The Hardest Words to Spell in English

Hard Words to Spell in English

If English is your second language, working in an office where most people are native speakers isn’t easy. One of the biggest challenges is that the English language has a lot of words that are hard to spell. If your native language is spelled mostly phonetically — as, for example, Spanish and Japanese are —spelling in English can be especially confusing.

Some of the hardest words to spell in English present difficulty because there are many similar sounds that are spelled differently, including words that sound EXACTLY the same. Then there are words that are spelled the same yet pronounced differently.

If you struggle with spelling words correctly when you are writing in English, it might help to know that you are from alone. In fact, lots of native speakers find spelling in English to be completely baffling, too.

The fact is, spelling in English is just plain confusing. But, at the same time, you want to spell English words correctly so you can better communicate with your colleagues and enhance your credibility. So how can you deal with the challenges of spelling in English?

The English Spellings You Should Master First

Look, there are a lot of words in English. And the language just keeps growing. About 171,000 English words are in current use. The good news is you don’t need to spell all of those words. Instead, focus on learning the correct spellings of English words that come up a lot in your daily life.

The English words you should know how to spell will depend a lot on your job. If you work in engineering, you’ll be spelling very different words on a daily basis than someone who works in hospitality.

You might also want to go back through some of your recent emails and make a note of other words that your colleagues use a lot. Those words might be related to the work you do — for example, advertise and benefits.

Or they could just be part of the “office English” your colleagues typically use — for example, apparent, basically, category. And some might even be slang terms.

Between the specialized vocabulary of your field and the words your colleagues frequently use, you should be able to identify the words whose spellings you want to master first.

Are You Looking for Online Individual Language Classes?

Tools to Avoid Spelling Mistakes in English

You aren’t on your own when it comes to figuring out the correct spellings of English words. While you’re mastering the spelling of commonly used words at your job, you can also make use of a variety of tools.

Even native English speakers take spellcheck for granted sometimes. But it can really be a lifesaver. You can use spellcheck in Outlook, Gmail and other email applications. And if you’re working on a document, Microsoft Word and Google Drive also can check your spelling for you.

If you want deeper support, check out Grammarly. This app can help you avoid spelling mistakes and make your writing in English better in many other ways as well.

British English Spelling Vs. American English Spelling

If you studied British English but now work in the U.S., you’ve discovered that a whole host of familiar English words are spelled differently in the States.

It might be hard to remember to type “color” (the correct U.S. spelling) instead of “colour.” In an email to your teammates, it probably doesn’t matter too much if you revert back to the British English spellings that are familiar to you — although they might tease you about it.

But in more formal writing, you’ll want to make sure you are using American English spellings instead of British English ones.

You can find plenty of guides to British English spelling vs. American English spelling online. We like the spelling guide by Cambridge University Press. Here are a few highlights:

  • British English spelling: realise
    American English spelling: realize
  • British English spelling: licence
    American English spelling: license
  • British English spelling: analyse
    American English spelling: analyze

Again, you’ll want to focus on memorizing the spellings of the words that come up most frequently in your job.

Commonly Misspelled Words In English

Let’s wrap things up by talking about some of the most commonly misspelled words in English. No matter what your job is, you’re likely to encounter many of these words regularly.

The Oxford English Dictionary actually tracks the English words that get misspelled the most often. You might want to keep this list handy so you can consult it for reference.

  • Correct spelling: publicly
    Common misspelling: publically
  • Correct spelling: pharaoh
    Common misspelling: pharoah
  • Correct spelling: definitely
    Common misspelling: definately
  • Correct spelling: government
    Common misspelling: goverment
  • Correct spelling: separate
    Common misspelling: seperate
  • Correct spelling: occurred
    Common misspelling: occured
  • Correct spelling: until
    Common misspelling: untill
  • Correct spelling: receive
    Common misspelling: recieve
  • Correct spelling: which
    Common misspelling: wich
  • Correct spelling: accommodate
    Common misspelling: accomodate

Have you mastered the spellings of those English words? Then we’ve got a longer list of commonly misspelled words for you to check out. This one is by Richard Nordquist, a professor at Georgia Southern University.

We like this list because Nordquist provides memory tricks to help you recall correct spellings. For example, to remember how to spell the word acquire, you can use the phrase “I ‘c’ that you want to acquire it.”

Here are a few more words from Nordquist’s list that are likely to come up at work:

  • Achieve
  • Environment
  • Irrelevant
  • Judgment
  • Losing
  • Necessary
  • Occasion
  • Possess
  • Recommend

Improve Your Written English with Fluency Corp

Spelling is only one part of being an effective writer in English. If you are looking for other ways to improve your written communication in English, we’d love to tell you more about English language training by Fluency Corp.

Our language classes focus on helping you learn the English words and phrases you can put to use immediately on your job. We don’t waste time on cookie-cutter lessons that aren’t relevant to you. Everything is customized to your needs.

For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159. Check out our success stories.

American English Dialects

American English Dialects

In American, Americans all speak the same American English. Right?

Quite wrong actually. And you’d realize this quickly if you’ve been to Lafayette, LA, New York City, NY, or Oklahoma City, OK.

Americans speak dialects of English based on the region where they grew up, most likely.

So, an American might run into a convenience store to grab a soda or grab a pop. An American might say they’re eating a lollipop or quite possibly a sucker. An American might say they’re going to pahk the cah, or they’re going to park the car. They might be fixin’ to do something or about to do it.

With so many ways of saying the same thing and so many accents when saying it, it’s a wonder we all understand each other. But of course we do. 99% of the words we’re saying are the same, even if we have to sometimes strain to hear it through a thick regional accent.

How Many American English Dialects are there?

There are roughly 30 major dialects in America. Go here if you’d like a see a map of the various regions with an example of what each dialect might sound like.

On the East Coast, we have many very small regions, with slightly varying dialects in each one. Just like New England and the East Coast itself, it is more densely populated, with little pockets of immigrants from other countries.

For this reason we have Boston Urban, Bonac, New Yorker, Hudson Valley, Pennsylvania German-English, Inland Northern and North Midland, all within about 5 hours driving from each other.

Once you start going west, many of the regional dialects will span 3-4 states, with Texas alone having just two: Southwestern and Gulf Southern.

The entire West Coast will only encompass three dialects, and these areas are also known for having more of a neutral accent: Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest, and some Southwestern (just like in Texas).

What are Some of the Differences in American English Dialects?

The New York Dialect

The most famous of English dialects would have to be the New Yorker (which gets confused with a few New England-are accents). Due to Hollywood films, most can detect the New Yorker accent quite quickly.

But where does it come from? A sociolinguistics professor out of NY says it is a knockoff of British English. That’s why New Yorkers drop the R sound at the end of words and leave an H there instead.

Also in Boston and Rhode island, there is a similar happening. When I was living in Boston, some of my Massachusetts and Rhode Island friends would call me Miker, instead of Micah, because they were dropping the H sound at the end and adding an R. So H and R are opposite of each other when at the end of the word. Water becomes wahdah, and Micah becomes Miker.

A Combination of Southern Dialects

The Southern accent (which is actually about 7 distinct accents) is also very well-known in the United States and one of the more obvious dialects. It can be hard to differentiate which Southern accent someone might have, unless you’re actually from this area.

When my mother came to visit me in Boston (we’re from Oklahoma City), the waitress immediately said, “Oh cute, where are you from?” The funny thing is, my mother was thinking the same thing about her!

Most prominent in these areas is dropping the ‘g’ at the end of words ending in -ing. I’m goin’. I’m eatin’. I’m listenin’. Another feature is long, drawn-out vowels.

Are You Looking for Online Individual Language Classes?

Do Dialects Keep Us from Understanding Each Other?

For the most part, dialects do not necessarily keep us from understanding each other, seeing as two-thirds of Americans speak, what is known as, Standard American or General American, also known as non-regional American accent. Here are some recordings of those non-regional accents at play.

But, they can throw a wrench in the conversation if you encounter someone who has a strong propensity for their own dialect. For example, I had a hard time understanding my friend’s grandmother in Lafayette, LA.

I do not know if it was purely accent, or if it was slang and idioms that confused me, but I honestly did not follow what was being said. I was shocked, as this was the first time I could not understand someone speaking English.

There are other dialects that might challenge you (depending on where you’re from), but that you can still follow. For example, when I moved from Oklahoma City to Boston, I had to ask what a few new phrases meant.

I didn’t use the word ‘packy’ to talk about the liquor store. I did not use the word ‘butt’ to talk about a fresh cigarette. In Oklahoma, the butt was the end of it, and it had already been smoked. So when people were asking me to borrow an already smoked cigarette, I didn’t understand why they would want it.

Very quickly, all the unknown vocabulary was explained and I adapted and assimilated. I feel, on the other hand, it would have taken me longer in Lafayette.

5 Ways to Ensure your American English Regional Dialect is Understood

  • Be aware of how often you use idioms or descriptive phrases that are not literal
  • If you want to say ‘there’s more than one way to skin a cat’, try to simplify it by saying, ‘I think we can find another solution’
  • If you know that you drop certain letters in words, try to be hyper vigilant to pronounce letters that help others understand you, especially during conference calls when people cannot see your face
  • Whenever you can, make sure the video is on during a conference call (this helps with understanding)
  • Start to notice which vocabulary words people ask about, and when possible, try to use your preferred word and also a synonym, to ensure understanding

Using American Dialects to Bring Us Closer Together

When you’re traveling abroad, and it’s been 10+ days of hearing only Japanese, reading (Ha!) only Japanese on street signs and subway tunnels, and then, all of a sudden you hear someone speaking in English… what do you do?

I don’t know about you, but I get excited to speak to someone that will truly understand me. I want to hug that person and never let them go. It makes me feel like I am at home, comforted and understood.

This can happen even when we’re speaking the same language. After living in Boston for 10 years, I feel like the Boston accent, and even the New York accent, feel like home to me.

When I went through airport security at Dallas Fort Worth International airport a few months ago (I now live in Dallas), one of the security guards had a strong Long Island accent, and I made familiar chit chat with him, asking him why he had moved and if he liked it in Texas.

It really made me smile to speak with him, and I felt nostalgia for my time in Boston and New York, and my family from Long Island. I instantly felt like I had a connection with him.

Hearing someone who sounds like you, or who reminds you of someone familiar, can instantly give a connection and even science says it can make you trust them more.

A study was done with accents, which concluded that we trust accents that sound more like our own. Although, the study also noted that those who sounded most confident were trusted the most, accent or no accent.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a foreign accent either; the fact is, we trust those who have the same background as we do, and your accent says a lot about that past: values, education, same upbringing, similar understanding of situations, and more.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to English dialects. Worldwide, there are over 160. Keep an eye out for them and get to know where people are from. Accents and dialects can bring people close together or farther apart, but we hope, with a certain perspective about dialects and accents, that our curiosities about them will bring us closer together.

Micah Bellieu is CEO and Founder of Fluency Corp, a corporate language class provider, servicing expats, employees and their families, all over the globe. Our private lessons are about so much more than language.nnFor a free consultation, contact us or call us at (800) 401-3159. Read success stories on our testimonials page.

Share this Image On Your Site!

Please include attribution to FluencyCorp.com with this graphic.nn

Tips for Talking on the Phone in English

Tips for Talking on the Phone in English

If you’re a non-native English speaker, you know that talking on the phone in English is a lot trickier than speaking with native English speakers face to face. If your job requires frequent phone calls in English, you might be concerned about whether you are communicating effectively. Today, we want to share some ideas to make talking on the phone in English easier.

Why Is Talking on the Phone in English So Hard?

As corporate language trainers, we’ve identified two main factors that can make phone calls in English difficult for non-native speakers.

First, using English with native speakers at work can feel very different from the English conversation practice you had in school. The English speakers you work with might have regional accents that you’ve never been exposed to. They probably use slang or idioms that you’re not familiar with. Your field might have its own specialized vocabulary that (understandably!) your English classes in school never covered.

And then there’s the fact that “office English” can feel like its own language sometimes. For example, what does your colleague mean when he says you need to have something “on your radar”?

All of this is challenging enough when you are talking with native English speakers face to face. But at least then you can use nonverbal cues like facial expressions and body language to fill in any gaps in your understanding. Just think about how much information it gives you when someone is leaning forward and nodding as you speak vs. fidgeting or glancing around the room.

When you’re talking on the phone, though, you don’t have this information. You can’t see whether someone is smiling or scowling. You don’t know whether that silence on the conference call is because people are uncomfortable or whether they’re just processing what someone else said.

When you put those two factors together, it’s no wonder that some non-native English speakers dread talking on the phone in English. You may be worried about missing key information, or you may feel self-conscious about your English abilities or your accent. Perhaps you even hesitate to speak up about things you care about because it’s hard to put your ideas into English in front of the “invisible audience” on a conference call.

5 Tips to Make Talking on the Phone in English Easier

There’s no job where you’ll never have to talk on the phone (at least that we know of). But we do have some strategies to help you feel more at ease when you must have phone conversations in English.

  1. First, try to change phone calls to video meetings whenever you can so that you can see more of people’s expressions and body language. The rise of Zoom and similar platforms during the pandemic definitely makes it easier these days to ask for a video meeting instead of a conference call.
  2. For those phone calls you can’t get out of, it helps to build your understanding of U.S. business call etiquette as it compares to your home country. For example, if you’re from Spain, you might be used to more personal catching up on a call than your U.S. colleagues prefer. If you’re not aware of those cultural differences, you may think they’re being abrupt or cold.
  3. Check out Fluency Corp’s guide to “office English.” In this article, we help you understand confusing U.S. business terms like “circle back around” and “bring to the table.” You can also ask the native English speakers you work with for help understanding business jargon. In the process, you might discover that jargon gets on their nerves, too, and that you can all work together to avoid it.
  4. Consider asking leaders at your organization to stress the importance of clarity and good manners during conference calls. For example, could each call start with a reminder to minimize interruptions? This would make it easier for you to follow the conversation as a non-native English speaker, but it also benefits others who may have had trouble getting their ideas heard.
  5. Take English classes that focus on phone calls and other real-world situations you find yourself in at work. As you may have experienced yourself, all the vocabulary drills in the world will not prepare you to keep up with U.S. colleagues from different regions on the same conference call. Instead, ask your instructor to focus on things like useful phrases for talking on the phone in English, understanding your colleagues’ accents and the idioms and slang they use, and the most common words and phrases you need to talk about your work, whether that’s manufacturing, marketing or medicine. If others have trouble understanding you on phone calls, you could also ask your instructor for help with your accent.

English Language Training With Fluency Corp

If you’re having trouble understanding or being understood on calls with English speakers, Fluency Corp can help. We offer English classes with native speakers, both in person and online. And we customize the content of our classes according to what you need to be at your best on the job.

Set up a free consultation with Fluency Corp by contacting us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.

English is the Most Used Language in Business: 7 Reasons to Learn It

English is the Most Used Language in Business: 7 Reasons to Learn It

Now, more than ever, English has become that secret weapon for both employers and employees around the globe–it is the most used business language worldwide. Big businesses and industries have made it hard to ignore that English is universal, as they have made the language mandatory for their employees in an effort to remain competitive on a global scale. English is regarded as an official language in 54 countries of the world located in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Australasia, including countries as varied as Malta, India, Belize, South Africa, Singapore and New Zealand. It is the first language of over 375 million people in the world and has been adopted as the language of news, politics, entertainment and culture. Combining native and non-native speakers, English is the most widely spoken language of the world. Because of that, those who speak it will have a skill that gets them through many international doors. While there are several reasons for learning the English language, 7 important business ones stand out.

1. English is the Most Used Business Language

The truth is, English has become the universal language of business. No matter the country, the language is used as a level playing field, a tool of negotiation, and most importantly a way to connect people from other cultures. Even when Spain and France meet, they meet in English. One of the biggest struggles multinational companies have is communication, and the better they do it, the more success they have. This is the reason many large corporations have mandated English as their official language. It ensures that at least one significant hurdle is cleared – after all, they still have to deal with cultural, economical, political and social differences.

2. Global Job Opportunities

If you are looking for unique career and employment opportunities in a faraway land or just seeking out new experiences, fluent English speakers are highly sought after by companies who operate internationally. Many companies expect candidates to speak English in interviews, paying attention to pronunciation and how easily they can express themselves. In fact, if you are not a native English speaker, you have a significant advantage over other candidates and stand to earn more money by being bilingual in English.

3. Business Communication

Emails, memos, contracts, reports, and corporate documents are typical ways to communicate and establish protocols in the business world. But, dependent on the level of your fluency in English, this may be one of the barriers to communicating effectively in the trade and business world. Conducting business negotiations and transactions in English have become expected and typical as it has become the common language for business. It is the language most used in boardrooms and presentations, in private and public forums.

4. The Language of the Internet

Think of the most popular websites, social media platforms and applications used today. You’ll realise that they are all typically in English, and that’s because more English language users exist online than any other language. That means that any technology displaying strong English language will attract the largest possible number of users. Technology is primarily taught in English, and the research, advancements, and innovations businesses thrive on are recorded and communicated predominantly in English.

5. Work and Travel

If work and travel, or even relocating internationally is a dream for you or your family, your English skills could be the thing to propel you there. Solid skills in written and spoken English are greatly desirable by businesses across the world. Companies are looking for employees who can use the English language to communicate and negotiate in the right tone and manner, with accuracy.

6. No English, No Work in some Industries

There are industries where English is unavoidable—Shipping, Airline, Translation, Healthcare, Law, and Hospitality, to name a few. Because these vocations require English upon entry, having advanced skills in speaking and writing English will get you through the door and many times be the reason for future promotions.

7. Teamwork and Collaboration

Multinational companies with satellite offices have deployed employees all over the world. This has called for a high level of collaboration and teamwork across countries and continents, with English as the common tongue. Ultimately, employees are required to be able to express themselves in meetings, emails, work chats and video calls to network and collaborate on team projects and tasks. You need to ensure you can be completely understood by your colleagues. English proficiency facilitates better communication and interpersonal skills and avoids misunderstandings that might be detrimental to your job.

Mastering the English language is a catalyst for businesses and professionals alike. The opportunities are endless as the world continues to lean on the English language as its most effective common denominator. If you are seeking a skill that will launch you in the business world, learning the English language is a must.

How to Learn English as a Second Language – Fast!

How to Learn English as a Second Language

So you need to learn English quickly, or get better at it than you already are. We’re betting this is because you have a career or educational opportunity that you just can’t pass up — but it requires more English fluency than you have right now.

It’s only natural if you’re freaking out a little. The amount you need to learn might feel overwhelming. But the English proficiency you need is within your reach. As language trainers who have helped hundreds of professionals learn English or improve their existing English skills, we want to help you get fluent faster. This article will help you make a plan to do just that.

What Does it Mean to be Fluent in English?

Well, it depends on whose standards you’re using. At Fluency Corp, we use the CEFR levels put in place by the Council of Europe in the 1980s and 1990s to describe the various levels of speaking a foreign language. As you explore your options for English language training, you might also hear people refer to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

CEFR describes the highest level of language fluency as “being able to understand practically everything heard or read.” If you achieve the top fluency level according to ACTFL, it means you can “use language skillfully, with accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness.”

Sounds good, right? The next thing you might be wondering is …

How Long Does it Take to Become Fluent in English?

Unfortunately, there’s not a one single answer to this question, either. How rapidly you master English depends on a lot of things. For example, what is your native language, and how similar is it to English? And how much English language training have you already had?

But, in general, to get from one language level to the next, it typically takes 250 hours or more. We get it. That’s a lot of hours — especially if you need to move up more than one level. And we know you need to strengthen your English fluency now. So what’s the solution?

How to Choose an English Language Tutor

First, we want you to shift your mindset when it comes to successfully learning English. Yes, your goal might be the highest level of English fluency. And, yes, that goal takes a long time to reach. But you can start making meaningful progress a whole lot sooner than that.

To make that progress, you have to make some very specific choices about how you approach your English language training.

First, if it’s important that you improve your English fluency quickly, it’s essential to invest in working with a language teacher instead of relying on language-learning apps. Now, don’t get us wrong. Apps can make a difference in helping you learn English faster. We’ll talk more about that a little later. But they’re simply not as effective as working with a language teacher.

The language tutor you choose to work with can also affect how quickly you learn English. You want to choose an instructor who will customize your English lessons according to your needs. At each lesson, you should learn something that you can immediately apply. When your classes are highly relevant, your growing English skills will make a real difference in your life long before you achieve total fluency.

Here’s one more thing to find out from any English language teacher you are considering: How much of the class time will you spend speaking English? The more time you spend talking in class, the faster you will learn English.

How to Improve Your English Skills Faster

Working with the right tutor is the #1 thing you can do to speed your path to English fluency. But there’s also a lot you can do outside of your classes to gain English proficiency even faster.

  • Now use those apps. Like we said earlier, language apps alone aren’t enough for learning English quickly. But they are a valuable supplement to English language classes. We recommend Pimsleur.
  • Watch English-language shows. Want to know a way that watching TV can actually be productive? Pick shows that help build your English skills. Choose a sitcom, reality show or another program with lots of dialogue in everyday, conversational English. Notice how the cast members sound when they speak, and be sure to note any phrases or sentences you don’t understand.
  • Listen to English-language podcasts. At Fluency Corp, we encourage our students who are studying English at CEFR Level B2 (upper intermediate) or higher to improve their skills by listening to English-language podcasts that tell compelling stories. You don’t constantly have to think about improving your English as you listen. Just enjoy the stories you’re hearing, and language learning will happen on its own. Some of our favorite podcasts for learning English are “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me,” “Planet Money,” “Hidden Brain,” “Invisibilia,” “Code Switch” and “How I Built This with Guy Raz.“
  • Read a fiction bestseller in English. Look for a novel that you’ll have fun reading and that contains lots of dialogue. Dialogue will help you improve your skills with everyday English conversation. You also want to read books with current English words, phrasal verbs, idioms and slang.
  • Have more conversations with native English speakers. This should get a lot easier as the world starts to open back up after Covid! If you’re back in the office, try engaging your English-speaking colleagues in conversation more often. Making small talk about your families, hobbies, etc., might seem like just chitchat. But the more of these conversations you have, the faster you will feel at ease speaking English.

You might have noticed a common theme in all of these strategies. First, the more time you spend actively engaging with English, the faster you are going to gain fluency — whether that means speaking English in class or watching English-language TV shows. Second, it will be easier to get up to speed with English if you focus on the vocabulary you need in your daily life. That’s why we encourage so many activities that have you reading, speaking and listening to English as it’s actually used by native speakers. That’s a lot more useful than drilling on random phrases in a textbook!

Learn English with Fluency Corp

At Fluency Corp, we’ve helped professionals in all fields improve their English skills so that they can accomplish the goals that are important to them. Most of our clients get results that others can notice after just 10 hours of instruction. Our highly tailored classes, taught by native English speakers, include lots of practical, conversational experience to help you learn English faster and apply what you’ve learned right away. Interested in hearing more about English language training with Fluency Corp? Contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.

Are You Looking for Online Individual Language Classes?

English Immersion Classes – An Experience Beyond Words!

English Immersion Classes - An Experience Beyond Words!

Many people believe the only way for you to be immersed in a language is to move to another country. That’s just not true! Language immersion is a learning approach where students spend significant periods of time in an environment where that language is exclusively spoken. You can create this experience right at home by working with someone on a one-on-one basis that will only talk to you in the chosen language so that you can speak the language at all times and in a variety of scenarios. Going to a new country might not provide that, as so many people speak basic English around the world. So immersing, even if you are sitting on your couch, is possible with online English language tutors (aka teachers/great conversationalists).

Why Should I Do English Immersion Classes Over a Translation/Grammar Approach?

Immersion is important because it provides you with one of the key features of any effective language learning adventure—practice and mystery (this makes your brain work!). Constant and varied practice is always relevant. Through English language immersion, you will assimilate to the language surrounding food, culture, traditions, business and *gasp* the dreaded “small talk”, which ultimately propels you towards fluency. The keyword, however, is practice—lots of it. And forced practice, which is hard to do in a traditional classroom where the instructor might translate a lot of what is being said.

How To Achieve Fluency Through English Immersion Classes

How can you gain all this practice without becoming bored or giving up? Here are five ways to immerse yourself in a language without booking that flight to Mexico!

  1. Zone in on Dialogue
    Dialogue is one of the first ways you use language. Write down the dialogue from your favorite novel in your target language, then talk about it with your tutor. Using your favorite novel (one with lots of dialogue!) will provide a sense of comfort, even as you practice and develop your vocabulary. Feeling confident after going through your favorite book? Grab a best-selling novel you haven’t read yet and go for it! Even better, get the transcript to a podcast, movie, or play! Make sure they are all modern! You don’t want to sound like Shakespeare!
  2. Play Favorites
    Read on your favorite topic in your target language. Can’t get enough American football? Read an online article about a recently concluded game. This gets you not only into the mere words but into the culture and very heart of a country that speaks American English. Even though there isn’t a ton of talking during a game, it’s definitely conversation, and you don’t get bored easily, because you’re watching an entertaining game. Tricking yourself into sticking with the language for a longer period of time is the key. If you give up after 5 minutes with the newspaper, then watch something you love! It also breaks up the monotony that can come with language acquisition and keeps you excited. Soon you may be cheering on your favorite team in their native tongue. GO CHIEFS! Loving the journey? Join an online football forum in the language you want to learn for a greater thrill. Learn the lingo, become a part of the culture, and you’ll end up blending right in before you even meet an American.
  3. Join the conversation!
    Join a conversation class that IS NOT based on meeting others that speak your native language. IF you’re a beginner, this will be very hard, so you can just listen. But if you’re at B1 level or above, then you should be looking for activities in the target language. Look for opportunities to dialogue with other native speakers.
    If you can only find non-native speakers, then find REALLY advanced speakers to learn from—ones that have a LOT of English-speaking friends that can help you learn even more. Don’t fall into the expat trap of only making friends with expats.
    Speaking with an advanced student may give you a chance to increase your vocabulary and learn some of the nuances of the language. Interacting with a beginner helps you to become a teacher yourself and helps gain some confidence. In this learning setting, don’t be too hard on yourself. You will make mistakes, but with some patience and dedication, you will be able to discuss a range of topics in time. Spend as much time as possible with native speakers so that you become accustomed to the speed and vocabulary.
  4. There’s An App For That
    It’s 2020. There are a ton of apps available to help with language acquisition. Applications such as Babbel, Duolingo and Hello-Chat are free tools which aid in vocabulary expansion, and in some cases connect you to native speakers to provide you with necessary practice. Apps are mostly self-paced and great confidence boosters for someone who has just recently identified a language they’d like to learn. For the record, depending on only an app is not recommended. Sure, it can help with some vocabulary, but it’s also filled with irrelevant sentences that are never used in real life and you can’t learn a language from an app. So make sure most of your time is still spent with native speakers, whether a friend in another country or an online language tutor. Imagine watching videos about playing the piano and expecting to be Mozart without ever actually practicing the piano. Yea…. it’s like that. Not happening.
  5. Turn on Some Netflix for English Immersion Classes (that are Entertaining!)
    Streaming services have changed how we get our entertainment fix. You can turn entertainment into edu-tainment by choosing a program that is in your target language. Set the subtitles to English to guide you along as you increase your vocabulary.

These suggestions work best when paired with work done in a classroom setting to help you to experience language immersion. As time passes, and your knowledge and comfort with your new language develops, you will discover several other ways to immerse yourself in the written and spoken word of another country. Of course, when learning any language, you will have to be patient with yourself and most of all, remember to practice consistently! For more pointers on how to become bilingual or even multilingual, check out this article from FluencyCorp on learning new languages without traveling. Here, you can learn more about achieving fluency from the comfort of your own city.

7 Reasons To Learn English

to show that it's easy to learn online

Now, more than ever, learning English or improving English is the secret weapon for both employers. Big businesses and industries make it hard to ignore that English is universal. The language is mandatory for many employees to stay competitive on a global scale. English is an official language in 54 countries. It is the first language of over 375 million people. It is even adopted as the language of news, politics, entertainment and culture. With native and non-native speakers, English is the most widely spoken language of the world. Because of that, those who learn English will have a skill that gets them through many international doors. While there are several reasons for learning the English language, 7 important business ones stand out. nn 

English is the language of business

 nnThe truth is, English is the universal language of business. No matter the country, English levels the playing field. It’s a tool of negotiation and most importantly a way to connect people from other cultures. Even when Spain and France meet, they meet in English because they’ve previously learned English throughout their schooling. One of the biggest struggles multinational companies have is communication, and the better they do it, the more success they have. This is the reason many large corporations have said that English is their official language. It ensures that at least one significant hurdle is cleared. After all, they still have to deal with cultural, economical, political and social differences.nn nn 

Global Job Opportunities

 nnIf you are looking for unique career and employment opportunities in a faraway land, fluent English speakers are highly sought after by companies who operate internationally. Many companies expect candidates to speak English in interviews. Employers pay close attention to pronunciation and how easily they can express themselves. In fact, if you are not a native English speaker, you have a significant advantage over other candidates and stand to earn more money by being bilingual in English and your native tongue.nn 

Business Communication is in English – Learn English for Work

 nnEmails, memos, contracts, reports, corporate documents are typical ways to communicate and establish protocols in the business world. But, dependent on the level of your fluency in English, this may be one of the barriers to communicating effectively in the trade and business world. Conducting business negotiations and transactions in English have become expected and typical. It has become the common language for business. English is also the language most used in boardrooms and presentations, in private and public forums.nn 

The Language of the Internet is English

 nnThink of the most popular websites, social media platforms and applications used today. You’ll realize that they are all typically in English. That’s because more English language users exist online than any other language. That means that any technology displaying strong English language will attract the largest possible number of users. This is why learning English is also important if you want to get a broad perspective on a topic. Also, technology is primarily taught in English. The research, advancements and innovations businesses thrive on are recorded and communicated predominantly in English.nn 

Work and Travel is More Convenient if You Learn English

 nnIf work and travel, or even relocation internationally, is a dream for you or your family, learning English could be the thing to propel you there. Solid skills in written and spoken English are greatly desirable by businesses across the world. Companies are looking for employees who can use the English language to communicate. They also want employees to negotiate in the right tone and manner, with accuracy.nn 

Not Learning English Could Mean No Work in some Industries

 nnThere are industries where English is unavoidable—Shipping, Airline, Translation, Healthcare, Law and Hospitality, to name a few. Because these vocations require English upon entry, having advanced skills in speaking and writing English will get you through the door and many times be the reason for future promotions.nn 

Knowing English is Important for Teamwork and Collaboration

 nnMultinational companies with satellite offices deploy employees all over the world. This calls for a high level of collaboration and teamwork across countries and continents, with English as the common tongue. Ultimately, employees need to be able to express themselves in meetings, emails, work chats and video calls. They also need to network and collaborate on team projects and tasks. You need to ensure you can be completely understood by your colleagues. English proficiency facilitates better communication and interpersonal skills. It also helps avoid misunderstandings that might be detrimental to your job.nn nnMastering the English language is a catalyst for businesses and professionals alike. The opportunities are endless as the world continues to lean on the English language as its most effective common denominator. If you are seeking a skill that will launch you in the business world, the English language is a must. nn nnFluency Corp can help your employees with learning English or improving it – even accent courses. If you’re a company, reach out to us here at Fluency Corp. If you’re an individual that will not be purchasing lessons for multiple employees at your company, check out our page for individuals at www.trufluency.com.