In many jobs, a foreign language makes everyday work easier: talking with clients, reading documentation, taking part in a meeting. Good news: the language you need at work is often more limited and more predictable than everyday language.
Start from your real situations
List what you need to do in the language: answer emails, make phone calls, present a product, understand instructions. Learn the vocabulary and phrases for these situations first, with spaced repetition.
Emails
Keep a collection of set phrases: for greeting, asking, following up, thanking and closing. Reuse them: a clear professional email is better than a complicated text.
Meetings and phone calls
Prepare a few phrases to speak up, ask for clarification or rephrase. On the phone, do not hesitate to ask people to repeat, or to ask for written confirmation. Our tips for speaking will help you find the courage.
Showing your level on a CV
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) describes six levels, from A1 to C2. Writing "English B2" is clearer than "good level". If you have passed a recognised exam, mention it, with the date. Our tips on preparing for a language exam can help you get this proof.
French is a foreign language too
For people arriving in France, French for work is often the priority: job vocabulary, official paperwork, conversations with colleagues. The same methods apply.
Making progress over time
A little every day, concrete goals ("lead a fifteen-minute meeting") and tracking your progress: that is what keeps your motivation going when work already takes up a lot of your time.
Frequently asked questions
How should I show my language level on a CV?
Use the CEFR levels (from A1 to C2), and mention a recognised exam if you have passed one.
Where should I start with business English?
With the real situations in your job: emails, phone calls, meetings, technical vocabulary.
How long does it take to feel comfortable at work?
It depends on your starting level and on how much you practise. Focusing on the situations in your own job saves a lot of time.
Learning your partner's language
On the Passerelle, these tips serve a clear purpose: to better understand a supplier, a customer or a colleague in Vietnam, China, Thailand or France. A few phrases in their language build trust; for everything else, keep your writing simple: see writing to a foreign partner.
General advice, written for the Parlons Langues project and republished here by its author.
Originally published on Parlons langue.