BSE-02 Apologizing in Emails | Business Skills for ESL

Business Skills Essentials

BSE-02 Apologizing in Emails
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Apologizing effectively in emails is an important aspect of business communication and can help maintain positive relationships with clients and partners. This lesson focuses on how to apologize in emails and covers the following objectives:

1. Overview of when, where, and why apologies are necessary in business communication.
2. Discussion of cultural differences in apologizing, including variations in tone and formality.
3. Introduction to apology words and phrases, such as "I'm sorry for the inconvenience" and "Please accept my apologies."
4. Explanation of how to use language to avoid liability, such as using phrases like "to the best of my knowledge" to qualify statements.
5. Explanation of how to structure an apology in an email, including using clear and concise language and avoiding blame.

 

This is part of a series of topics of Business English skills designed for students who speak English as a Second Language (ESL). All topics are designed to equip students with vocabulary, grammar, functional language (a.k.a. "Useful Language") and cross-cultural knowledge for the purpose of adapting to Western business environments.


Materials are designed for Pre-Intermediate (CEFR: A2-B1) and above, though most parts can be adapted for lower levels. For higher levels, the functional language slides can be applied to real-world scenarios.
 

All slides are curated for ONLINE TEACHING, but can also be used in live classrooms.
 

Activities have been designed so that can be used for groups or 1-on-1 classroom environments.
 

This is one of a total of 32 Business Skills Essentials lessons that cover email writing, meetings, presenting, negotiation, preparing for international business, etc.
 
 
Total Pages
22 pages
Answer Key
Does not apply
Teaching Duration
90 minutes