to the audio at your own pace.

From the classroom

“I use Speak Business English Like an American in the classroom and my students love it. The idioms are fantastic and the dialogues are engaging.”

— S. Chiew, Saitama, Japan

Featured in The Wall Street Journal

Author Amy Gillett was interviewed about American slang and the challenges international professionals face when using English at work.

Read “Mastering the Finer Points of American Slang” →

Take a closer look at the book

Prefer an ebook?

Explore the Kindle edition of Speak Business English Like an American on Amazon. Check the listing for its format and included features.

View the Kindle ebook on Amazon

Questions about the book

Who is this Business English book for?

International professionals, business students, job-seekers, and ESL learners who want to understand American workplace idioms and expressions.

What comes with the print edition?

This product is a book and audio CD set. The audio lets you hear the dialogues and practice along with the speakers.

Which language version should I choose?

Choose the all-English version, the version for native speakers of Chinese, or the version for native speakers of Russian using the options above before adding the book to your cart.

Can I use it for self-study or teaching?

Use the dialogues, explanations, and audio for independent practice or as material for Business English lessons. Preview the sample pages to see whether the approach fits your needs.

Can I see sample lessons before buying?

Yes. Open the free sample pages to explore the book’s dialogues and expressions.