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Published on Sunday, 18 November 2012 13:18

OzCom English

 Teach Your Employees to Communicate Fluently with a reputable Sydney based English Language Teacher

Professional communication is integral to the success of any business. It could be that you are offering a top quality product or service but if your employees’ communication skills are lacking, you could very well be losing business simply because your clients have a difficult time grasping the message your staff are trying to convey.  This could ultimately affect your company’s bottom line and long term success.

When you are hiring staff, one of the most important criteria should be their language proficiency. Since most companies in Australia conduct their business in English, it is in your interest to ensure that all your employees can speak the language not just fluently, but effectively. Unfortunately, the reality is that many individuals who have a strong technical expertise come from countries where English is spoken as a second language and as a result encounter communication issues. Their English skills often leave a lot to be desired. This can put you in a dilemma of sorts. Should you go ahead and hire them on the basis of their qualifications or should you let them go because of their poor fluency in English? 

In such situations it is usually acceptable to recruit qualified individuals irrespective of their language skills and to help them improve their English.  

Sydney is a thriving business hub and is home to numerous multi-national corporations from all over the globe. In such an environment, being able to speak English well is a critical success factor to allow clear communication without ambiguity and/ or mixed messages.

Fortunately, there are several English language schools in Sydney that are designed to tackle this issue and help employees overcome language barriers.  

So where can you find a good English language school in Sydney and what are the factors that you will need to consider to choose one that is most suitable for you?

The best place to start your search is online. You will find there are several such schools online, each of them offering different language modules over varying durations and at varying rates. Of course, the best part about searching over the internet is that you can compare between different courses and pick one that works best for you. Before you make your choice, it is important to first determine what it is you are looking for. Are you looking for an English teacher in Sydney who will conduct classes at your place of business or will your employees attend classes at the language school premises. If you want the classes to be held at your office, you need to make sure that the school caters to these requests. Not all English language schools offer these services. 

One of the most reputable English language schools in Sydney is OzCom English.  We offer cost-effective, tailored classes and have helped numerous businesses across different industries train their employees in the nuances of business communication.

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Published on Saturday, 12 May 2012 16:29

INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES – English, Mandarin, Spanish

WHICH HOLD THE FUTURE TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNICATON?

English as the lingua franca (commonly used international language) we know today is facing challenges that affect its long term stability in the business world.

Although many rely on it heavily to communicate across cultures, it may not be long before we say ‘adiós’ or ‘zai jian’ in place of the dominance of English in business. The need to take Spanish and Mandarin language training courses is increasingly important because of the emerging economies of their native speakers. As businesses look for that competitive edge, they are turning to Spanish speaking markets in North and South America and Mandarin speaking economies in Asia.

¿Hablas español?

English is the modern day lingua franca of business (accepted/ used language), largely because of its use in the world’s largest economy.

Albeit relatively slowly, this linguistic supremacy is in the process of changing. The influence of the Spanish language in the US is one contributing factor to this change. The Hispanic population is the fastest growing market segment in the US and has grown by 60% in just one decade making Hispanic buying power an impressive $1,000 million.

This combined with the level of influence Hispanic culture has on US history and the economy makes the Spanish language a candidate for becoming an international language of business. Some people even assert that the main language spoken in the US in 2060 will in fact be Spanish making it even more critical for many businesses to offer Spanish language training to their employees as they plan their long-term strategies. The predominantly Spanish-speaking and increasingly influential continent sitting just below the US makes the Spanish language even more attractive to global businesses.

One billion Mandarin speakers and counting…

Another main challenge to English as the international language of business is the increasing importance and influence of the Chinese economy. There are approximately one billion Mandarin speakers across the globe making it the largest linguistic group in the world. Recently, China has spread its economic and business interests beyond their geographical borders and, in a world riddled with economic crises, China seems to be coming out on top.

The Chinese are also expanding rapidly into the African continent through government funding for construction and other schemes. Although Chinese workers in Africa are generally housed in compounds away from local populations, their increasing involvement in Africa is likely to influence the cultures and economies there and Mandarin will become even more widespread across the globe. Investing in Mandarin language training courses for your employees can open doors to one of the most powerful countries of the future.

Are we witnessing a critical moment in linguistic history?

Although there are other languages such as Spanish and Mandarin who at times appear to be major contenders for the business lingua franca, there are many who believe that English is here for the long run and that we might even be witnessing a critical moment in linguistic history. Quoted in an article on Resilience Science, linguist David Crystal states ‘This is the first time we actually have a language spoken genuinely globally by every country in the world’.

Despite this viewpoint, perceptive business leaders around the world know that, without a doubt, investing in Spanish language training or Mandarin language training courses will open international doors and help organisations to gain a significant edge in business, especially in these difficult financial times. This edge will undoubtedly benefit you and your company in the future.

Antoine Burke

Ozy English

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Published on Saturday, 12 May 2012 15:32

USEFUL LINKS

Improve your English with exercises, quizzes and communicating with others through message boards and discussion groups.

http://www.OzComEnglish.com.au              

http://www.facebook.com/englishteacher.sydney

 http://www.smalltalkbigtalk.com

For conversation practice with native professionals

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

http://www.world-english.org

http://www.business-english.com/ /

 

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http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway/ 

http://www.nonstopenglish.com/allexercises/business_english/

http://www.businessweek.com/

http://www.smh.com.au/              

http://www.guardian.co.uk/  

http://www.abc.net.au/news/

http://english-focus.co.uk 

http://www.hyperstudy.com/

http://www.freetranslation.com/

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