Course author
British Council
The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.
Course overview
Are you starting out as a freelancer and looking to work in the international market? Maybe you're already a freelancer and want to increase your network of clients? Either way, this is the course for you! As well as teaching you useful language for all of the typical scenarios you will meet as a freelancer, you will also learn techniques for handling more complex situations, improve your soft skills and your intercultural communication. Enjoy! Note that this course is aimed at learners with an intermediate level of English. Prefer a shorter course? Try one of our mini-courses: English for Freelancers: Getting Started English for Freelancers: Communication Skills I English for Freelancers: Communication Skills II English for Freelancers: Upskilling This course was created by British Council in partnership with Gaza Sky Geeks.
What you will learn
- How to talk about your experience
- What makes a successful freelancer
- How to deal with communication issues on video calls
- Vocabulary related to freelancing
- How to write a tailored proposal
- Getting started on Upwork
- Language for participating in meetings, interrupting and making suggestions
- How to negotiate deadlines and pay
- How to collaborate through brainstorming and planning
- Language to navigate and solve issues, including accepting criticism, scope/task changes mid project, responding to feedback
- Language for presentations and tips for presenting with confidence
- Language for turning down work or renegotiating deadlines
- Language and tips for video interviews
- How to make an elevator pitch
- Tips to continue improving on-the-job English
- Language for marketing yourself and networking on social media
The full course includes
- Dealing with communication issues
- 1.1 What makes a successful freelancer?
- 1.2 Digital freelancer vocabulary
- 1.3 The pros and cons of freelancing
- Module 1 Practice
- 2.1 Introducing yourself
- 2.2 Writing a CV
- 2.3 Building a freelance profile online
- Module 2 Practice
- 3.1 The online freelance marketplace
- 3.2 Assessing clients and jobs
- 3.3 Starting conversations with clients
- Module 3 Practice
- 4.1 How to write a proposal
- 4.2 Making a human connection and showing enthusiasm
- 4.3 Tailoring proposals to job ads
- Module 4 Practice
- 5.1 What makes a good meeting?
- 5.2 Interrupting
- 5.3 Language for meetings
- Module 5 Practice
- 6.1 Negotiating availability
- 6.2 Negotiating deadlines
- 6.3 Negotiating pay
- Module 6 Practice
- 7.1 Problems getting paid
- 7.2 Language for problems and solutions
- 7.3 Solving problems
- Module 7 Practice
- 8.1 Offering alternatives
- 8.2 Emails for saying 'no'
- 8.3 Communication differences with saying ‘no’
- Module 8 Practice
- 9.1 Planning a presentation I
- 9.2 Planning a presentation II
- 9.3 Signposting language for presentations
- Module 9 Practice
- 10.1 Effective brainstorming
- 10.2 Sharing your ideas
- 10.3 Giving feedback on ideas
- Module 10 Practice
- 11.1 Difficult interview questions
- 11.2 Language for buying time and avoiding negatives
- 11.3 What is the STAR interview technique?
- Module 11 Practice
- 12.1 Lifelong learning
- 12.2 Introduction to LinkedIn
- 12.3 Elevator pitches
- Module 12 Practice