BELF Courses and Iranian Learners’Perception Regarding Success in Business Communication - Article

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Cart

Qualitative research examines how Business English as a Lingua Franca (BELF) courses influence Iranian employees’ success in workplace business communication. Twenty-five adult BELF learners from a Tehran automotive parts company participated through interviews and a 20-item questionnaire. Participants represented managerial levels across departments and had elementary, pre-intermediate, or intermediate English proficiency. Findings indicate BELF training improves job performance efficiency, increases self-confidence, supports greater willingness to use English, reduces misunderstandings, and strengthens language proficiency and communication skills.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Advances in Language and Literary Studies ISSN: 2203-4714 [www.alls.aiac.org.au](www.alls.aiac.org.au) | BELF Courses and Iranian Learners’Perception Regarding Success in Business Communication
Mojgan Rashtchi*, Rahim Joze Ramezani
TEFL Department, Faculty of Foreign Languages, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University Hakimiyeh, Abbaspour Blvd., Postal Code: 1651153311
Corresponding Author: Mojgan Rashtchi, [mojgan.rashtchi@gmail.com](mojgan.rashtchi@gmail.com) | | | --- | --- | | ARTICLE INFO | ABSTRACT
The present qualitative study aimed to investigate the role of Business English as Lingua Franca (BELF) courses in learners’ success in communication in an Iranian company. In doing so, 25 adult BELF learners were selected from an automotive parts manufacturing company in Tehran, Iran. They were the employees of a company consisting of men and women in the 30 to 45 age group who worked in different departments as bosses, middle managers, top managers, and directors. Their English proficiency levels were elementary, pre-intermediate, and intermediate. The participants took part in the interviews and answered a 20-item questionnaire. The questionnaire mainly focused on using English in the workplace. The interviews primarily focused on eliciting the respondents’ views regarding the benefits of using English at the workplace. The interviews and respondents’ answers to the questionnaire showed that BELF courses lead to job performance efficiency, higher self-confidence when communicating, willingness to use more English at the workplace, and fewer misunderstandings. It also could enhance participants’language proficiency level and communication skills. Moreover, participation in BELF courses could facilitate English in the workplace and encourage a professional atmosphere compared to the past. | | Article history
Received: September 17, 2020
Accepted: November 16, 2020
Published: December 31, 2020
Volume: 11 Issue: 6
Advance access: December 2020 | | | Conflicts of interest: None
Funding: None | | | Key words:
BELF,
Business Contact,
Communication, Learners’ Perceptions | | INTRODUCTION In recent years, in addition to being the dominant language in the academic realm, English has proliferated as a lingua franca in corporate communications and international business (Lustig & Koester, 2013) . Business English asa Lingua Franca (BELF) is used as an additional abbreviation that differentiates English as a lingua franca in business environments from other roles of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) (Charles, 2007) . Böhringer, Hülmbauer, and Seidlhofer (2008) define BELF as redundant English, where the common goal is to reach a mutual consensus. In this circumstance, the person who sends a message needs to ensure that the receiver has understood it. The idea is to get a verification; the sender applies several communicative strategies to prevent misunderstandings and ensure that the intended meaning has been conveyed (Bjørge, 2010) . The three essential international contextual features of BELF discourse are the shared business sphere, the shared professional skills, and the duration of the relationship (Kankaanranta & Planken, 2010) . If people have more language skills than others, they might be given more power and duties to take care of significant business contacts (Marschan-Piekkari, Welch,& Welch, 1999a) . According to Hoare (2012), employees’language skills can partly shape their careers, and lack of appropriate language skills can create a feeling of isolation and social exclusion (Welch, Welch, & Piekkari, 2005) . Harzing and Feely (2008) argue that even if non-native speakers have some common language competency, they may have difficulties communicating effectively. Linguistically skilled employees can act as information gatekeepers, who can, for example, delay, filter, or distort communication flows when it seems useful for them. However, Welch et al.(2005) maintain

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the study on BELF courses?

The study investigates the role of BELF courses in learners’ success in business communication within an Iranian company.

Who participated in the research and how were they selected?

Twenty-five adult BELF learners were selected from a Tehran automotive parts manufacturing company, representing different departments and managerial roles.

What benefits did participants associate with BELF courses?

BELF courses were linked to higher job performance efficiency, stronger self-confidence, increased willingness to use English at work, and fewer misunderstandings.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Cart