Last updated: June 2026
Business English Emails: CI Guide
Professional email English requires B1 + register awareness. Build CI base, study 20 core email phrases, practice with real output.
Formal vs semi-formal email register
Formal: "I am writing to enquire about...", "Please find attached...", "I look forward to hearing from you." Semi-formal: "Just wanted to follow up...", "Let me know if you have questions." Register is acquired through professional CI reading, not memorization.
20 essential email phrases
Opening: I hope this email finds you well / Thank you for your email. Body: Please find attached / As discussed / Please let me know. Closing: Best regards / Kind regards / Looking forward to your reply.
Move the slider: how much of a video at this level do you understand?
CI for professional email register
Read 100+ professional emails in your field — newsletters, blogs, reports, announcements. This builds automatic register calibration. You recognize when phrasing is too casual or too stiff.
Try comprehensible input now
Real lessons at this level from our free library — pick one and watch.
Writing practice: real email output
Write 5 real emails per week, not exercises. Review with Grammarly or a native tutor. Real output with real feedback accelerates professional register acquisition.
B1→B2 professional email progression
B1: correct grammar, basic tone. B2: flexible register, nuanced phrasing (declining politely, negotiating). C1: sophisticated register, diplomatic phrasing. Professional CI reading accelerates B1→B2 register jump.
1How much everyday English speech can you follow?
2Can you watch a show with English subtitles?
3How comfortable is a real conversation?
Suggested starting level:
Do I need to understand every word?
No. If you follow the overall meaning — roughly 70–90% — the video is working. Missing some words is normal and your brain fills the gaps from context.
How long until I can speak?
Speaking emerges naturally once you have enough input — often after a silent period of months. Forcing speech too early mostly produces translation and stress. Let understanding lead.
Should I use subtitles?
Use English subtitles as a bridge, then rewatch without them. Avoid subtitles in your own language — they let your brain skip the listening and slow acquisition.
How much should I watch per day?
Consistency beats marathons. Even 15–30 focused minutes daily adds up to 90–180 hours a year — enough to cross a CEFR level. A habit you keep beats an ambitious plan you drop.