You've studied all the English grammar charts, you've promised yourself you'll only watch TV series and films in their original version and have spent more hours on Duolingo than you’d ever care to admit. You try to create opportunities to speak English with friends and colleagues whenever possible, even though you feel somewhat insecure, but you STILL don’t see the desired results.
You know that you are missing countless opportunities to improve your career options due to lack confidence in your English communication skills. How will you be able to help your clients/patients if you can’t create the necessary connection through the language to build a strong therapeutic alliance?
If this resonates with you, I suspect you haven’t been learning English in a systematic way to advance your communication skills to the next level.
Let me use an analogy to help you understand.
Imagine you make an appointment with your primary care doctor because you've been getting frequent migrane headaches. The doctor probably isn't going to prescribe you asprin and send you home. They will ask you questions, order some tests, give you a diagnosis and treat you accordingly.
To improve your professional language skills, you should also be following this kind of focused and systematic approach.
In general, most primary and high schools don't excel in language teaching, mainly due to their lack of practical and dynamic methods (There are exceptions, of course). Many of my adult students have been traumatized by their school curriculum's obsession with dry grammar memorization and regurgitation. They claim very little effort was made to actually put any of the theory into real practice and enforce the language in a dynamic way. As a result, most students look back on their mandatory English class experience with dread and apathy and lack the techniques to put their language skills into practice.
So, now that you've reached a B2-C1 level, what is a more effective way to see the desired results for your professional needs?
To improve your English and effectively boost your job performance you should incorporate these 3 fundamental steps:
#1 - Learn job-specific vocabulary, phrases and idiomatic expressions - reinforcing them using realistic situations. You should also investigate different cultural communication styles.
For example, is the culture you're working with direct and assertive, or do they prefer a more indirect and subtle approach when working with others?
Why is this important?
You may not be able to express your ideas clearly and understand your clients enough to offer them effective solutions. Additionally, communication styles that may be considered "normal" in your culture may be seen as offensive or too direct in others. This could also affect the way your client responds to the treatment plan.
#2 - Boost your self-confidence in therapy sessions (both virtual and in-person) by learning key phrases to enhance negotiation, persuasion and questioning skills. Practice recording yourself, or simply use a mirror, to gain practice through repetition.
Why is this important?
A large part of a mental health practitioner’s job is spent communicating verbally with others.
The better you perform in meetings, interviews and consultations, the better others will respond to your ideas; and you will have a more approachable image as a result.
#3 - Focus on improving your professional writing skills by using real-life situations.
These may include patient referrals, translation of your website/blog and emails to clients and colleagues. You would be surprised how learning some valuable key phrases and making a few structural adjustments can give your writing a more professional and polished look.
Why is this important?
Another essential part of professional communication is written.
If you lack the skills to express yourself in letters, emails and chats, miscommunication and confusion can easily occur. Avoid these problems by being better prepared with the right tools. You can also use these skills to translate your website or blog into English to attract more clients on a global scale.
I work with my clients by following this focused and dynamic task-based approach.
With my TEFL/coaching experience and your commitment to improvement, we can work together to effectively reach your personal and professional goals. Send me a message to book a free session so we can chat about your current situation and future aspirations.
Let's discuss how I can help you reach your true potential!
Warm regards,
Heather
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