Business English
At Academia Language School, Business English is studied as electives combined with the required grammar and conversation courses for your level. Since 2010, the earliest year in our records, we have run classes in Business English, workplace idioms, presentations and TOEIC preparation.
- Textbooks include Market Leader, a widely used Business English series, and TOEIC preparation books from Barron’s and Longman
- Academia is the only TOEIC public test center in Hawaii. You can take the TOEIC in the same building where you study
- We offer Business English classes regularly. Tell us when you would like to start and your current level, and we will send you the class schedule for that term
What is Business English at Academia?
Founded in 1969, Academia Language School is the oldest language school in Hawaii and is accredited by CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation). Classes are built around grammar and conversation courses for each level (beginning, intermediate and advanced), combined with electives that match each student’s goals. Business English is a group of these electives that build the reading, writing, listening and speaking skills you need when you use English at work.
One feature of our program is that formal English for meetings, emails and presentations and the casual English colleagues use with each other are taught in separate classes. With TOEIC preparation classes and a TOEIC public test held at the school, you can also measure your progress with an official score, all at the same school.
Business English classes we have offered
The table below lists the Business English and test preparation classes recorded in Academia’s class schedules and syllabi. Class names are shown as they appear on our schedules.
| Class | What you study | Main textbook | Years offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business English (Comprehensive English: Business English) | All four skills through business topics. Students research a theme, write a report and give a presentation during the term | Market Leader | 2010–2023 |
| Business Slang and Idioms / Business Slang A, B, C | Idioms and phrasal verbs used in workplace conversation, plus writing practice in the form of memos and letters | Biz Speak (Slangman Guide to Biz Speak) | 2010, 2020–2023 |
| Business Concepts | Basic business ideas, learned in English | Prepared by the instructor | 2024 |
| Public Speaking | Presentations and informative speeches (beginning and intermediate) | Prepared by the instructor | 2019–2020 |
| Current Events / Topic-Based Discussion | Reading about current events in English, sharing opinions and discussing them | Prepared by the instructor | 2011, 2022, 2024–2025 |
| TOEIC Preparation | Strategies for the listening and reading sections, with practice on sample questions | Barron’s TOEIC, Longman TOEIC preparation books | 2010–2025 |
| TOEFL iBT Preparation | Strategies for all four skills, with university admission in mind | Longman TOEFL preparation books | 2010–2022 |
Business English: formal English, all the way to a presentation
Business English develops reading, writing, listening and speaking through business topics. Using Market Leader, a textbook used by language schools around the world, students learn the vocabulary and expressions for meetings, negotiations, phone and video calls, and presentations. During the term, students research a theme, write a report and present it to the class, gaining experience in preparing and speaking in English.
Business Slang: the casual English colleagues use
Textbook English alone may not prepare you for the casual expressions used in small talk and informal meetings at work. In Business Slang, students learn idioms and phrasal verbs that are common in English-speaking workplaces, together with their meanings and when to use them. The class is for intermediate and advanced students, and tests have been given in the form of writing memos and letters.
Public Speaking and Current Events: expressing your ideas in English
In business, the ability to explain your ideas clearly and logically is essential. Public Speaking has given students practice with presentations and speeches, while Current Events and Topic-Based Discussion have given them practice sharing opinions about the news in English.
The only TOEIC public test center in Hawaii
Academia is an authorized test center of ETS (Educational Testing Service), the organization that runs the TOEIC, and holds the TOEIC Listening & Reading public test at the school. Academia is the only place in Hawaii where you can take the TOEIC public test. We have held the test since at least 2009, the earliest year in our records, and in recent years it has been held once a month on Saturday mornings.
- Take the test in a familiar classroom: the test is held in the building where you study (Ala Moana), so you can focus on the test instead of travel or an unfamiliar room
- From preparation to test day at one school: learn strategies in a TOEIC preparation class, then take the test during or at the end of the term to see your progress as a score
- Register on the ETS website: check test dates and fees on the official ETS website and register in advance. Walk-in test takers are not accepted
To take the TOEIC public test in Hawaii, you do not need to contact Academia. Academia does not accept test registrations. Go to the official TOEIC (ETS) registration page, choose Hawaii as your state, select a test date and register.
In the United States, the public test is held 12 times a year (in 2026, including November 14 and December 5, all on Saturdays). The registration deadline is the Thursday one week before the test date (according to ETS, as of November 5, 2026).
A TOEIC score is a clear way to show what you achieved by studying abroad, whether for a new job or for your evaluation at work back home. We are the only place in Hawaii where you can take it, so people who are not our students come to take it too. Please register directly on the official TOEIC website, not through the school.
Who is it for?
- ✓A working professional who wants to rebuild your English in a short time between jobs or during a career break
Short stays without a student visa are possible, depending on your country - ✓Preparing for an overseas assignment, business travel or a job at an international company
Prepare the English you need for meetings, emails and presentations - ✓Required by your company or school to submit a TOEIC score
Preparation classes and the public test at the same school
Many working professionals know exactly what they want to be able to do in English. If you tell us before you arrive which situations at work you find difficult in English, we will work with you to choose the best combination from that term’s classes.
How to join
Tuition depends on your type of stay (F-1, short stay or Hawaii resident) and the number of weeks. For details, see our tuition page. If you want to focus on specific content, private lessons are also available.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Business English class this term?
We offer Business English classes regularly. The classes offered are decided each term, so tell us when you would like to come and we will send you the class schedule for that term.
Can beginners take these classes?
Business English, Business Slang and TOEIC preparation are mainly for intermediate students and above. Beginners build a foundation in the required grammar and conversation courses and combine them with classes open to beginners, such as Public Speaking, or with electives such as pronunciation.
Can I take the TOEIC at Academia if I am not a student?
Yes. Because it is the TOEIC Listening & Reading public test, people who are not Academia students can also take it at our test center. Please register directly on the official TOEIC (ETS) registration page, not through Academia. Walk-in test takers are not accepted.
How long do I need to study?
Students on a student visa (F-1) study for at least 8 weeks. Short-stay students can study by the week. Fees for each length of study are on our tuition page.
Do you offer TOEFL preparation too?
Yes, we have also offered TOEFL preparation classes. For details on TOEIC and TOEFL preparation, see our TOEIC and TOEFL preparation page.
This information is current as of November 5, 2026. Class names, textbooks and years offered are based on Academia’s class schedules and syllabi for each term.
