Why “Business French” Does Not Work, and What Does

Last week, I helped a passionate graphic designer at a board game company discuss color palettes (“nuances de couleurs”) and explain complex game mechanics (“expliquer les règles”). For a project manager leading international teams, we focused on scheduling (“planification”) and navigating budget constraints (“contraintes budgétaires”).

The truth is, the French you need at work depends entirely on your specific role. It’s like a toolbox: a gardener wouldn’t need a soldering iron, just like a software engineer wouldn’t need pruning shears. Generic “Business French” throws everything at the wall, hoping something sticks. What you really need is a curated toolbox filled with the tools YOU need to succeed.

The Downsides of Generic “Business French”:

• Irrelevant Vocabulary: You spend time learning terms you’ll never use, like mergers and acquisitions, instead of field-specific vocabulary. For instance, “PLV” (POS) and “jeu de société” (board game) in my case.
• Unrealistic Scenarios: Role-playing generic business negotiations may not prepare you for YOUR real-world situations.
• Lack of Confidence: Feeling unprepared for industry-specific conversations can leave you hesitant and unsure.

Build Your Perfect French Toolbox:

Here’s what powerful French for work ACTUALLY looks like:

• Built for Your World: Ditch generic business terms. As soon as a new “business” student trusts me with their French progression, I become a mini-expert in their field, learning the vocabulary and nuances that matter most. This could mean sustainable materials (“matériaux durables”) for an architect or the latest software development terminology for a programmer.
• Goal-Oriented: Presenting at a conference (“faire une présentation”)? Negotiating a contract (“négocier un contrat”)? I tailor your lessons to your specific objectives.
• Real-World Focused: Forget rote memorization. We use relevant scenarios and industry-specific examples to make French stick in your professional environment. Imagine discussing a new marketing campaign with a French colleague or confidently closing a deal with a French partner.

At Zest for Languages, we place our business students at the heart of everything we do. We immerse ourselves in their professional world to understand their unique needs. This approach ensures each lesson is relevant and immediately applicable.

What about YOUR experience? Have you ever found a “one-size-fits-all” language course that truly met your professional needs? Share your experiences and let’s discuss how tailored language learning can make a difference in your career.

At Zest for Languages, we don’t teach “Business French.” We teach the French you need for your business.