More and more business people are thinking about ways to keep their work and private lives separate. They are looking for the right work-life balance. When it comes to learning business English, however, the trend seems to be going in the other direction. Many learners now combine language courses with leisure activities, such as golf, skiing or mountain climbing. Some even combine business English with their holidays in places as far away as Australia or South Africa.

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There are a number of reasons for this trend. "Today, it is normal to mix with business partners outside of work," says Stephanie Doyle, head of the International Business Communication Academy (IBC) in Eschborn, near Frankfurt. "The golf course has become one place where important deals are made. So it is essential to know the language of the game." Also, relaxation is important for people who want to learn effectively. "Learning a language is stressful, so relaxing during the course helps the learning process," says Hanns-Herbert Stöhr, head of the language tour operator Stöhr Sprachreisen.

In Business Spotlight 1/2005 you can find information on a selection of such courses that we found interesting. We provide details about schools and programmes in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa, Namibia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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