NORTHBROOK, IL – NOVEMBER 8, 2018
Is “Good Enough”
Good Enough for your Assignees?
On the other hand, Juliette’s tone is often misunderstood over email and she frequently finds herself picking up the phone to clear up a miscommunication. Juliette can engage anyone in conversation, professional or social, and communicate effectively – so why isn’t that fluency present in her writing?
Both Klaus and Juliette have different skill sets due to the way that they’ve learned the target language and applied it in their daily lives. However, neither have everything they need in that language to be 100% successful in their roles. These expats are both advanced learners and may decline their language training because of it – but both assignees (and their companies) would benefit from language training specifically focused on their advanced needs.
Every day, we are seeing an increasing need for advanced language training. More expats are being assigned to workplaces conducting business in languages they’re very familiar with. We know that these advanced expats require customized, focused planning and fresh ideas – so we train our teachers to be able to meet that need. In fact, IOR’s latest Language Trainer Professional Development Webinar Series was focused on customizing language training for advanced learners.
Here’s why IOR recommends
language training for the advanced expat:
- Skill building: Advanced lessons can focus on specific skills that the expat needs assistance with; informal email writing, understanding speakers of other languages speaking the shared language of business, presentation skills, leading a meeting, business lunch conversation, technical vocabulary, etc.
- Language maintenance: Advanced learners are at risk of language fossilization – concreting errors into their working memory due to lack of practice of the target language.
- Accent Reduction: Any student is welcome to work with a Certified Speech Language Pathologist on accent reduction (specific fee structure applies), but we find that it is most beneficial for advanced students who can fine tune their focus on pronunciation.