21 Ways to Communicate Effectively if English is Your Second Language

Don't pretend to be better in English than you are. If you need to improve, acknowledge this, but be specific. "I know my accent is pretty strong, but 1 am working on that ... .. 1 speak well, and 1 am working on increasing my vocabulary, particularly in this field." "Once my speaking is as good as my reading, 1 know I'll be doing really

And if you know your English ;.s good enough for you to be productive, do not accept any put-downs from the employer. If the employer insists that your English is inadequate for the position, allow him or her to challenge you vath a project or a test.

HINTS: Don't apologize for your not-perfect English if you know you can do the job well.

17. Request an Evaluation of Your English Skills

Ask the employer how good your English is. Ask where you need to improve in the four skills (Speaking, Understanding, Reading, Writing).

HINTS: Appeal to the employer's human side: point out that s/he is the expert on exactly what level of English is required in her/his workplace.

18. Share Your Plans and Activities to Improve Your English

As well as a vision of your general work future, you must tell the employer exactly how and when you are improving your English. Do you have a Home tujtor? Are you preparing for the TOEFL exam? How many hours a week do you spend studying English?

HINTS: Mention some officially recognized program or education institution, and give a definite timeline for improving your English.

19. Confront the Issue

If you feel unsure about the employees attitude towards your English, ask. "is my level of English going to cause some difficulty in your workplace?" Get the employer to "I out the problem. Usually, it is something small and specific, such as not being able to read safety regulations, or not being able to understand customers over the telephone.

HINTS: Ask the employer to be very clear about the difficulty s/he anticipates. If you can, bring it down to one single work situation; then you can work on convincing the employer that you can handle the situation.

You might do a role-play, or you might volunteer a day or tm.

20. Show Previous Occasions You Have Worked Effectively in a Second language

Many immigrants have experience in multiple languages. If you can describe for the employer other workplace situations where you had to use a new and unfamiliar language, that can convince the employer you will be able to handle the English-language workplace. It is also effective to describe how you have handled other English-language workplaces, even if they were not in your field - say, your first couple of jobs in Canada.

HINTS: Tell the employer the specific tactics you used to cope with an unfamiliar language. Did you use sign language? Notes? Did you get someone to translate for you? Did you simply learn quickly'?

21. Follow-up the Interview

Once the interview is over, you are very relieved, and you don't want to think about it, or to return - except to start the job, of course. Unfortunately, those who get hired are those who contact the employer after the interview, or follow-up, as it's called. For the ESL speaker, this may be more important, as after this interview you may remember questions you wished you'd asked, words you didn't know the meaning of, and answers you should have given.

HINTS. If you contact the employer again about a possible misunderstanding, or to give new information, always be sure to thank them for the interview.

There you have it. How to communicate effectively, though English is your second (or third, or fourth) language. Note that the tactics are equally split between different modes of communication - body language, dress, tone of voice - substitute communication, such as persons who will speak for you (references), recommendation letters, and tests, proofs of character and the traits of a good worker, and concrete proofs of skills. Remember the four different modes of communication; a substitute communication or communicator; proof of character, and proof of skills.

Philip Whitford is a professional trainer in Career Development

IN SUMMARY...

1. Model North American Body Language

2. Change the Tone of Your Voice

3. Appropriate Personal Dress and Presentation

4. Memorize Jargon in Your Field

5. Depend Upon Personal References

6. Practice Your Weak areas with a Job Coach

7. Identify Words/Phrases/Particular Idioms Which Cause You Trouble

8. Always Ask for Explanation/Simplification/Expansion

9. Define Your Effectiveness in the Four Skills

10. Bring Your English or Other Assessment With You

11. Volunteer to Take an English Test (formal or informal)

12. Explain Your Education Background in Detail

13. Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Canadian workplace Practices

14. Avoid Showing Bitterness/sharing Problems