Business English Course with Native-Speaking Trainers
Private lessons, corporate training or an intensive course – built around your real meetings, emails and presentations. A Business English course at Simmonds Language Services runs 1:1 or in small groups, online via Zoom and Teams or in person in Hannover and Berlin. You learn with native-speaking trainers, following the Simmonds Lego Principle: one topic, ten bricks, immediately usable. Join at B1, work towards B2 and C1 – and try 20 lessons from it for free right here.
From €90 / 90 min · VAT-exempt
How we teach
The Lego Principle – and James, your trainer since 2004.
Which Business English course suits you?
Last updated: 23 August 2026
From €90 / 90 min
Private lessons 1:1
Your topics, your pace, your schedule. Online via Zoom or Teams, in person in Hannover and Berlin. The course is built around your real meetings, emails and presentations.
For professionals and managers who want to get confident fast.
Learn moreFrom €97.50 / 90 min
Corporate training for teams
Small groups from one company, in-house or online, with placement, learning goals and a progress report for HR. 12-month framework agreements available.
For HR and team leads.
Learn moreOn request
Intensive & crash course
Several sessions a week ahead of a specific date: job interview, trade fair, assignment abroad, board presentation.
When the deadline is fixed.
Learn moreTry it for free
How we teach: 20 free Business English lessons
Every lesson breaks a topic into ten bricks with audio, exercise and quiz – no sign-up, with a PDF worksheet. The same method your trainer continues in the course.
All business lessons: meetings, emails, phone calls, presentations, customer contact.
Open the lesson catalogWhat level do I need for Business English?
None to start – 1:1 we begin at A2. Most participants arrive with B1 (rusty school English) and work towards B2: the level at which you join meetings spontaneously, write emails without a translator and stop avoiding the phone. C1 is the target for negotiations, board presentations and leading international teams.
Free placement test →How long does a Business English course take?
A concrete goal – “confident in the weekly team meeting”, “the Hannover trade fair without a colleague as translator” – takes most participants 10 to 20 sessions of 90 minutes. A full CEFR level (B1 → B2) is roughly 200 learning hours by the Cambridge guideline; with one 1:1 session a week plus self-study that is typically 6 to 12 months. That is why we recommend companies 12-month framework agreements with progress reports rather than one-off bookings.
How much does a Business English course cost?
Private lessons from €90 per 90-minute session, corporate small-group training from €97.50 per 90 minutes. Language instruction is VAT-exempt, so no VAT is added. For companies the cost is fully deductible as professional training. No package obligation, no automatic renewal.
Tax-deductible – how it works →Course content
What you learn in the Business English course
No textbook from page 1. We start with the situation you have next week and build the language around it – phrases, grammar, pronunciation, tone. The six core skills every course is assembled from:
Industries
Specialist English for automotive, IT, pharma & medicine, logistics, insurance, energy, consulting and trade fairs – with vocabulary from your industry, not the textbook.
All specialist courses →Where the course takes place
Online – Germany-wide
Zoom, Teams, Google Meet
Hannover
Nordstadt, Schaufelder Straße 11
Berlin
Charlottenburg, Kurfürstendamm 30
Your trainer
James Simmonds and his team – Business English since 2004
Simmonds Language Services has taught Business English since 2004 for companies such as DHL Supply Chain and Continental and for professionals and managers in Hannover, Berlin and online. All trainers are native speakers with their own professional experience outside language teaching. The Lego Principle method you can see for free here is the same one your course continues with.
How much does it cost?
| Format | Duration | Price (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online — Private lessons | 90 minutes | €90–110 | 1:1, Zoom / Teams / Meet |
| Online — Corporate lessons | 90 minutes | €97.50–105 | Small groups, tailored curriculum |
| In-person | 90 minutes | €115 | On-site or our office in Berlin / Hanover |
Who we work with
“Die Online-Sessions sind genauso effektiv wie Präsenzunterricht. Sehr flexibel und professionell.”
“Nach einem dreimonatigen Intensivtraining konnte ich meine erste internationale Präsentation souverän auf Englisch halten.”
“Die kostenlosen Online-Lektionen haben mich überzeugt. Die Qualität des Einzelunterrichts hat meine Erwartungen übertroffen.”
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Business English course at Simmonds cost?+ −
Private lessons from €90 per 90-minute session, corporate small-group training from €97.50 per 90 minutes. Language instruction is VAT-exempt; for companies the cost is tax-deductible as professional training. You receive an exact quote after the free initial consultation.
What level do I need to start a Business English course?+ −
None. Private lessons start at A2; most participants join at B1 and work towards B2 – the level at which meetings and negotiations in English run confidently. Check your current level first with our free placement test.
How long does a Business English course take?+ −
It depends on the goal. A concrete goal such as “confident in the weekly team meeting” takes most participants 10 to 20 sessions of 90 minutes. A full CEFR level (e.g. B1 to B2) is roughly 200 learning hours by the Cambridge guideline – typically 6 to 12 months with 1:1 lessons and self-study.
Online or in person – which is better?+ −
The content is identical; what matters is your routine. Online lessons via Zoom or Teams save travel and fit into the working day. In person we teach in Hannover (Nordstadt) and Berlin (Kurfürstendamm) and on your company's premises.
Who teaches?+ −
Native-speaking trainers with professional experience outside the classroom, led by James Simmonds. Simmonds Language Services has taught Business English for companies in Hannover, Berlin and online since 2004.
Is there a trial lesson?+ −
We do not offer a no-obligation trial lesson. Instead there is a free 20–30-minute initial consultation: we clarify goal, level and format, and you decide afterwards whether to start. The free lessons on this page also show how we teach.
Improve your English for free
Free online lessons twice a week, vocabulary trainer with 600 words, and a placement test – all without signing up.
Get in touch
Tell us briefly what you need English or German for — we'll suggest the best format for your goals and schedule.
We typically respond within one working day.
What to expect
- ✓ Confident in meetings
- ✓ Persuasive presentations
- ✓ Professional negotiations
- ✓ Texts that work