Good English – Why Do You Need It?
Category: Language Training | 2018-04-26
Having good English skills is the number one concern of my students (of course). I work mostly in companies, teaching employees how to improve their English skills both in and out of the workplace. But why exactly is English so important to people in business? Why not just keep everything in their mother tongue?
Well, the long and the short of it is that English is necessary nowadays. There’s absolutely no getting around it. If you are in business, good English skills are essential, especially if you’re a manager or owner who may end up dealing with international clients.
In case you’re still sitting on the fence about whether to learn English or not, here are 5 reasons why good English is important in business.
5 Reasons Why Good English is Important in Business
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1. English is the Lingua Franca
Let me tell you a little story. I was visiting Holland with some friends a few years back. We were sitting outside at a cafe, when two couples sat down next to us. One couple was from Spain, the other from France. These two couples started speaking to each other, but neither spoke the other’s language. So they carried on a whole conversation in English.
English is so common today that it’s almost impossible to avoid it. You’ll find it in business, in your leisure time, and even on TV. It has become the common language of the world. If your English is up to scratch, you’ll be able to communicate with just about anyone.
2. Give Better Presentations
From time to time, we all have to give a presentation at work. If you work for an international company, the chances are high that at some point you’ll be giving a presentation to an international audience.
While it might be more comfortable to give a presentation in your native language, when presenting to a wide audience from different parts of the world, presenting in English is the way to go.
If you have a presentation coming up, go over it with your teacher. They’ll be more than happy to guide you and give you any necessary vocabulary.
3. First Impressions Count
When you’re introduced to someone new in the office or a new potential client, you don’t want to be stumbling over the correct words to use. Meet this new person with your head held high, a firm handshake, and good English.
First impressions count, after all, and you want to put your best foot forward when meeting someone for the first time.
4. Edge Out the Competition
Imagine there are two people up for a promotion and the new position requires a lot of interaction with international clients or co-workers. Do you think the person with good English skills or not so good English skills will land the job?
If you have good English skills and can express yourself with confidence and clarity, you have an edge over your competition. Try to take advantage of every opportunity you can, and that includes English classes. You never know exactly where a certain path will take you, but English skills are viewed favorably in the business world, so why not use that to your advantage?
5. Travel the World
English can help you travel both for business and pleasure. If you can speak to people around the world, so many doors will be opened for you. Your job might offer you more responsibilities when it comes to managing international clients, or they may ask you to attend a conference in another country.
And the benefits aren’t just limited to business. If you speak English well, it will make traveling during your leisure time much easier too. Why not give it a go? You have nothing to lose!
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Putting it All Together
Speaking English well has too many benefits to be ignored. Speaking with confidence can get you far in life, so why not try it? What benefits did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
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Cheers!
About the Author
Erin Duffin
Erin Duffin is a writer, teacher, and yoga instructor. Her love of languages inspired her to move to Germany and to share language with others. You can find her work on the MacPherson Language Institute, Bespeaking, and erinduffinyoga.com.