Compare IBC and CEE

These are two of our most popular courses.  They are similar in many ways, but there are some important differences which need to be considered when deciding which one to choose.

They are similar because:

• Both are suitable for mature participants. 

• Both are intensive.

• Both offer very practical work-related content, covering the needs of people who attend meetings, have to find ways of persuading, agreeing and disagreeing, discuss facts or strategies, make presentations, socialise, etc.

They are different because:

• International Business Communication focuses on the language of business, but Communicating Effectively in English offers general working English for people from a wide range of backgrounds.  For example, they might be engineers or architects, lawyers or public officials, charity workers or customs officers, government employees or working for an NGO.  They may be business people but most are not, so most of the course content is not business-related.
• International Business Communication requires at least a lower intermediate level of English (level 4 on our scale), but Communicating Effectively in English is available from pre-intermediate level (level 3 on our scale).  This makes Communicating Effectively in English more accessible for people who are not confident about their English.
• International Business Communication includes a significant amount of soft skills and business strategy, including negotiations.   Communicating Effectively in English focuses mainly on language and communication.
• There is a workshop with an external guest speaker every week on the International Business Communication course.
• Communicating Effectively in English is available as a morning-only course as well as full day.  International Business Communication is only available full day.
• Because of the smaller group, the longer hours and the specialised content, International Business Communication costs more than Communicating Effectively in English.

This table summarises the key similarities and differences.

If someone is taking a Combination Course then half their day will be spent in 1-1, and during this time they can, of course, concentrate on whatever is most important for them.