Author: amalfabian

I'm an English language trainer based in India. I'm a bookworm and enjoy reading fiction, history, art, and much more. I like to doodle. Despite my best efforts, I draw like a 5-year old. I do enjoy swimming, especially when it is raining.

Building your vocabulary: one collocation at a time

You can build your vocabulary by using more collocations. Collocations? I hear you ask. Now, what are they?

Collocations are words that naturally appear together. Like old friends from school days, they are comfortable in each other’s company. They enjoy spending time together.

By using collocations, your language becomes richer.

Let’s look at some collocations for make.

Collocations with ‘make’

You wake up at 6:00 o’clock in the morning and immediately make your bed. You turn on the radio and make breakfast. Careful! The milk is boiling. Don’t make a mess.

You receive a text from your best friend from college. Can you make it for the reunion next month? Oh no. You’ve just made a plan with the family.

How many collocations with make so far? Four. Or maybe five. Can you make a guess?

It’s your first day as vice-president and you want to make a good impression. There’s an important meeting happening downtown. You’ve made the arrangements to get there well in time.

At the meeting, you’re client makes some good points. You make some notes. You think to yourself: why isn’t our sales team making more of an effort?

You then make a suggestion. You say, ‘Why don’t we share the research data with you? We normally don’t share it with our clients. But, in your case, we could make an exception.’

Your manager looks at you with stars in his eyes. As you both walk down the stairs, he whispers, ‘We are going to make so much money!’

After lunch, there is a sharp pain in your mouth. Ouch! You can’t ignore the pain anymore. You need to make an appointment right now. Time to visit the dentist.

It’s 10:00 o’clock at night. You are at home. Your family is fast asleep. You look out the window and see the inky black sky. You make believe there is a shooting star streaking above the dark clouds. You make a wish.

Phew! All those collocations make my head spin.

Collocations with ‘risk’

Now, let’s look at business English. How many collocations are there with the word ‘risk’? There are more than you can imagine: Considerable risk. Low risk. Negligible risk. Increased risk. Reduced risk.

And then there is: take a risk; pose a risk; accept a risk; manage a risk; minimize a risk; assess risk; measure risk; and balance risk.

Wait… there’s more: credit risk; political risk; environmental risk; safety risk; and security risk.

How many of these collocations of risk have you used? What can you use in future?

At the risk of overloading you with collocations, let’s briefly look at a word I’m sure you use: budget.

Collocations with ‘budget’

Some collocations with budget are:

prepare a budget

plan a budget

approve a budget

propose a budget

balance the budget

exceed the budget

stick to the budget

Now, we need to budget our time. So, I’ll stop here.

Takeaway

Before you click away, remember this–collocations help us to express ourselves with precision and flexibility. And they widen our range of vocabulary.

Select a collocation that you haven’t used before from the lists above. Use it by the end of tomorrow. By doing so, you will have expanded your vocabulary without much effort.

Does that make sense?

Find out how a dictionary is a treasure trove of collocations.

Image credit: Freepik

Learning English for people in a hurry

People crossing a street in a city

You carry many identities within you. Area sales manager. CEO. Chef. Head of accounts. Homemaker. Entrepreneur. YouTuber. Parent. Part-time painter. Professional dancer. Gardener. Baker. Foodie. The list goes on.

To improve your communication skills, there is an identity that you must embrace: the identity of a student. Yes, you read that right. Look in the mirror. There is a student gazing at you. Just because you’ve left college, that doesn’t mean you have to stop learning.

Where is your classroom? Your classroom is your office. It’s your laptop at home. It’s the unopened newspaper on the table. It’s that Netflix series you are binging on. It’s your favorite business website. It’s the device you are using right now to read this post.

Who is your teacher? You have many. Your clients who send you emails are your teachers. So are the Tedx speakers who inhabit YouTube. So are the ads you see on billboards. In short, your teachers are everywhere. The question is, are you open to being taught?

When I conduct corporate training sessions, what strikes me is the limited range of people’s vocabulary. They are fluent in the jargon of their field. They have good domain expertise. But, when they need to express their views on unfamiliar topics, they are at a loss for words. They are often stumped when they are asked to talk about social issues, culture, and the environment.

The higher up the corporate ladder you climb, the greater will be the demands on your communication skills. As you progress up the ranks, there will be times when you need to present to a wider, more diverse, audience. There will be times when you need to explain complex systems to people from outside your sector. There will be times when you need to be diplomatic to not offend investors or clients. There will be times when you need to speak about broader issues such as employment, climate change, and ethics. For all those times, you would need to speak fluently, effectively, and confidently. To do so, you would need to have a wide range of vocabulary that you could immediately access.

Build your vocabulary

How can you enrich your vocabulary? Be more aware of the words and phrases around you. If you have a client who communicates effectively, find out why. When she writes emails, what phrases does she use? Could you use those same phrases when you write emails?

To learn in a more structured manner, visit BBC Learning English . There will be some words you are familiar with. But, there will be many words that you are not. Be open. Read the definitions for expressions you do not know. And check the ones you think you know. You may not know the precise meaning of a familiar word or phrase. You may be in for a surprise.

Do not use ‘fancy’ words to show off. Use words appropriately. Use the right word at the right time in the right context. Usually, simple words are sufficient. Remember, it’s not just what you say that matters, but also how you say it that matters too.

Listen for phrases you can use

When you watch a panel discussion, how do the panelists interact? Good speakers weave a narrative by referring to what was said before. They are not making isolated statements, but are interacting with one another, creating a coherent, meaningful conversation. Pay attention to the phrases that are used to refer to what was said before. For example, ‘I would like to build on what X just said.’ Or: ‘I partially agree with you, however…’ Could you use such phrases in your next zoom meeting?

Improve your pronunciation

Pronouncing words is a tricky affair. A problem with pronunciation is that when everyone around you is pronouncing a word incorrectly, you do not question that way of pronunciation. How can you escape this invisible loop? Doubt yourself. Personally, I have been often surprised when I checked words I thought I knew how to pronounce. I wish you many such moments. Cambridge dictionary is my go to dictionary.

The magic of awareness

Do you know what is essential for improving your communication skills? Awareness is the key that unlocks the door to better communication skills. Only you can open it.

Be aware of the spoken and written language around you. Be curious about a new word, phrase, or expression. Google it. Think about it. Absorb it. Notice if you come across it again. Decide if it would work for you. If it does, use it. If it doesn’t, no worries. Let it go. Whatever happens, you are expanding your language horizon.

Despite your busy schedule, you’ve read till the end. Bravo! Now, I have a gift for you. It is something that will last forever. That gift is: awareness.

Use it well.

Image credit: Pinterest

The Power of Listening

Listening is an overlooked skill. Did you know that it can change your life?

Imagine an alien appears before you. This alien says that it will reveal the secret of how the universe works. It says that E=mc2 is wrong. It then proceeds to tell you a set of seven mind-boggling equations that explain how everything works, including quantum mechanics.

Now, if I were the one listening, I would be completely lost. I do not have a background in physics. That alien is wasting its time talking to me.

See how important listening is? Listening is not just about hearing sounds and words.

Listening is about having the intellectual capability to understand meaning, the framework to interpret concepts, and the background knowledge to critically evaluate what is being said.

Wow!

That’s a lot for a language skill that most people do not even think about.

Everyone wants to speak eloquently. Everyone wants to write effectively. But, to listen well?

‘My New Year resolution is to become a really good listener.’ Have you ever heard anyone say that? I haven’t….

In the classroom, active listening helps students. It means that they are paying attention. They are present. Here and now. Their minds are engaging with the subject. Even if some students don’t understand everything, that’s okay. The act of trying to understand will support their learning. When they revise their notes, they’ll be in a better position to understand.

If you are in the workplace, you must listen. Listening is a core leadership skill. It shows that you care. Employees often say, what’s the point in giving feedback? Management just doesn’t listen.

When I conducted corporate training sessions, I soon realised that the quality of listening was a key factor in determining how impactful the sessions were going to be.

Did the managers listen to what employees had to say about the kind of training that was needed? Did the managers even ask?

Did the employees listen to the management about the need for a certain type of training? Did the managers give reasons why the training was important?

Did the training company truly listen to what the client wanted? Or did the training company just superficially listen and present the standard material?

Listening is a two-way street. Or in this case, a three-way street.

And yes, speaking and listening are interdependent, each supporting the other. When both are done effectively, we have a meaningful conversation. Things get done.

When listening, do so without preconceived notions. If you listen with prejudice, you are not really listening. At best, you are partially listening. And you are making conclusions that may not be valid.

Think about a time when a project did not go according to plan. Would better listening have helped? Most probably, yes.

Listening gives you deep insight into the shifting landscape that your business operates in. What worked three years ago may not work now. Are you aware of changing customer expectations? Are you aware of the latest technical developments in your field? How about the competition? Are you listening to what people are saying about them?

Are you in an echo chamber?

Are you only listening to people just like you? If so, then you may be in for a rude shock. If not today, then tomorrow.

Only the paranoid survive.

This is a quote from Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel. If you agree with that statement, you’ll also agree that the paranoid need to have exceptional listening skills.

Listen to other people. The person could be a grizzled industry veteran with twenty-five years of experience. Or a nervous intern on her first day in the job. Listen 360 degrees.

Listen to yourself.

When you truly listen to yourself, you’ll begin to doubt yourself. (Fear not: this is a good thing.)

Are you ignoring an important piece of the puzzle? Are you missing the big picture? Only the paranoid survive.

After you finish reading this post, someone will say something to you. It may be important. It may not be. Whatever it is, be an active listener.

Notice how it feels.

You’re welcome.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Is having the ‘right’ accent important?

This interview talks about pronunciation. Is it important to have an American or British accent? And how can we improve our pronunciation?

In this interview, we look at pronunciation. Many people want to speak with an American or British accent. But, is that really necessary when speaking English?

How you use your voice determines what you say

Two monkeys in suits are having an argument.

Imagine this. Your colleague has made a negative comment about your performance at work. The comment is blatantly false. You know it. And so does he.

The question is how do you respond. This is where the use of voice comes in.

Let’s talk about tone when it comes to speaking. Tone includes pitch, intonation, volume, and pace. We’ll briefly look at each one.

Pitch. This is how high or low you go. It is the frequency of vibrations in your vocal cords. When we get agitated, our pitch gets higher.

Intonation is the variation in pitch. A constantly rising intonation for every sentence means you are losing control of your voice. When you are calm and making statements, your intonation should go down. (Think of it as an arrow moving downwards to the full stop of this sentence.)

However, when you are flustered, that arrow points upwards:

How dare you! I will prove it. I never said that.

Note that the in each of these sentences the intonation goes up. Those arrows are hurtling upwards.

Volume: the loudness or softness of your voice. Look at those two monkeys in red ties. You can almost hear them shouting. High volume. Not good for health.

DoyouknowwhatIamgoingtodo? This is our pace when we are flustered. It is as fast as a bullet train. When we are in control of our emotions, our pace is slower.

What would the state of mind be for our monkeys? Mad. Perhaps disoriented. Exasperated. What words would they be using? Yes, emotionally-charged words. And the range of vocabulary may be limited. They would not be able to recollect or use more sophisticated, nuanced words or terms.

Let’s wave a magic wand and make the monkeys more zen like — a different state of mind. Although there is still conflict at office, now their tone of speech is different.

The pitch is lower. Their intonation varies. It does not have to be stable. That would be monotonous. But, it is not shooting up all the time.

The volume dial is somewhere mid-way between loud and soft.

The rate of speech is more controlled. It is more like a regular commuter train. Speeding up, and then slowing down as it reaches the next station.

There may be noticeable pauses as the monkeys mull over a point. Thinking before speaking. Always a good thing.

Guess what is happening? The words the monkeys use have changed. The range of vocabulary is wider. There is a greater variety of words being used. There is more precision in word choice. The language has become more restrained. The monkeys are better able to grasp the situation and work towards a resolution.

How did this happen? Just by a change of tone.

Control your tone, to control your mind. And then (almost magically), the words you use will be more measured, more meaningful.

This technique is not just for heated confrontations, where the stakes are high.

When you are having an intense back and forth with your manager, monitor your tone…

When you are being asked a difficult (maybe even unfair) question while making a presentation, monitor your tone…

When you are disagreeing with friends over politics, monitor your tone…

and you will choose better words.

Are you using paragraphs?

Paragraphs make your writing easier to read. Make sure you use them effectively.

In this Chinese ink painting, blank space is used to create harmony and balance. The blank space is an integral part of the painting.

When you write, you use words. You also use space.

Using space in emails

Using space thoughtfully will make your writing easier to read.

Let’s look at two examples.

Example 1

Dear X,

We would need to update the technical documentation for product Z. Could we meet tomorrow at 11am at the main conference room? There are two new features that have been proposed by the design team. It would be best if you are present when they make the presentation. That way, you are on board from the start. If you have any questions, do let me know.

Best regards,

Y

Example 2

Dear X,

We would need to update the technical documentation for Product Z.

Could we meet tomorrow at 11am at the main conference room?

There are two new features that have been proposed by the design team. It would be best if you are present when they make the presentation. That way, you are on board from the start.

If you have any questions, do let me know.

Best regards,

Y

Wouldn’t you prefer to receive an email organized like example 2? Just by using space to separate sentences and thoughts, the entire message becomes clearer.

When writing an email, put yourself in the shoes of the reader. The message should be understood without much effort. The reader should not have to read the message a second or a third time.

Using space when messaging

Even when messaging on WhatsApp, think about space.

Which message is easier to read?

Example 3

Hi B, The training session has been finalized. It will be this Friday @ 3pm in the basement. Everyone from Marketing will be there. We have allocated 10 minutes for you to tell us about your initiative. Could you confirm your availability by today, EOD?

Example 4

Hi B,

The training session has been finalized.

It will be this Friday @ 3pm in the basement.

Everyone from Marketing will be there. We have allocated 10 minutes for you to tell us about your initiative.

Could you confirm your availability by today, EOD?

Of course, the second WhatsApp message (example 4) is easier to read. And in that message, the reader knows exactly what is happening, and what she is expected to do.

Unlike the first message (example 3), the second message is crystal clear. And all that changed was the use of space.

The need for space

Many times, emails are not even read properly. People just skim them. (You may be skimming this post right now :)) When skimming, they may miss relevant information.

Use space when writing emails to divide your message into meaningful chunks. This will make it easier for people to read and absorb the main points of your message. Remember, even a sentence can be a paragraph.

Use space when messaging on WhatsApp and other messaging platforms. It will make it easier for people to understand your message, especially when reading on a small screen.

When there is no space in your writing (example 1), the reader gets overwhelmed. They struggle to find the main message.

Have mercy on your reader.

Look again at the ink painting. A bird on a branch. Simple, clear, and effective. That’s how your writing should be.

Use space to give more structure to your writing.

Use space to let your sentences breathe.

Image credit: Pinterest

Using ChatGPT to write for you? Big mistake.

If you want to improve your writing, do not copy and paste from ChatGPT. You are doing a disservice to your brain.

ChatGPT for writing

When conducting an online training session, I asked students to write a few lines about a company.

In the chat box, a well-framed company introduction of three lines appeared. I was impressed. I asked, “Did you write this?” The answer came back: “I used ChatGPT. Isn’t that okay? These days, everybody is using it.”

Writing is a complex cognitive activity. By using ChatGPT to generate a piece of writing you are doing a disservice to your brain. You are not allowing it to think.

When writing, many parts of your brain become active. The front part of the brain buzzes with activity, evaluating and classifying information. Other regions in the brain related to memory, language, and visualization become active.

However, when you copy paste from ChatGPT, all this activity is either non-existent or kept at a bare minimum. In fact, you are training your brain to be in partial sleep mode.

The only ‘work’ you do is: formulate the prompt, read the response (most probably superficially), and click twice on the mouse to copy and paste on to a page.

How does writing improve your thinking skills?

Let’s look at the writing process step-by-step.

Step one-planning

Imagine you are writing on Artificial Intelligence.

First, you need to understand the topic and decide how you are going to approach it. You have to gather information, and select what you find useful. You need to structure the content: what piece of information comes first, second, third, etc….

When writing a long report, you have lots of planning to do. On the other hand, if you are writing a short piece on a topic you are familiar with, planning may take a few minutes. No problem. It depends on the purpose of your writing.

When using ChatGPT, you bypass the planning process.

There are several benefits of using ChatGPT when planning. It could gather information effectively. It could give you insights you never thought about. It could even give you ideas on how to structure content. That’s all fine. But, in the end, you need to do the thinking. If you automatically copy paste a response from ChatGPT, you are not thinking.

You need to absorb information and concepts. You need to make connections between ideas. You need to evaluate the trustworthiness of websites. You need to form and refine your opinions. No one can help you increase your ability to think critically. Not even AI.

Warning: not everything ChapGPT produces is true. It can hallucinate. That is, it may provide false or misleading information. Be careful. Doublecheck information you read on ChatGPT, especially when you want to include it in your writing.

Step two-writing

You have collected information and opinions. You have jotted down examples and counterexamples in your notebook. You have relevant data and insightful quotations. How do you put all of this into sentences? Into paragraphs? Into sections? Where to begin?

The answer: just write. You write in active voice. At times, you may write in passive voice. Many times, simple short sentences work. There are times when long winding complex sentences are what is needed. You have to decide. The more you write, the more you develop your own style. Developing your own style is important. It means you are developing as a writer.

When you copy paste from ChatGPT, you are not writing. You may be under the impression that you have written that piece of content. But, you haven’t. You haven’t written a single sentence. You haven’t struggled with grammar. You haven’t weighed the pros and cons of using one word over another.

ChatGPT has done all the work for you. You haven’t improved as a writer. You haven’t developed your own style. You are right where you started.

Say goodbye to becoming a better writer!

Step three-editing

Most probably, you will not edit what ChatGPT has produced. After all, it was written by ChatGPT. There is no need to edit. Everything has been written well.

If you wrote something yourself, you would have to go over it. When you do that, you critically evaluate your writing. Is there logical flow? Should there be more data to support the argument?

By copy pasting a ChatGPT response, the whole editing process is done away with.

Goodbye editing.

Step four-proofreading

In this step, you format the text.

Is there enough spacing between paragraphs? Are your heading and sub-headings in bold? Do you want to put some words in italics?

When pasting text from ChatGPT onto a page, you may not be invested in what you have just pasted. After all, those are not your words and not your thoughts. You may not have ‘absorbed’ the information in the text. It is all about copy paste. Your main objective is to get it out: that means minimum proofreading.

Bye-bye proofreading.

Putting it all together

Writing is a challenging activity that involves a lot of thinking.

From step one (planning) to step four (proofreading) you are thinking, thinking, thinking.

In step one, you search for and evaluate information, concepts, and ideas. You compare differing opinions and arrive at your own conclusion.

In step two, when writing, you may struggle to find the right word. This is good, as it means you are trying to find the right word to express a particular concept. (You are thinking.) You may want to have sentence variety to make your writing interesting to read.

In step three, when editing, you critically examine your own writing. Being critical of one’s own work is never easy. But, when you do it, you refine your thinking process.

If you are learning English and are at the intermediate or upper-intermediate level, write in your own words. Do not copy paste ChatGPT responses. Doing so will not improve your writing skills. Your overall communication skills will not improve. And there may be times when you do not have access to ChatGPT, say when writing an exam. What would you do then?

When writing, push yourself. It is hard work. But you will see results. You will become a better writer. Isn’t that what it is all about?

ChatGPT is an immensely powerful tool, and you should use it. Use it wisely. Keep in mind that the human brain needs to be active. It needs to be challenged. Only then will it learn and grow.

Make sure you do not put your brain in partial sleep mode.

What are your thoughts on ChatGPT and writing? Do you agree or disagree with what has been written? Let me know in the comments section below.

FAQs

Is ChatGPT good at writing?

ChatGPT can effectively summarize and synthesize material from across the internet. It can write in various tones (formal, friendly) and refine what it has written. But, there are downsides. All that it writes may not be true. ChatGPT can hallucinate and provide incorrect and misleading information.

Can ChatGPT help with writing?

ChatGPT is different from search engines such as Google as it generates content. This means that it can respond in a structured way to your prompt. When you need help with writing, have a chat with ChatGPT. Use it to better understand the topic. Use it to summarize information. And use it to gain insights.

Image credit: Wikipedia

How important is English for success? 

Speaker in front of an audience.

There is no clear answer to this question. It depends on your profession. 

Imagine you are a painter from Hyderabad who is in Toronto for an art festival. You know a few words in English to get by. It’s okay. People are not concerned about your level of English. And why should they be? They have come to see your art. 

Similarly, a chef does not need to know English. Of course, it would be helpful. She could explain her dishes better. But, speaking English is not essential. Her food is her message. 

English for business

For jobs in the corporate sector, it is a different story.

In this globalized world, English has become the language of business. According to an article in the Harvard Business Review, companies such as Airbus, Daimler-Chrysler, SAP, and Samsung have adopted English as their common corporate language. 

Interestingly, a Japanese company Rakuten has pursued Englishnization, a language policy that embraces English. The policy requires employees to improve their level of English, or face consequences such as demotion. 

Why did Mr. Mikitani, the CEO of Rakuten, take such a drastic measure?

Mr. Mikitani believes that it was essential for his company’s growth and survival. Rakuten is Japan’s largest online marketplace, with a presence in many countries including the US, UK, Germany, China, Indonesia, and Brazil. To unify communication throughout the network, Englishnization was felt to be necessary. 

English in corporate India 

What is true for Rakuten is true for corporate India as well.

We live in a globalized, competitive world. One of the reasons why the IT sector has done so well in India is that software engineers in Bangalore speak English. 

If you work with an MNC or an Indian company, you have to communicate in English when talking to foreign clients. Even within India, there are clients/vendors in the south and the north-east of the country who may not be fluent in Hindi.

We can agree that English is important in the corporate workplace. But, how high does your level of English need to be? 

How well should my English be to succeed at work? 

To get an entry level job, companies are ideally looking for at least a B2-level speaker — a person who is at the upper-intermediate level. At this level, she communicates with ease and is able to  comprehend the main ideas of complex texts. She is able to write clearly on a wide range of topics, and express her opinions.

In my experience as a corporate trainer, many employees in corporate India are at the B1 level, which is the intermediate level. This means that they can understand information about familiar topics. B1-level speakers can manage their work. 

The key word being manage. 

There are speakers who speak fluently, but make grammatical errors along the way.

For example, a person may say, ‘I didn’t went to the warehouse.’ Of course, it should be ‘I didn’t go…’.

But does it really make a difference?

Communication is all about being understood. If the listener understands the message, communication has been achieved. 

In many situations, it is alright to make grammatical errors–as long as no confusion is generated.

Even incorrect pronunciation need not be an issue. If the listener understands a strong accent, then there is real communication. Thoughts are exchanged. Work gets done.  

Miscommunication leading to misunderstanding

Things get complicated when speaking to people from other countries. 

Let me give you an example. An irate client in Southeast Asia was talking to an engineer in India. The client complained that some machinery parts were not delivered on time.

The person in India replied, “I could understand your problem.”

This upset the client even more. 

“What does could mean? Does it mean that you don’t understand my problem?” asked the client.

The client escalated the issue.  

The Indian engineer did not understand why the client was so angry. Although the engineer was trying to be empathetic, he was misunderstood. 

As you can see, things get complicated when dealing with sensitive situations. A person may not have the vocabulary to express precisely what he wants to say. 

The need for better communication skills

When you rise up the corporate ladder, more will be expected of you when it comes to communication. For instance, you may have to attend a conference in Singapore, representing your company. At the event, you would want to network. The common language of communication would be English. If you speak the language fluently and clearly, people would find it easier to speak with you. You would be more successful in your networking.

When you become a CEO, you have to make speeches and presentations to wider audiences. The information and thoughts you convey will be more complex and nuanced. Also, you would have to read and absorb information about topics that are not in your domain of expertise. 

To accomplish all of this effectively, you would have to be an advanced-level user of the language, which means at the C1-level . Such a speaker uses language fluently in social, academic, and professional settings. 

Putting it all together 

Now that we have had a bird’s eye view of what is expected in the corporate sector, the picture becomes clearer.

When hiring a junior engineer, executive, or accountant, companies may search for B2-level candidates, but in reality, B1 would be just fine. 

Remember, domain knowledge counts for a lot. Being good at your job is a big advantage. When you know your work well and speak the jargon, you should be able to communicate well enough, even if you are at the B1 level.

Here is a telling quote from Rakuten CEO Mikitani who implemented Englishnization.

“WE HAVE TO BE ONE TEAM. THAT IS WHY I WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH. OF COURSE, I’M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO BE PERFECT ENGLISH. I, FOR ONE, MAKE MANY GRAMMATICAL ERRORS. BUT THAT’S FINE. I DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. AS LONG AS WE CAN UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, WE DON’T NEED “NATIVE” ENGLISH TO DO GREAT THINGS TOGETHER.”MICKEY MIKITANI, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, RAKUTEN GROUP.

There is a powerful message in what he said: When people are on the same page, and open to collaboration, a lot can be achieved. And you do not need to be a native speaker (that is at the C2 level). Grammatical errors do not impede communication.

I agree with what he says, but with some reservations.

If there are unexpected situations, you may not have the language to express yourself effectively. As we saw in that example of “I could understand….” 

Are you at the B1 level? If yes, I urge you to improve your English to reach the B2 level. The effort will be worth it. You will be better able to handle difficult situations. 

And if you are at the B2 level, put in the hard work to reach the C1 level. There is a big difference between a B2 and a C1 user of the language. Your peers will notice that difference, and so will your clients.    

Beware of the language plateau 

There is something that could prevent you from improving your language: the dreaded language plateau. 

When you begin learning a language, you do so enthusiastically, covering miles of territory. After you arrive at the intermediate stage, your enthusiasm wanes. You need to work much harder to see results. When this happens, you are at the intermediate plateau. (There is an advanced-level plateau as well.) Read this article by Preply to learn more about plateaus. 

To ensure you escape the plateau, find ways to rekindle your enthusiasm for the language. Watch English movies. Read novels. Listen to songs. Be persistent, even when learning does not look as rewarding as it once did.

Persistence will get you to the finish line. 

Next steps 

If you are keen to improve your language, you need to know your level of English. Many people overestimate their language skills. It would be better to get an objective assessment. A reality check never hurts, at least when it comes to language learning.

Once you are clear as to where you are, start improving your skills. These 3 free websites are useful. 

Why don’t you learn English from the world around you? You could become your own language coach!

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments section below. 

FAQs

Why is English important for success? 

  • We live in a world where the largest economy is the U.S.A. – an English-speaking country.
  • Even many French, German, and Japanese companies use English for internal communication. 
  • To reach a global audience, one needs to know English. 

Why is English important for your future 

  • A lot of information is available in English, when compared with other languages. 55% of online domains are in English. 
  • Being proficient in English will help you better explain your ideas and thoughts in interviews, in meetings, and during presentations. 
  • English will help you with networking, especially when meeting people from other countries.