Managers all around the world are promoting English at work. After all, every successful company needs English-speaking employees. However, they’re not always easy to find. As incredible as this may sound, only 18% of the world population speaks English. Among those, only 400 million are native speakers. How to change that reality?
You can totally turn things around in your company. But it takes effort. If you’re seeking to expand your business, now is the time.
Check out below some of the tips our team has put together for you. They might help you incorporate English into your workplace interactions so that everyone can improve and grow professionally.
Why Use English at Work?
Although the benefits are obvious, a lot of managers still hesitate to implement English at work. When the need arises, some will go as far as firing team members and hiring someone else who can speak English. However, did you ever consider it could be much more interesting to promote English at work? This way, your current team can develop their language skills on top of the great job they’re already doing.
Just think about it. Let’s say an employee has been working for the company for 10 years. He knows everything about the company, is fully qualified to perform his tasks, but his English is basic or average. Why fire him and hire someone who is fluent? Unless you need it that urgently, you can choose to help him learn English instead. Plus, firing someone will result in extra costs for the company.
A good way to help your colleagues learn English is to promote it at work. With room to practice, everyone grows together and learns how to be confident while speaking English. Both your team in particular and your company in general will benefit from that. However, there is a right way to do it. Continue reading to see the tips we’ve prepared for you and your company.
Tips on How to Promote English at Work
- Set aside some time for practicing English
It could be two days a week, for example. Naming everything at breakfast or lunch can help improve everyone’s vocabulary. During the established period, all conversations and internal emails sent out have to be in English. Aside from promoting English at work, it’s also a way to foster inter-personal relationships among your colleagues.
- Create English study groups
Showing that you support your colleagues’ efforts will give them a huge boost of motivation and confidence. You can create designated spaces where they can study together, answering each other’s questions or just practicing conversation.
- Create a corporate library
Most top-rated business magazines and journals are written in English. You can subscribe to some of them to receive printed copies for your colleagues. Or you can invest in an online library. As long as everyone has access to books in English focused on their field of activity, any type of library will do.
- Hold presentation sessions in English
Now that everyone has access to materials written in English, create the habit of doing regular presentation sessions in English.
For example, this is how it can play out: a colleague picks a topic or an interesting article they’re read recently and shares it with the rest of the team. Everyone else can then ask questions and discuss it in English.
- Invest in your team’s professional qualifications (business English)
Perhaps the most important tip would be to invest in your team’s professional qualifications. As your team works on how to improve their English, you’ll notice a change in your results. But you’ll need expert help to guide you there.
Promote a Bilingual Workplace with Cambly
Speaking of expert help, Cambly is the best way to learn grammar and practice English online. The platform offers classes taught by native speakers, who can help your colleagues become fluent in no time!
Cambly’s business-oriented platform offers:
- Multicultural communication
- Classes taught by native speakers
- Real-life English
- Flexible hours
- Tailormade methodology
- One-on-one or group classes
- Interactive interface
- And much more!
If you really want to help your team learn English, investing in their education is the way forward. Try to implement the tips above while promoting bilingual education with Cambly. Your team will grow fast, and your business will soar!
