6 Powerful Skills to Level Up Your Business English (for Remote Jobs with U.S. Teams)

For Vietnamese professionals aiming to work remotely with U.S. employers, Business English is your secret weapon. Beyond technical skills, your ability to communicate professionally, clearly, and confidently is what will set you apart. Here are six essential skills to master—and how to practice them right away.

1. 📧 Mastering Email That Gets Read (and Respected)

U.S. teams expect emails that are clear, polite, and purposeful.

• ✅ Use subject lines like: “Weekly Update – Campaign Status”
• ✅ Greet professionally: “Hi John,” or “Hello team,”
• ✅ Be direct but respectful: “I’d like to propose…”
• ✅ End with clear actions: “Please let me know by Friday.”

❌ Avoid: “Dear Sir/Madam,” overly formal tone, or apologizing excessively.

💡 Pro Tip: Save strong emails you receive and reuse their structure.

2. 🎙️ Speaking Clearly & Confidently in Video Meetings

On Zoom or Google Meet, clarity and confidence matter more than accent.

• 👋 Start with a 30-second prepared intro
• 🗣️ Speak 10% slower than usual
• 🔁 Use signal phrases: “Let me clarify…,” “To add to that…”
• 🎧 Practice with Yoodli to analyze clarity

3. ✍️ Writing That’s Clear, Not Complicated

Keep your writing simple, structured, and easy to skim.

• 📝 Use active voice: “I completed the report”
• Avoid academic or overly formal words
• Format with headings, bullet points, and bold

📚 Tools: Hemingway Editor for readability, Grammarly for tone and grammar.

4. 👂 Active Listening: The Underrated Power Skill

Strong listening builds trust and reduces mistakes.

• Repeat back: “So just to confirm, we launch next Thursday?”
• Ask clarifying questions
• Take notes and send follow-up summaries

🎧 Practice by shadowing speakers on Harvard Business Review or Business English Pod.

5. 🌎 Mastering Cross-Cultural Communication

Understanding U.S. communication style is just as important as grammar.

• Americans are direct and expect initiative
• Hierarchies are flatter—junior voices matter
• Use softeners to stay polite: “Can I suggest an idea?”

📘 Recommended: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer

6. 🔁 Giving and Receiving Feedback Like a Leader

Feedback is central to U.S. workplace culture—don’t shy away from it.

• 🤝 When receiving: say “Thanks for that—it helps me improve.”
• 🗣️ When giving: use the “sandwich method” (Positive → Suggestion → Positive)
• 💡 Keep a “Feedback Journal” to track growth

🛠️ Bonus Resources to Practice

• DeepL Write – Sentence rewrites: deepl.com/write
• YouGlish – Hear real-world pronunciations: youglish.com

🚀 Final Thoughts

Business English isn’t about perfect grammar—it’s about confidence, cultural fluency, and clarity. U.S. employers value professionals who communicate well, take initiative, and contribute meaningfully to their teams. Purposeful practice and real feedback will make you stand out in the global job market.

“Good grammar will get you noticed. Great communication will get you hired.”