Improving your English skills is essential to succeeding in business because of the language’s prevalence in the world. English is regularly spoken in many different countries, and 400 million people use it as their first language. Improving your written and spoken communication skills in English can lead to better job opportunities, higher pay and a jumpstart for career development.
Improving Written English
The global economy greatly depends on the English language. India, for example, is the second highest English-speaking country in the world. Every corner of the globe has a country that has either an English-speaking majority or English as the official language.
Make Writing In English A Habit
Do a little bit of writing every day using the English language. Even if you’re simply copying a book passage by hand or retyping it on the computer, your brain is being trained to use written English. Don’t get too bummed out if you find it difficult. Even native speakers still struggle with proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. Use a dictionary if you need to.
Check Your Writing
To make sure you’re writing English effectively, invest in a tutor or a program that checks text for errors. A tutor is preferable, as programs like Grammarly don’t catch every mistake. A native English speaker can help you fix improper sentence structure, spelling, out-of-place idioms and more. Read through your writing carefully and take note of mistakes in order to avoid them later.
Improving Spoken English
Speaking English is even harder than writing it, but improving your English communication skills means being able to speak the language well.
Have Conversations In English
Writing daily in English needs to be supplemented by daily conversations with native English speakers. You can easily Skype or FaceTime an English-speaking friend. With technologies constantly evolving, it has become easier than ever to communicate with other parts of the world. If you prefer talking on the phone, consider putting out an ad on Craigslist to find a partner.
Watch English Television
Television programs and music are full of slang, but they can still be helpful when you’re trying to learn the ropes of the English language. Communicating in spoken English will eventually involve slang terms and quirky idioms unfamiliar to non-native speakers, so picking up a few phrases will actually help you familiarize yourself with commonly used terms.
Read Out Loud
A more reliable source for proper use of the English language is a book. Avoid cheap novels written by unfamiliar names unless it’s a history book, or you’ll end up spouting bad writing. Read books or documents out loud to yourself; vocalizing the words you’re learning will make you more comfortable using them off-script. Working on your pronunciation of English words and accent makes communicating much easier with native speakers and others who may be learning.
Can Improving My English Skills Help Me Find A Job?
It most certainly can! Being able to speak a language that’s so widespread definitely has its pluses, and English has spread so far and wide that it’s uncommon for global business deals not to include it. No other language is as versatile as English, so improve your English skills in both written and spoken form to open the door to new opportunities and a better career.