What You Need to Know Before Using English with Your Team

The next edition of Beyond English Fluency is here.?

If you are new, Beyond English Fluency dives into topics and shares strategies around communication that go beyond language.?

Every other Wednesday (twice per month), I share a theme related to communication that goes into depth about one theme, strategy or idea. Whether you are a non-native English speaking professional or consider yourself a native looking to excel in your communication- you’ll find a strategy that you can apply to your own situation.???

The strategy I am sharing with you today is all about using English when working with a global team - especially when you are a non-native English speaker.

English is immensely important wherever you are in the world.?

Working for a global company will mean that English is most likely your work language.?

This shift of going to English only for companies seems to be happening more and more each day.?

Over the last month I have spoken with multiple non-native speakers who are telling me their companies are growing rapidly and as a result moving to English only.?

Having English on your side, can lead to faster job progression and even higher salary increases.?

A study in 2016* (I realise this is quite outdated now!) found that around 50% of all employers offer a better starting package to applicants with good English language skills.

I see it and hear it often.?

I have these incredible opportunities that I am being offered but I am not comfortable using English as a professional.?

‘I can understand English and get by but using it everyday but using it in my job is a whole different thing that makes me feel insecure.’?

It can be pretty daunting to use a foreign language at work.?

Even if you consider yourself to be at an advanced level, using English as a professional can cause some anxiety.?

We always hear people talk about switching on and off the language. This can feel unusual and awkward when you are making that transition to using English at work.

The truth is, we are switching relatively seamlessly every day.?

In our native language(s) we are speaking to different people at different levels every day. We might have a casual chat with our colleague, and then we might have to speak with our senior manager, and then we speak to our children or friends.?

We are constantly changing our register - most of the time without giving it a second thought.?

We can do this relatively effortlessly.?

But what happens when we have to take into consideration our listener, and we are using English as a foreign language.?

You might always be questioning yourself.

‘Do I sound informal and casual or too formal and awkward?′

If you haven’t already, I'd recommend listening to a recent podcast episode: Professional vs Informal Language and How to Use Both - where I share all about professional and formal language and their alternative informal versions with lots of examples that are used in everyday situations and some slang, too. ?

Switching between languages, especially when you aren’t so proficient in one of the languages can come at a cost.?

What I mean by cost, is our control over the two languages.?

An interesting theoretical finding has found that when one of our languages isn’t as proficient, and we are switching between the two… we may proactively lower the availability of our first language. We might do this to ‘make room’ for the foreign language so we can become more efficient in English (or our target language).?

Yep,?we can 'forget' our native language! Aaah!

I have seen this happen very often and it has happened to me, too!?

When you use another language, it can feel like you are losing some ability in your first language.?

There is a meme that says:?

Byelingual:

(adj.) When you speak two languages but start losing vocabulary in both of them.?

It can be embarrassing when you can’t remember a simple word - even in your first language!?

When you start to use English more, it’s bound to happen to you.?

But there are some tools you can use and strategies you can learn when this happens.?

Three important ones I wanted to share with you are:

Focus on having clear communication.?

Many non-native speakers will tell me they want to speak faster.?

This can make it even more difficult for you to be understood - when you speak too quickly you might also become very flustered and lose the vocabulary.?

It’s okay to slow down.?You will be able to speed up with practice.?

Understand the appropriate language?

To use English in your job, you will be using a lot of the same vocabulary again and again.?

You do not need to be learning 1000s of new words. In fact, around 300 words make up 60% of conversations in English.??

What are some important phrases or vocabulary that you use everyday that you need to know and use in English??

When you hear or notice a word or phrase, take a note of it and come back to it later.?

Speak up right away?

We are usually our own biggest obstacle. Don’t get demotivated because you don’t think you are good enough to speak in English.?

When you are a professional and want to contribute ideas, it’s better not to wait.?

When I worked in Spain, I would think okay I will wait until a perfect opportunity to share my ideas in Spanish. I then got so nervous that I lost my opportunity to speak and never said anything.?

It’s hard to interrupt people in a foreign language, especially when you are speaking with advanced or native speakers.?

I learned that the longer you wait to say something, the harder it will be to contribute.

You have a rich vocabulary and different quirks and ways of expressing yourself in your native language and it can feel really uncomfortable to not have those same tools in English.?

One of the biggest things I have had to accept, living in Mexico and speaking Spanish, is that I am never going to be perfect when communicating in Spanish. I just have to do it anyway.?

Your first language is a huge skill - and as an adult learning another language you are at an advantage.?

You have already done this before.?

When I first moved to Spain, I would think what do I say? I don’t have the words? I’m so confused…?

It’s about trusting yourself and what you already know.?

As a non-native speaker, you have SO much value to give.?

You can bring a diversity of opinion, ideas and approaches to your work.?

Don’t let the language barrier stop you from doing what you want to do.?

It feels a bit uncomfortable at first - especially when you are a professional and need to use English in front of your peers and colleagues.?

But that’s how you are going to make progress.?

What are your thoughts about switching between languages as a professional and using English with your colleagues?

Let me know below, are you using English with your team? What are some challenges you face using another language in your job??

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If you would like to build your communication confidence in English then check out my free guide to build your confidence today.?

Do you have any additional questions? Feel free to reach out and send me a message. I'm happy to help.