How can we define what we do when we “teach” English to corporate clients?
There are many different terms used in the business world: teacher, trainer, facilitator, coach, strategist, consultant. What do they mean?
Don’t we do something similar?
We need to clearly identify our role to be able to present ourselves and our proposals accordingly.
Just like people, companies in today’s economy find that their primary source of competitive advantage lies in the knowledge they posses, so they increasingly invest on staff training.
When a well-known organization asks you for advice on how to train their people or if you could design business English programs for their employees, you are doing something that goes beyond the classical concept of “teaching English”.
If you want to provide them with the service they need, you need to get to know the organization that requests your services, including its culture and its global situation. You will also have to get to know the course participants, their strengths, needs and learning styles.
When you are aware of the significance of this training to your clients, in the short and long term, you also try to provide them with tools that could help them in their careers worldwide.
So, what kind of services are we providing to our clients?
In this talk we will analyze the jobs of these different professionals – teachers, trainers, facilitators, coaches, strategists and consultants; what most HR people are looking for when they decide to hire our services and what their expectations are, what we actually do and how can we present our proposal and ourselves to more accurately reflect what we do.
DAY: Sunday 17th April
TIME: 4:10:00 PM - 4:40:00 PM
ROOM: Room 6
Comments
16 March 2009
1 year 1 week
Do you teach in company?
If you do, it would be great to hear your thoughts
25 March 2011
1 year 3 days
This sounds very interesting, Mercedes - I'm really looking forward to hearing your ideas.
I think managing the expectations of those that employ us is a key part of our job, which in turn relies on us identifying exactly what the client wants and determining how realistic it is.
26 March 2009
1 year 5 weeks
Hi Mercedes, Hi Tony
Indeed an interesting question. And it gets to the point sometimes where you KNOW that what a particular student wants is so specific that group lessons are not going to cut it. I have a student this week who has to prepare a tender for his company and it doesn't matter who else is in his class, they will not be trying to achieve the same thing. Yes, we could look at presenting, and answering questions and explaining and detailing, but in a general way. This man has to focus so clearly on his tender and he only has a week. His English is close to B2. So in this case, I would say this week, I'm a personal coach.
10 March 2009
9 weeks 4 days
Candy, I know just what you mean and you have to help him individually here. Try and get a one-to-one session organised.
The unusual thing is that your student knows a lot more about the subject than you ever will. Probably his specialised vocabulary is much better than yours, too. This means that he is teaching you about his subject at the same time as you are trying to help him clothe it in words.
This can be tricky, but also very rewarding for both sides.
Diana
16 March 2009
1 year 1 week
Hi,
Many clients need personal coaching for specific tasks – e.g. delivering a presentation, etc.
Then, at the organization level, many global companies have declared English to be its official language to promote a more efficient communication.
And, as most of us know, companies that are highly effective communicators get better results and are more successful.
So, we’ve got quite a challenging job in our hands!! :)
I am back in Peru after living and teaching Business Spanish for 20 years in UK. I am teaching Business English to executives in global companies in Peru now.
There is something that calls my attention about the English Business courses that are offered to companies in Lima. They offer only language courses but not language and culture courses. I am not sure if the reason is that the HR Departments do not know what their employees need.
My point of view is that another role for Business English teachers is the one of intercultural "expert" as an intermediary between cultures. Certainly in my particular position, my knowledge of both cultures, Peruvian and British surely makes me "different" and here is where my added value lies.
Any comments?
Thanks
Carmen
Hello Mercedes,
I found your presentation in the Bristol IATEFL conference most interesting. Actually, I came across it doing secondary research for my MEd ELT Master's degree. I wonder, however, whether you could share what are the methodological preferences of both you are your clients/students regarding the learning of Business English.
I am doing the preliminary inquiries in order to have a narrower focus for my research questions.
I hope you don't mind my asking.
Muchas gracias y espero tu respuesta!
Saludos desde México
Atte,
Vicente Morales
CELE ITESO.