This free course explores English language use across a range of professions, drawing on audio and video interviews, video footage of different workplaces and short texts for analysis. Over the six weeks, you’ll look at how language is used in branding, English for academic purposes, organisational culture, health communication, speech and language therapy and mediation. Each week includes activities which guide you in the analysis of oral and written language and help you to reflect on effective communication in professional life, within and beyond the contexts covered in this course. Whether you’d like to explore a particular professional area, or just want to see how language analysis plays a part in working life, this course should have something of interest to everyone.
Interested in taking your learning further? You might find it helpful to explore the Open University’s English language courses and qualifications.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- understand why it is useful to study language
- recognise how an understanding of grammar can be helpful in a professional context
- understand how effective language is a vital component of a variety of professions
- articulate how language is important in a variety of professions.
First Published: 14/04/2026
Updated: 14/04/2026