Economics Report.Business is the most popular subjectfor international studentsin the United States.At last count, twenty-one percentof foreign studentsat American colleges and universitieswere studying business and management.The Institute of International Educationin New York says engineeringis the second most popular field,in case you were wondering.Thomas Cossé is a professorof marketing and businessat the University of Richmond in Virginia.He says international studentswho want to study businessneed to have good English skills-- and not just to study at his school.THOMAS COSSé: "At least among business schools,more and more worldwideare requiring that their studentstake English, and theyare teaching more in English."But the world has more non-native speakersof English than native speakers.As a result, Americans workingwith foreign companies may need to learnsome new English skills themselves.At the University of Richmond,teams of graduate students workwith companies seekingto enter the American market.The students learn aboutwriting market entry studies.The reports are written in English.But Professor Cossé tells his studentsto consider who will read them.THOMAS COSSé: "My students haveto write the report in such a waythat it can be understoodby someone who is an English speakerbut not a native English speaker."For example, he tells his studentsto avoid jargon and other specialized termsthat people might not knowin their own language.This can be good advice evenwhen writing for other native speakers.But effective communicationinvolves more than just words.Kay Westerfield is directorof the international businesscommunication programat the University of Oregon.KAY WESTERFIELD: "If you justhave the language awarenessor the skills without culture,you can easily be a fluent fool."Cultural intelligence meansthe need to consider local behaviorsin everything from simple handshakesto speaking to large groups.Still, Kay Westerfield saysthe ability of local workersto speak English is becomingmore important to companies lookingto move operations to other countries.Or, as she puts it, to "off-source."KAY WESTERFIELD: "While cost remainsa major factor in decisionsabout where to off-source,the quality of the labor poolis gaining importance, and thisincludes English language skills."Also, she says English skillsoften provide a competitive edgefor business students when they seek jobs.KAY WESTERFIELD: "As one business studentin West Africa put it,'English is a lifeline.'"And that's the VOA Special EnglishEconomics Report,written by Mario Ritter.You can read and listen to our programsand find activities for English learnersat 51voa.com.We're also on Facebook, Twitter and YouTubeat VOA Learning English.