International Business? Learn decent English!

The world is a lot bigger than the Netherlands and is full of potential customers. Maybe you are already busy with your business International to take the road. Then take one crucial point into account: make sure you speak and write decent English!

English is the world language

Do you want to conquer the world market? Then you have to master English. And not the coal version, but at a decent level. There are around 360 million native speakers worldwide - that is not so bad compared to the 955 million Mandarin native speakers - but around 1.6 billion people speak English as the first, second or third language. English is also very important from an economic point of view: studies show that a country's GDP rises faster if more people master this language.

You can on me calculating!

Since digitization is blurring boundaries, more and more companies have international contacts. In many cases, English is the official language. Now nobody will stumble over a small mistake in an email, but with a message like “Make you no worries, you can always calculate on me!"The worries are probably just coming up. And when you call someone, you must be able to understand each other well. This way you prevent misunderstandings and you know for sure that everything is handled as everyone has in mind.

Masterclass English

If you take the above into account, you understand the importance of (almost) flawlessly writing and speaking English. Take a course at Masterclass English is therefore highly recommended and one that quickly pays for itself. It's no cat in a sack! When the trainers are (near) native speakers, you are sure that you will not be taught the wrong things. After a course you can communicate a lot more effectively and with more self-confidence. This way you not only have a big business advantage; a good knowledge of English will take you to almost any holiday destination.

Cambridge English

Do you want a certificate with value? Then choose to Cambridge English to learn. This is how you determine your level with a globally recognized certificate. Also useful if you ever want to work abroad.

Common mistakes

You already understand that it is better not to just translate Dutch expressions. But of course there are countless other mistakes that have been made. We list a few for you:

False friends: a word in Dutch that is very similar to one in English. However, not in meaning. Here are some that many people fall for:

• Current and current (actually)
• Brutal and brutal (cruel)
• Weird and rare (rare or raw)
• Opinion and meaning

Please: in the Netherlands, 'please' is usually said when you give or offer something to someone. However, this is not the case in English. 'Please' is only used when asking a question or giving an answer:

• Can you pass me the butter, please?
• Would you like some water? Yes, please!

If and when: you can translate both with 'if'. Yet they are used very differently:

• I'll let you know when we come: I'll let you know when we come.
• I'll let you know if we come: I'll let you know or we come.

-ing and -ed: although they can often both be used correctly, they mean something else. You're using -ed to express feelings and -ing to describe things or people that cause feelings:

• I'm boring: I'm boring. Of course you don't have to be a lie, but maybe you don't mean it.
• I'm bored: I'm bored.

Do you want to laugh a little further with some coal English? Then take it here a look.