Speak Business English Like an American

*Speak Business English Like an American* (by Amy Gillett, Language Success Press, 2013) is a practical guidebook for learning idioms and expressions commonly used in the American business world. It covers a wide range of specific, useful phrases to help non-native English speakers speak English with confidence in the workplace. The book introduces frequently used business expressions in a conversational format, explaining the meaning and usage of each phrase. For example, you can learn in what situations phrases like “under the water” or “put in my two cents” are used. While these expressions are rarely taught in Japanese English education, they are frequently encountered in actual workplaces. As a non-native English speaker, you may not need to actively use these expressions yourself, but since others do use them, it is important to understand their meaning. On a personal note, I feel that whether in English or Japanese, it is important to use clear, easy-to-understand language in situations where you are addressing people from diverse backgrounds. It is also interesting that, since this book focuses on American English, it features many expressions unique to American culture. For example, idioms derived from American sports (“touch base” and “Hail Mary”) and the military (“rally the troops” and “bite the bullet”) may not be very familiar in other countries.