Every teacher and student knows that motivation and interest in subject matter play a larger role in language learning than a mythical "language talent". The modern world of technology allows for making the process more engaging, and platforms such as YouTube provide learners with fun listening materials.
So, how does YouTube teach you a foreign language?
For ESL students interested in English for specific purposes (like business or medicine), YouTube is a gem. With a few tips and little guidance from an English teacher, everyone can find reliable channels to either learn business English from scratch or polish some rusty knowledge.
In this article, our ESL instructor, Jennie, and her student, Kuba (originally from Poland), will help you uncover the use of YouTube for business English listening skills. Ready? Steady? Go!
-Morning, Kuba! Are you ready to dust off your business English?
-Morning, Jennie! It was a lo-o-o-ng break from English. I’m happy to see you!
-Wonderful! I hope you'll be just as motivated at the end of our class. Today, we’ll discuss the importance. of YouTube for listening comprehension!
-Really? I anticipated grammar. I love watching that YouTube travel channel…
-I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you, my friend. We’re going to focus on channels relevant to a business English class and listening skills.
-That’s unfair. Can’t we keep YouTube and ESL separate? In Polish, we call it "separating the grain from the chaff".
-But there’s no chaff in YouTube videos. They provide you with:
-You make YouTube videos sound like lectures, Jennie!
-I also make my lectures sound like YouTube, Kuba. That’s the secret of my success among learners. Read my post about the tools I use to teach English. You might want to use some of these in the future, as well.
ESL teachers around the world recognize the convenience of using YouTube to teach listening at all levels. Personally, I love both this resource and language-learning apps built around it. My all-time favorites are FluentU, Ted-ed, and TeachVid. They all turn listening materials into comprehensive lessons. A student watches a processed YouTube video and then completes video-based exercises: a listening quiz, a grammar test, a vocabulary task, or a reading and writing activity. All language competencies are at play. In class, I also ask students to answer questions about the content and expect them to discuss the video further with each other.
It's not necessary (although convenient, I must admit) to download these apps. One can do the following with YouTube:
-Ok, make me believe I should use YouTube to polish my office English, Jennie. I’m yours.
-Perfect, Kuba! Let’s have a look at my top five channels, then. They come in different forms, like lectures, interviews, and dialogues, but they all polish your English listening skills, grammar, and vocabulary. Some even make you write answers to questions and do listening exercises. How cool is that?
-Lectures and writing. Yay! So much fun!
-Your humor is my first favorite thing after your diligence, Kuba! Anyways, let’s start with my all-time favorite - Business English Pod.
- I recommend this one in my latest post about top Business English apps. It has two versions: an app (quite affordable) and a YouTube channel (free). What’s great about this resource is that it features videos of different difficulty levels and foci.
Let’s say you want to practice financial English – you’ll find a generous selection of content with helpful vocabulary and tasks to drill new words.
-Oh, but the search process kills my zeal to study every time I try to.
-Great news for you, then. Business English Pod has everything sorted by playlists.
-No chance to stay away from it then, huh?
-Absolutely no chance. Let’s have a closer look at an audio lesson devoted to financial vocabulary.
-Podcasts about vocabulary. What an exciting thing!
-More exciting than never to climb the career ladder because you lack English speaking skills, isn’t it?
-You’ve got me there. Let’s have a look at your video now.
-That’s how I like my ESL students.
-To be honest, I like how they explain business terminology. Reading about debt financing from a textbook is complicated, and here it’s just “when a company borrows money from a bank or other lender”.
I also like that I can both listen to and read the content simultaneously. This way, I won’t miss any words.
-Right! This podcast is adapted for ESL students, but it’s also useful for ESL teachers who have no clue about business. What’s especially helpful about this and similar channels is that they offer listening activities. Here, you get a fill-in-the-gap exercise that tests your understanding and corrects answers afterward, so you don’t need a teacher to guide you through this listening quiz.
-Okay-okay, I’ll try it. I bet I won’t be having the time of my life, but I might as well learn a few words.
-Exactly what we’re aiming at, pal.
-It’s another YouTube gem for ESL students. Rebecca has a great way with explanations, and I have never seen a student who doesn't enjoy her lectures and listening exercises.
-I fear I might be the first one – I hate listening to lectures.
-Oh, stop it! She’s had loads of students like you. Do you know what she did? She converted them to business English and turned them into her subscribers.
-Amen.
-What's especially great is that this lady gives you step-by-step instructions on how to turn your regular English into the serious, business language you need in a reputable company …
-Just a second, Jennie. I'll put on a tie and smart glasses.
-Your jokes, Kuba. Is it something Polish that I must get used to?
-Heh. I hope my humor is international.
-It is! Back to the English lady on screen. Let’s look into her language lesson.
-God! So many verbs to replace my favorite get word.
-Only lazy people use to get, Kuba. And my students aren't lazy.
-Heh, right.
I actually like that you only see keywords on her whiteboard and need to listen for the rest. I think it drills comprehension.
-Exactly! Listening is the priority.
-This lady also offers useful tips for business communication at large, I must say.
-Well, I only share meaningful content with you.
-Yeah, you’re the best, Jennie! Sorry for joking around. I hope to land a new job using your support and Rebecca’s business conversation course.
-Learning on the spot! It's great you don't forget to work on the content after you’ve covered the video.
-I guess I have no choice.
-You don't. For this channel, I’d recommend noting down the words and examples you like. Then, let them sit for a few days and return to create your own examples with new vocabulary. A rule of thumb is to use a new word at least seven times to memorize it.
-I'm a slow thinker. I'd need nine times.
-Oh, just stop it, Kuba!
-Here’s another English lady I adore.
-Only ladies today. Interesting.
-Be patient, Kuba.
Where was I? ... Ah, while Rebecca mainly targets intermediate students, Rachel’s channel has some beginner practice as well. She focuses on listening and pronunciation skills, office conversations, and short dialogues, and her audio is truly accessible on all language levels.
-Yeah, I guess the beginner lady suits my conversation skills better.
-Stop it, Kuba! You’re a confident speaker, whose English just needs a pinch of business flair.
-I wish...
-Anyway, let’s have a look at this example:
-Kuba, why are you smiling?
-Heh, this scenario reminds me of an awkward situation I once found myself in. I was also being interviewed for a job, or should I say the job in a dream company with the most beautiful office I'd ever seen. I wanted it so badly that I got very nervous.
-Don't tell me you started joking too much?
-Even worse! When asked to tell a bit about myself, I started speaking Polish out of the blue. My English interviewer was dismayed and tried to interrupt me, but I didn't hear anything. I just kept going for like five minutes nonstop. It was a disaster.
-I can only imagine! I hope videos like this one will help you regain confidence.
-Yeah, I’ll learn Rachel’s answers by heart. I actually like how she switches between the office dialogue and her own answers. And how fun is that? Chocolate and public speaking are my biggest weaknesses too!
-And mine!
-That's why we clicked from the first lesson, Jennie!
-Right.
Rachel spices her videos with a pinch of humor, which helps with both learning English and having success at a job interview. Now, I would also recommend the following. Listen to each audio without pausing, for the gist. Then, go back and listen to write down useful phrases. Next, try to act out an interview using some of them along with Rachel's tips on how to behave during an interview.
-I just have to add my tip – to speak English, not Polish.
-Heh, you're suffering from a PTID, post-traumatic interview disorder.
-And that's not even funny, I assure you.
-So that you don’t think I’m a misandrist…
-A misan-what?
-A woman who hates men, that is.
-Now when you say that...
-Jokes aside. We've got little time left. So, there’s also some valuable men-made content on YouTube. I'm a fan of Mr. Callan, who is a great English teacher and has an outstanding business mind. Listening to his audio, you'll polish your language skills and learn to survive and thrive in an office.
-This man sounds like someone I could be friends with.
-Do you want to replace me, Kuba?
-"Friends with", not "students with", Jennie. You're still the one, don't worry!
-Phew. Now, I can continue.
So, Mr. Callan has all kinds of listening content, but here’s an example focused on writing business emails, something that’s rarely taught on YouTube.
-He certainly found a creative way to teach grammar, spelling, and even punctuation. Wow! I mean that’s everything I need in one lesson. I feel the urge to subscribe right now.
-Don't resist this urge, then! That’s a fantastic approach, and you don't have to pay for it.
-Right. It feels illegal to get these exercises for free.
-You may then pay me for introducing you to Mr. Callan.
-You've got an entrepreneurial talent, Jennie.
-I'm just joking.
By the way, don't forget to practice what you've learned from Mr. Callan's example. Go to your "Sent" box, pick a few recent emails, and focus on correcting them. It will help you make your future letters more polite, formal, and sound like a native wrote them.
-A nice idea. Thanks. Is his channel only about emails and writing, then?
-Oh no! The guy offers tons of useful stuff. I also like his tips on giving proper presentations and how to participate in business small talk. His listening content is so versatile, and he offers so many audio-based exercises that it can be your exclusive YouTube learning hub.
-Not sure I’m ready for commitment. I need to try other channels first.
-Yeah, learning reminds me of dating: lots of listening to another person, some talking about yourself...
-... and much practice to make it work.
-Heh, exactly.
-Last but not least, meet Tim Ferris – a guru with a business mindset. His channel isn’t an educational one in the sense the previous ones are. He won’t teach you grammar and vocabulary specifically, and he won't create a listening quiz or grammar exercises for you. Yet, his interviews with famous entrepreneurs and business news podcasts abound in phrases you need so you can talk knowledgeably about business.
Tim Ferris' channel also features some audio episodes on lifestyle and technology, talks with prominent authors, and other materials worth listening to.
-Hmm, that sounds like something I’d like to try.
-Yeah? Then, let’s check one of his recent videos:
-Man, there are so many phrases with the "run" verb that I'm not familiar with! "Run" a business, "run" an experiment, "run" a test…
-I'm glad you’ve noticed it, Kuba. That’s exactly how such videos work – they teach speaking and give answers you were not even looking for. Tim Ferris’ channel isn't the most formal version of English, but it's a pool of vocabulary you can hardly do without in business conversation.
Plus, if you listen to him regularly, you'll always be on top of things going on in large companies.
-Sounds like you’re in love with this guy, Jennie!
-I am! And you will be once you start listening to him.
I’ve "run" a language experiment. All my students have improved their listening and speaking skills after the first month, provided they spent 30 minutes a day watching the YouTube channels I recommend.
-Challenge accepted. I’ll "run" a language experiment on myself too and report back in a month.
-Deal! Oh, and if these channels are not enough...
-Please, stop it.
-... you can try ESLflow and ESL-lounge. They have both audio materials and listening activities with answers.
Finally, if you're looking for some inspiring audio talks...
-Isn't it enough inspiration for one person, Jennie?
-... "Ted Talks" feature business news and related content.
-I need to leave before you start talking about yet another website.
-Run, Kuba, run!
YouTube is arguably the most obvious and, at the same time, underestimated ESL learning site. Some students only view it as a pastime; others watch to learn something but don’t apply any listening strategies.
Re-read this article for specific advice on how to ensure that you don't only listen but also hear and remember. Overall, the following techniques are always beneficial:
Watching YouTube is equally great for ESL teaching and learning. It’s easier to have a teacher who would prepare a listening quiz (like the FluentU app) and discussion questions for every YouTube video. At the same time, an ESL learner can work individually and still receive lots of value from a YouTube lesson.
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