Build Your Commercial Drivers’ English Skills to Overcome Stronger Language Policies

View from the driving position of a truck of a three-lane highway crowded with vehicles, illustrating the topic "Build Your Commercial Drivers’ English Skills to Overcome Stronger Language Policies"

You need to start implementing an English language training program now. Well at least if you’re a commercial driver’s license company or you own a commercial driver’s training business.

Through that program you can help all your employees or students develop advanced English skills, which is key. If these language skills were already important for their work, now they will be absolutely necessary for their job in the US.

This is because the latest policies have strengthened the rules for commercial drivers’ language abilities. Now it’s a must for them to have English proficiency, especially writing and speaking.

This affects both your company and the drivers. Who knows? Maybe you have excellent employees truly committed to their task, but they’re not fluent in English. You don’t want to lose them just for that, right?

So the best you can do is provide your employees with all the tools to master English. They’ll be grateful, as they’ll feel your support. Don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be as hard as it sounds. Fluency Corp is a language training company, so we’ll be glad to help you!

Consequences of Not Knowing English

The consequences of your workforce not speaking English fluently and not knowing how to read it and write can be fatal. Not only for them, but for your business as well.

For commercial drivers this means that they will be put out of service!

Yes, just for not knowing English well enough; it will be considered that they’re not abiding by the rules. And the corresponding authorities will have all the power to do this.

What Must My Drivers Do to Be English Proficient?

What does being proficient in English mean? Well, as language instructors we can tell you that it means to have all your language skills incredibly well polished and being fluent. Which is exactly what we work on here at Fluency Corp.

So, if you want your drivers to stay out of trouble and to keep their license, they will have to work on:

  • Having strong writing skills. This includes grammar, vocabulary, composition, coherence…
  • Being fluent in English. This means they must be able to hold conversations with natives and to express thoughts, feelings and ideas with clarity without much stuttering. And even to express themselves as natives would do, with all their idioms, language crutches, and nuances.
  • Building outstanding reading skills. This includes having great reading comprehension, as well as reading with fluency, not stumbling over your words a lot.

This is so they can do things like understanding the different road signs or answering the officials. All of these things will help them be more prepared for the FMSCA evaluation.

Yes, drivers will go through an evaluation to see their skills and notice if they’re truly proficient in English. This will consist of:

  • A conversational evaluation.
  • Identifying road signs.

And you need English for all of that.

What Should You Do?

You probably already heard about everything you have to do in your company to make sure your workers know English at a very advanced level. Like the evaluation for English proficiency you have to implement.

But what else can you do to actually help them?

  • Ask your employees how they are feeling and give them support and reassurance that you’ll help them improve their language skills.
    Invest in their language classes.
  • Hire an English training company, like Fluency Corp to make sure your employees meet all the English as a second language requirements.
  • Ask the language services you hire to prepare your drivers for your company’s evaluation.
  • Then keep preparing your drivers in all language skills for the FMSCA evaluation.
  • Make sure to ask the company you hire to help your employees learn English to prepare every student according to their own goals, needs and challenges. Thankfully, Fluency Corp does exactly that!

How Can Fluency Corp Help?

Here at Fluency Corp we offer corporate language training for different kinds of companies. You can check some case studies on our page.

This means that we can help you and your employees learn English. So you’re not affected by the stronger commercial driver’s license policies that have been implemented!

Our classes are completely customized to the job and your language needs. Just tell us what you need and we’ll gladly help.

Do you need to learn English from scratch? Do your employees only need to improve their grammar and writing skills? Do they need to work on their accent and pronunciation? Or perhaps you all must learn some vocabulary for drivers to boost your speaking skills…

Whatever it is, we’re here for you. Together we’ll come up with the best plan for your company and workforce.

The best of all is that our lessons are based on the Bellieu Method, created by our founder and language expert, Micah Bellieu. It consists of encouraging our students to speak in their target language in every single class.

This means practice, practice, and more practice. So, you’ll definitely achieve English fluency!

Oh, and because we know how busy you all are, we offer online or onsite lessons.

Let us summarize it for you; we offer:

  • Corporate second language training for your whole workforce
  • Personalized plan
  • Speaking practice
  • Native teachers!
  • Flexible schedules
  • Online or onsite classes
  • Safe space to make mistakes
  • Classes in more than 10 languages, including English!

Be the best boss ever and help your drivers boost their English, so their job is secure. Contact us for a free consultation now!

Private Language Training vs. Group Classes: Which is Better?

Female teacher at a whiteboard with the text "Group vs One-on-One" addressing a classroom of adults.

You probably found your way to this blog because you’re looking to do one of the following things:

1. Improve your fluency in your second language.

or

2. Help employees at your company improve their language fluency.

You are either:

1. An HR Director looking for a cost-friendly solution to improving fluency for your expat or a Global Mobility Account Manager looking for a new language training vendor or the best cost-friendly solution to suggest to your corporate client.

or

2. An expat (or the accompanying spouse of an expat) that has decided to take your language-learning into your own hands and aren’t sure if you should take a private lesson or if you should dive into the social scene of language classes at a local school.

So what’s the most effective way to get the language training you need? Should you choose private, one-on-one language training or group classes? As providers of business language training, we want to help you find the right option for you and look at the difference between group lessons and private lessons.

When to Choose Group Language Classes

Perhaps you’re interested in learning a second language, but you’re even more interested in taking up a hobby that allows you to meet new people. In that case, we would recommend group language classes.

If you’re just starting to explore your interest in learning a new language, group classes are a smaller financial investment than one-on-one language classes are. As you progress in your studies or you’ve decided that a high level of proficiency is your goal, you can always switch over to private lessons.

Beyond those scenarios, though, we believe that group classes just aren’t as effective (as quickly) as one-on-one language learning, the reason being that your talk time in the class is what directly improves your fluency. The more you talk, the more you are comfortable speaking and the more your brain gets practice putting together what you want to express.

In a group class you might get 20 minutes of talking time per 2-hour class (in our experience, depending on the instructor). But we want you to consider a variety of viewpoints as you make your decision.

Other language trainers and learners see advantages in group training. They like the accountability that a group provides, and they cite benefits in the interactions with other class members.

Another downside, if you’re wanting to progress at a rapid pace, is that you’re not getting used to the way a native speaker would speak. If you’re mostly speaking with your other classmates, who also speak like you, then you might be surprised and not prepared when you speak to native speakers.

As a final pro for group training, you might want to bring a group of employees together. For example, we recently did Spanish language training for a group of 10 executives that wanted to be able to chat a bit with their Spanish-speaking employees. This was a great group to put together.

They did not have the goal of being completely proficient, but wanted to save money, and learn together about their Spanish-speaking colleagues and how to connect with them better. A perfect reason for a group class.

When to Choose One-on-One Language Training

At Fluency Corp, we provide one-on-one language training from instructors who are native speakers. We consistently see the advantages this approach has for our clients.

One key factor in deciding between group or one-on-one classes is how quickly you — or the employees your company is training — need to progress in exactly what they need help with.

For example, if you’re about to accept an international assignment or if your company will soon be relocating employees to one of your overseas locations, then that’s a time-sensitive situation.

So it’s important to know that one-on-one classes will yield faster results than group training. That’s because one-on-one classes offer more speaking time, and conversational practice is the real key to learning any language faster.

Another reason that one-on-one language classes are more effective is that they can be more customized. Everything in an individual class is tailored to that student.

The instructor can even create lessons around specific situations the student has at work — for example, writing an important email or preparing for a big presentation.

On the other hand, a group class will, just by its nature, cover material that’s less relevant to you, which could leave you bored and disengaged.

We also believe individual language classes make it easier to learn more about the culture in which you (or your employees) will be working. There’s no better introduction to a culture than getting to know a native speaker who can give advice and answer your questions.

Most of our students cite they become great friends with their instructors, which allows them to dive deeper into the culture than more shallow interactions during the day.

To Learn More

How can your company get the most out of your investment in one-on-one language classes? See our articles “How to Make Corporate Language Training Work With Your Budget,” “How to Convince Your Boss That Corporate Language Training Is Worth It” and “What Does Corporate Language Training Cost? Let’s Do the Math” for some tips.

Questions about how to get started with learning Spanish for work? We’re happy to talk with you more about your company’s specific needs.

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?

Do you Speak with an Accent?

Do you Speak with an Accent

Huh? The what factor
Do you speak with an accent?

What we believe: accents are beautiful, quirky, tell a story and endear us to people.

What we also believe: difficult-to-understand accents can detract from what we’re trying to convey. Accents can also hold us back in our careers if it is hard for people to communicate with us or understand us. And they can make us feel self-conscious to the point that we do not say as much as we want to say.

Skills You Need states that, “[Accents] may…, however, in some situations, create potential barriers to communication. For example, if you have a very strong accent, people from another area or country may find it harder to understand what you are saying. You may therefore need to slow down your speech to ensure that they have time to process what you are saying.”

 

Accents Impact Your Communication

We know that our clients can be more successful in their careers and in their personal lives if people can understand them more easily. We also know from personal experience, work experience and hearing from other professionals in multilingual regions like Silicon Valley, that ‘accents were dramatically influencing the quality of interaction for foreign-born team members.”Now, our business is to equip our clients with effective communication in their non-native languages, but it’s also our business to help people who do speak with an accent develop the ability to communicate clearly.

This doesn’t mean that we want everyone to sound like an American, rather, we want others to understand you well and we want you to succeed in all things you want to be successful in. There are specific accent reduction tricks you can learn that will make your speech understood better by an American ear.

You Can Be Fluent and Have a Strong Accent

I remember when I lived in Mexico, and every time I ordered, the waiter said politely, “Excuse me, but what did you say?” I was embarrassed and frustrated. To make matters worse, I was completely fluent in Spanish.

Accents are more than just pronouncing words. It’s the rhythm, the cadence, the tone, the linking of the words (depending on the language), as opposed to saying. Each. Word. In. di. vi. dually. Native speakers don’t do this in English. You probably don’t do this in your first language either.

When you’re fluent, but you have an accent, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve it so that you can work more effectively, or, make your coworkers feel more confident about working with you.

Are People Struggling to Understand You?

I have a client who has a strong accent and is in charge of selling his company’s product – he’s the spokesperson at conferences. I’ve seen him give presentations, and I’ve seen the crowd lean toward him and focus intently – trying to understand him. Now, you might say, “That’s great! He’s getting their attention!” But not in a good way.

We want them to be able to relax, sit back, and listen to his important message, not crane their necks and scrunch their foreheads trying to understand. The audience should be able to focus on the content of what he’s saying, not trying to figure out the words and their meanings.

Dianne Markley, a professor at the University of North Texas at Denton (UNT) whose graduate research focused on how accents affect the hiring process, says, unfortunately, “sometimes an accent leads to the perception that that person can’t perform this job,” she adds. “In fact, it is legal to not hire someone whose accent materially affects his ability to perform key aspects of a job.”

Point is: if people are asking you ‘what?’ on the phone or in person, if you can see some confusion on their face or struggle to understand you, you might want to consider accent reduction lessons. It won’t take away from the unique way that you speak, and most likely everyone will still know where you come from, but there will be clarity to your speech, which will only benefit you, your confidence, career, and personal relationships.

I reduced my accent in Spanish, and now I can order in a restaurant without the ‘What?’ questions.
If you would like a free consultation about your accent, please email getfluent@fluencycorp.com.

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.

3 Tips for Learning English at the Office

3 Tips for Learning English at the Office

Want to know something that often surprises professionals who relocate from other countries to the U.S.? They may have previous experience using English on the job. But working day in, day out in an English-only office, with native English speakers, is a whole new challenge.

These expats realize that improving their English skills, including their accent when speaking English, will help them do a better job at the office — and help them enjoy life outside work more.

But, as we all know, life gets busy. And the prospect of driving to another location regularly for English classes might seem like too much of a hassle. So today we want to focus on three ways to learn English while you’re on the job. If you’re an expat in the U.S., you can start implementing these ideas without leaving your office. And if you’re an HR professional who supports international employees in the U.S., you can help them try these tips.

1. Use Your Breaks to Learn English

Everyone has a few pockets in the day to squeeze in a little language learning at the office. The trick is making that learning fun, so you don’t feel like you’re giving up your break time. Try one of these ideas the next time you’re eating lunch, taking a walk, or filling a few moments between meetings.

  • Listen to an English-language podcast. 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. In fact, we have a whole article with recommended English-language podcasts, as well as a process you can use while listening to podcasts to accelerate your learning. Check it out and start streaming!
  • Watch English-language shows. A little TV at work can be great for your productivity — if you pick shows that help build your English skills. So 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.
  • Use apps to practice English. As we’ve written before, language apps won’t make you 100% fluent. They are, however, a great way to supplement English language classes. Using a language app can be especially helpful if you can close your office door (or find a private spot) so you can practice repeating words and phrases. Our favorite non-teacher software is Pimsleur.

2. Enlist Your Colleagues For Help Learning English

Now, we’re not saying that it’s your co-workers’ responsibility to teach you English. (That’s where our final tip comes in. See below.) But they can play a valuable role in helping you sharpen your English skills.

First, simply try engaging your English-speaking colleagues in conversation more often. Invite them to lunch or even to walk with you to the vending machine or to get coffee. Making small talk about your families, hobbies, etc., might seem like just chitchat. But the more of these conversations you have, the more comfortable and skilled you will become in using English.

As you bond with your colleagues, you should also feel more comfortable asking them your questions about using English at work. For example, does the email you wrote in English have the appropriate tone? And what on Earth was your boss talking about at the meeting when he said, “We really need to think outside the box on this, so let’s circle back around next week and loop in some more people.”

3. Take English Classes at Work

Without a doubt, this is the most effective way to learn English at the office. We totally understand, though, that bringing onsite English classes to your workplace means getting buy-in from managers. That’s why we did all the math (and it was a lot!) to show the business value of language training. Share the article at the link with decision-makers on learning and development at your company.

And if you want to help your English-speaking colleagues learn to communicate in a way that is more effective for everyone, then learn about our SASS training – the key to success in a multilingual office.

If onsite classes aren’t an option, perhaps online English language training is. At Fluency Corp, both online and onsite classes are taught by live instructors who customize lessons according to student needs.

We’d love to talk with you more about how you, or your company’s employees, can learn English at the office. For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159. Read success stories at fluencycorp.com/testimonials/.

San Antonio English Classes & More Expat Resources

San Antonio English Classes & More Expat Resources

nnIf you’re relocating employees from your company to San Antonio, Texas, from overseas, their knowledge of the city might be limited to the Alamo. While history and heritage are very much a part of life in San Antonio, there’s also a lot more to this vibrant city, which Texas Monthly magazine says just might be “the most interesting place in America right now.”nnWhile your employees probably feel excited about their move to San Antonio, we’re betting that they’re also wondering a few things. What are the best places to improve your English skills in San Antonio? What’s it really like to live there? How can you form a new network of friends?nnLet us help. Fluency Corp has collected some useful resources for both HR professionals who are relocating employees to San Antonio and international expats who are moving there themselves.nn

English Language Training in San Antonio

Anyone moving to San Antonio from overseas should make it a priority to sign up for some English classes. Even employees who have used English on the job before could find that working alongside native speakers is a big challenge. They might struggle to understand their new Texas co-workers — and find that others have a hard time understanding them as well.nnLanguage classes aren’t just helpful for work, though. Being able to easily talk with new neighbors and fellow parents at school will help expats adjust to and enjoy life in San Antonio.nnThe benefits of working with an English tutor in San Antonio go beyond improving language skills, though. A local English instructor can also be a guide to the essentials of daily life in San Antonio. A great language trainer can help with everything from getting to know the city’s beloved Spurs basketball team to explaining why tacos are a breakfast food to attending Fiesta San Antonio.nnSan Antonio has plenty of options for English classes. As part of relocation packages, your company may even connect employees with a language trainer in San Antonio that suits their needs. If not, ask your employer to consider providing English training and accent reduction lessons at your office. This is a great investment in helping make relocations successful.nnHow can you find the English classes in San Antonio that are the perfect fit? Of course, we suggest that you start by learning everything we offer at Fluency Corp. We’re based in Dallas, but we also provide customized, private or small-group corporate English lessons in the San Antonio area. Our students can study with us at the office, at home or even online.nnOur approach is to act as your fluency partners. Our English language training is live, not recorded, and all Fluency Corp instructors are native speakers. Students’ classes will be tailored to their needs — there are no “cookie cutter” lessons. As a result, they’ll speak confidently, clearly and with ease.nnWe’re also happy to recommend some fellow language trainers in San Antonio:

  • ILCSA (International Language Center at San Antonio). ILCSA is an extension of Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico. Offerings include English classes for both adults and kids, as well as corporate language courses.
  • SEFLA Languages. Here’s another option for studying English in San Antonio. Language learners can join one of SEFLA’s morning or evening English classes, or opt for private or semi-private tutoring. Corporate language training is also available.

Services for San Antonio Relocations

We know there’s a lot more on your to-do list than just finding English classes in San Antonio, though. These companies can help.

  • TIS Worldwide. Based in El Paso, this family-owned moving company has been in business since 1976. The TIS team can help you with relocations from Mexico to San Antonio (and vice versa), as well as other international moves.
  • Place2Place. If your company needs a trustworthy partner to help with relocations to San Antonio, explore what Place2Place offers. Founder Clivia Bettelli Baskin and her team provide spousal support, culture training, language training and more services that ease employees’ transition to new environments. Be sure to check out the resources list for expats.
  • Cornerstone Relocation Group. Are you in charge of a major relocation project that’s sending lots of employees to San Antonio? This company handles big jobs with an innovative, high-tech approach.

Tips for Making Friends in San Antonio

San Antonio is known for its friendliness. Getting to know some local residents will help expats get the most out of San Antonio life and strengthen their English skills. Here are some ideas for meeting people in San Antonio.

At any point in your relocation project, we’re happy to advise on English classes for expats in San Antonio. To learn more, please contact us for a free consultation.nn

English Classes in Dallas for Expats – Plus More Resources

English Classes in Dallas for Expats

nnSo your company has just set up an international headquarters in Dallas, Texas. As head of HR, you’re both hiring local employees and bringing in tons of expats from abroad. Your head is spinning thinking about how to make it all work.nnFluency Corp is based in Dallas, so we have lots of recommendations for you — and not just about helping your employees from overseas attend English classes in Dallas. (Although we’re pretty great at doing that!) Read on for some of our favorite resources for international expats coming to the Dallas area.nn

English Classes in Dallas

International employees who are relocating to Dallas need plenty of support to adjust to their new home. One important way you can help your expat employees succeed is by offering English classes in Dallas. Even if an employee from abroad has experience using English at work, speaking it all day, every day with native speakers is a whole new challenge. He might have trouble understanding colleagues, and, in turn, they might struggle to understand him. That damages both his morale and his productivity — which, with so much riding on a successful relocation, you just can’t afford.nnBut relocations don’t succeed or fail based just on what happens at the office. Your international employees will feel at home in Dallas faster if they can talk proficiently with their neighbors, the other parents at their kids’ schools and their local merchants. This is another reason language training is important — and a great reason to offer it to your employees’ families as well. Remember, an employee’s family can make or break the success of a relocation.nnWe recommend making English and accent reduction classes part of the relocation packages for your employees moving to Dallas. When they work with English language tutors in Dallas, they won’t just be getting language training. Their tutor can serve as a guide to the local culture. A savvy language trainer will help them understand the ins and outs of daily life in Dallas, as well as local etiquette, slang and customs (like what to expect during Texas-OU weekend).nnLooking for English language training in Dallas that fits the needs of your employees? Of course, we suggest that you start by checking out our offerings at Fluency Corp. I founded Fluency Corp in 2009 when I moved to Dallas after teaching English in Mexico. Today, we have hundreds of instructors across the U.S., but we still call Dallas home. We think of ourselves as our students’ fluency partners. We tailor all classes to their specific needs and focus on overall fluency, which allows our students to speak confidently, clearly and with ease. Fluency Corp’s English training is live, not recorded, and all instructors are native speakers. We offer customized, private or small-group corporate English lessons throughout the area. English lessons can take place in the office, at employees’ homes or even online.nnWe’re also happy to recommend some fellow language trainers in Dallas:

  • OneWorld Language Solutions – Gabriele Hayes, founder of OneWorld, came from Germany right after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1990, she founded her company in Dallas. OneWorld also does voice-over, interpretation, translation, subtitling and transcription. Gabriele understands what it’s like to work in your second language daily.
  • Dallas International School – The Dallas International School is an award-winning bilingual (English and French) elementary school and high school. But the school doesn’t just educate children in languages. It also offers Spanish, French and English language courses at the school or at your office. Students can even opt for intensive language courses that jump start learning by immersing them in their chosen language for several hours a day.
  • Excel English Institute – This school, located in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, has a variety of offerings that feature an interactive approach. The Intensive English Program (taught at three levels) is most popular. Excel also offers accent reduction training, TOEFL test prep and a two-month Business English Program for students with advanced proficiency.

More Tips for International Expats in Dallas

  • Place2Place – If you’re looking for a trustworthy partner to help with your Dallas relocations, Place2Place eases employees’ transition to new environments. Founder Clivia Bettelli Baskin and her team are a dependable resource throughout an employee’s transition in a new country and culture. Place2Place provides spousal support, culture training, language training and more. Based in Dallas, they operate in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
  • Internations.org – You’ll want to tell your relocating employees about this organization, which hosts events where they can get to know other expats in Dallas. Through Internations, expats might meet at a wine bar, go dancing, start a book club, volunteer at a Dallas homeless shelter or have a picnic in a park. Most people say they feel really comfortable walking into an Internations room, since everyone there has also transferred to a new country. It’s a chance to enjoy hearing accented English from dozens of countries while making new friends who have already walked down the same path.
  • Meetup.com – This is another great resource to share with international employees moving to Dallas. Whether they want to connect with other parents, soccer fans or hiking enthusiasts, they’ll easily find new friends at Meetup.com. Bonus: Their English will improve as they listen to the native speakers they meet, and they’ll learn all about their new city from locals.
  • The Wild Detectives – If your expat employees include Spanish speakers learning English, point them toward this cool spot in the hip neighborhood of Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts. This small wine and coffee bar has shelves lined with curated books in both Spanish and English. The Wild Detectives hosts writers and poets every month in its backyard, which has picnic tables and lights hanging from the trees. The semi-monthly book club in both English and Spanish is a great way to listen to native speakers talk, even if your expats are not quite ready to jump in with their own thoughts. Then, after the book club, they can hang out and make friends with locals, learning English in Dallas as they get to know a cool neighborhood and make friends.

nnWe hope that this info will help your relocating employees come to love Dallas just as much as we do here at Fluency Corp. To learn more about our English classes in Dallas, or if you have any other questions about international relocations to Dallas, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.nn

The Best English Classes in Houston for Expats

The Best English Classes in Houston for Expats

nnIf you’re relocating from overseas to Houston, Texas, you’re in good company. Houston is one of the most international cities in the U.S. With the oil and gas business driving the area’s economy — and a shortage of skilled STEM workers in the U.S. — Houston businesses are filling STEM jobs with workers from abroad. Additionally, the Houston metro area ranks No. 4 in the nation for the percentage of residents employed by foreign-owned companies. That’s according to a 2014 report by the Brookings Institution.nnHow can you start improving your English language skills and feeling at home fast in Houston? We put together a quick guide that can help.nn

English Classes in Houston

When you move to Houston, one of the first things you’ll want to look into is taking English classes. Even if you’ve spoken English at work before, you might discover that you’re struggling to understand your Texas co-workers — and that they’re also having a hard time understanding you. Outside of work, being able to communicate with your new neighbors and the parents at your kids’ schools will help you enjoy life in Houston more.nnWorking with an English tutor in Houston does more than improve your language skills. Your English instructor also becomes a guide to the local Houston culture. A great language trainer will help you understand the ins and outs of daily life in Houston — like how to navigate all those highways — as well as local etiquette, slang and customs.nnLuckily, you have lots of options for English classes in Houston. As part of your relocation package, your company may even find a language training company in Houston that fits your needs. If not, you can suggest that your employer provide English training and accent reduction lessons at your office.nnHow can you find the English classes in Houston that are right for you? Of course, we suggest that you start by checking out our offerings at Fluency Corp. We’re based in Dallas, but we also offer customized, private or small-group corporate English lessons throughout the Houston Metroplex. We think of ourselves as your fluency partners. We tailor all classes to your specific needs and focus on overall fluency, which allows you to speak confidently, clearly and with ease. Fluency Corp’s English training is live, not recorded, and all instructors are native speakers. Your English lessons can take place in your office, in your home or even online.nnWe can also recommend a couple of other local companies that offer private English lessons in Houston. Like Fluency Corp, these companies are woman-owned.nnWorldwide English. This company can come to your home or office for very specific lessons about IT English, TOEFL Prep, Safety English and Medical English. Worldwide English also offers pre-paid packages.nnBe Bilingual. This language training company has been in business since 1989 with many services. Be Bilingual offers private or small group lessons in Houston for Spanish, French, English and more. The company also offers accent reduction lessons for individuals who are already fluent but who want to communicate more clearly. Be Bilingual even has group Spanish lessons in the Memorial area of Houston for those wanting to save money and meet new people interested in learning Spanish and about the Spanish culture.nn

Become a Real Houstonian

Taking English classes in Houston will help you fully experience this vibrant city. Here are a few things to know about life in your new hometown.

  • Join the crowd. With an estimated 2.3 million people in 2017, Houston is the fourth-largest U.S. city by population. And the Houston metro area as a whole has about 6.5 million people.
  • Get ready to drive. Houston isn’t just big in terms of population. It’s also sprawling. According to visithoustontexas.com: “At 655 square miles, the City of Houston could contain the cities of New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis and Miami.”
  • Savor the diversity. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau reports that more than 145 languages are spoken in Houston. The Los Angeles Times called Houston” the American city of the future” because of its diversity.
  • Speak the local lingo. First, as a resident of Houston, you’re a Houstonian, not a Houstonite. And you should know the city’s nicknames, including H-Town and the Bayou City. It’s also fun to learn about Texas regionalisms, like “tump over.”
  • Eat well. Houston is one of the best food cities in the U.S. You may associate only barbecue and Tex-Mex food with Texas, but in Houston you can dine on cuisines from all over the world, from some of the country’s most innovative chefs.
  • Cheer the home teams. When you’re studying English in Houston, be sure to pick up some sports terms. In baseball, the Houston Astros are the reigning World Series champions. The Houston Rockets just missed the NBA Finals. And, of course, this being Texas, football is hugely popular. Besides cheering Houston’s NFL team, the Texans, you can also join the fan bases of the Texas A&M Aggies, the University of Houston Cougars or the University of Texas Longhorns.

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More Resources on Moving to Houston

You can find additional tips and information on relocating to Houston from abroad in expat guides by InterNations and Expat Arrivals. Meetup.com also lists many expat groups and gatherings. And to learn more about English language training in Houston, please contact us for a free consultation.nn