Common problems when using English for work and things you can do which help
Communicating in a foreign language such as English every day for work can be rewarding but sometimes also challenging. Here are some common problems, you may be facing.
Talking on the phone
Telephone calls can be challenging if people speak quickly, have unfamiliar accents or the quality of the line is poor.
Things you can do to help you:
Ask the caller to send you an e-mail or message as a follow up.
Practise listening to people who speak the same variety of English. For example, if your customers or suppliers are in the United States, listen to channels such as CNN or Bloomberg TV to help you to familiarise with American accents.
Photo by David Hahn in Unsplash 
Responding to emails, WhatsApp messages
Sometimes it is difficult to know how to reply to an e-mail or message, especially if you do not know the person who has sent it. Should the reply be formal or informal? Should your response also be very brief or more extensive?
If there has been no previous correspondence with the person and you are not sure how to reply, one way is to send a brief and polite reply asking for more information. That way you can begin to establish a relationship with the sender and it will help you identify how formal to make your response.
Participating in meetings
Do you find when you attend a business meeting in English that you find it hard to get a chance to speak unless you are asked to do so?
During the meeting you may be thinking what to say but at the time you do not have the confidence to interrupt. You cannot get the words out quickly enough. This is a common problem we all face in such situations until we reach a level of proficiency where we feel able to speak spontaneously and with confidence.
The best way to improve is to practise, practise, practise and to develop your English knowledge. Over time and with practise you will notice you will be able to operate in meetings more effectively.
Photo by Canva Studio 
Giving a presentation
Knowing how to give a presentation so that you hold the attention of the audience throughout and being able to explain technical aspects in language that non-experts can understand, can be a challenge.
Things you can do to help you improve your skills:
Practise the presentation many times so that you can deliver it without notes. If you know what you want to say, you will be able to speak directly to the audience with more confidence.
Practise recording yourself delivering the presentation several times and watch the recordings to see how you perform. Continue this process until you feel confident and can deliver the presentation without hesitation.
Practise explaining technical terms in simple language. The ability to do this effectively is crucial to giving successful presentations.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk
Networking
Knowing how to participate in small talk over a coffee or at a business lunch can be a challenge.
To help you, it´s a good idea to learn how to ask questions. If you get the other person talking, it will give you time to prepare what you want to say. Asking questions also shows that you are interested in the other person and is a good way to find interests in common.
Improving your confidence and ability to communicate in English takes time and perseverance, however, studying a course or studying by yourself regularly can make a big difference.
Contactar conmigo
Si quieres mejorar tu inglés relacionado con tu trabajo y te interesaría un curso diseñado en respuesta a tus necesidades, tu nivel de inglés actual y tu entorno laboral, no dudes en contactar conmigo para una consulta gratuita.
