Professional English- or communicating in a manner that is appropriate in the workplace- is a language skill that native English speakers must learn as they enter they enter the workforce. As with any language, there are different manners of speaking that are appropriate for different situations. For instance, native speakers will be more casual when speaking with friends, using slang words, speaking faster and becoming more animated while being less aware of tone, volume and accents. When it's time for that same person to go to work, they will change how they speak by using proper grammar structures, a bigger vocabulary, while speaking at a slower pace and lower volume. When it's time to go home, they may not speak as proper to their parents or respected individuals but not as casual as when hanging out with friends. Being aware of who you are talking to and knowing how to address them is a fundamental element of being a fluent English speaker. So what do business owners and decision makers do when they have workers who speak English as a Second Language (ESL) and need to provide them with a business English course?

 

Challenges adult ESL learners face when learning professional English grammar...

 

1- Professional English can get lost in translation

When learning professional English can get especially tricky for adult ESL learners because we naturally try to create parallels between what we learn and what we already know. What do you do when there isn't a translation? For instance, in some languages you can walk outside and just say "cold" and people know what you mean. In English, you would have to say "it is cold outside." Additionally, many native English speakers frequently use idioms (phrases that shouldn't be taken literally because they have a symbolic meaning) especially in corporate settings, and there is often no equivalent meaning in your native language because they just don't translate.

Example: "I was so busy, your email got lost in translation. Can you give me a rundown?"

Suggestion: It is important to remember when you are communicating with ESL employees. Rather than saying the above which causes confusion say "I didn't see your email. Can we catch up for a quick overview of what I missed?"

 

2- Learning professional English isn't a one-size-fits-all

English training for associates isn't going to be the same for every company, nor for every associate.

Example: You have 5 ESL associates who need employee English lessons: 3 of them struggle with pronunciation and the other 2 need help with written communication.

Solution: Corporate English lessons for adults allow business owners and decision makers the freedom to customize✅ our curriculum. We can help you tailor our online language courses to fit your exact needs by remaining focused on your specific business objectives while centering the needs of your workers. By hosting all online language training for businesses on our 100% LIVE webinar portal✅ your workers receive the highest quality online language training available, while staying remote in a unique and highly engaging✅ way.

 

Our highly engaging In-Person English Training for employees and interactive Corporate  English classes online with live native-speaking teachers are easy to access from wherever you are. We offer Real-Time Private and Group Corporate English Training. Get a Free Quote for your Industry Specific Onsite or Online English Classes for Companies.

For more information contact our Language Training Department:
Phone: (617) 731-3700
Email: training@languageconnections.com