Business Trip

English for Your Business Trip: Speak Confidently, Even as a Beginner

Traveling for business can be exciting—but also stressful if you’re not confident in English. Don’t worry! Even with basic English, you can handle meetings, introductions, and small conversations. Here’s a simple guide for busy professionals.

1. Greetings and Introductions

Knowing how to greet someone is the first step.

English	Portuguese	Tip
Hello / Hi	Olá	Smile!
Good morning / Good afternoon	Bom dia / Boa tarde	Use depending on the time of day
My name is Carl.	Meu nome é Carl.	Add your job: “I am the Sales Director.”
Nice to meet you.	Prazer em conhecê-lo.	Always polite to say after introduction

Practice tip: Repeat these sentences aloud 5–10 times each day. Try saying them slowly and clearly.

2. Small Talk Made Simple

Small talk is common before meetings. Keep it short and simple.

English	Portuguese	Tip
How are you?	Como vai?	Response: “I’m fine, thank you.”
Where are you from?	De onde você é?	Response: “I’m from Brazil.”
Is this your first time in Dubai?	É sua primeira vez em Dubai?	Response: “Yes, it is.” or “No, I visited before.”

Quick practice: Pretend you meet someone at the hotel lobby. Ask 2–3 questions from the table.

3. Business Essentials

You don’t need full sentences. Use key phrases for meetings.

English	Portuguese	Tip
Let’s start the meeting.	Vamos começar a reunião.	Direct and polite
Could you repeat that, please?	Pode repetir, por favor?	Very useful if you don’t understand
I agree / I don’t agree	Concordo / Não concordo	Keep it simple
I will send you the email.	Vou enviar o e-mail.	Follow up professionally

Pro tip: Keep a small notebook with these phrases and review before meetings.

4. Asking for Help or

Directions

Dubai is big. Sometimes you’ll need to ask for directions or help.

English	Portuguese	Tip
Excuse me, can you help me?	Com licença, você pode me ajudar?	Polite and effective
Where is the meeting room?	Onde fica a sala de reuniões?	Point if needed
I am looking for the taxi / restaurant / hotel	Estou procurando o táxi / restaurante / hotel	Always smile—people are friendly

5. Quick Tips for Confidence

1. Speak slowly – better understood than fast speaking.

2. Use gestures – hand signals can help a lot.

3. Listen carefully – repeat if you need: “Sorry, can you repeat?”

4. Practice 10–15 minutes daily – even short practice makes a big difference.

5. Keep a mini dictionary app – helps with tricky words.

✅ Daily Practice Plan (10–15 minutes)

1. Morning: 5 mins – Greetings + Small talk

2. Afternoon: 5 mins – Business phrases

3. Evening: 5 mins – Asking for help / directions

   
   

Even with basic English, using these phrases will make you feel confident in Dubai. Remember: politeness + clarity = success.

Have a great business trip!

Take care!

Prof. Carl Boniface