Furthermore, an article published in the Harvard Business Review stated that English is the fastest-spreading language in human history. More companies are requiring their employees to speak in English, and speak it well, in order to do business globally and expand to more countries.
Apart from being fluent in the language, being proficient in English and having good communication skills will set you apart. They will help you present yourself to others well, such as for a job interview or for your first day of work. They will also be useful in expressing yourself and your ideas efficiently and confidently. Having these skills will definitely help you build the confidence to present yourself in any situation and connect better with people from different backgrounds.
Here are some tips on how to improve your English and communication skills to better prepare you for the real world.
1. Practice, practice, practice
Learning a language takes time, patience, and lots of practice. Applying what you learn in real-life situations is the best way to become proficient in communicating as well as knowing how to appropriately present yourself when a situation calls for it.
Speaking proper English will also influence how people perceive you at school or at work, and knowing when to not use ‘slang’ in a professional setting does go a long way. You can start by having conversations with others, even better if they know that you are working on your English speaking skills, and practice writing with proper grammar down to when you compose an email or text message.
There are also many apps and websites online to help you practice at your own time and assist you by correcting sentence structure and spelling to name a few.
2. Listen and read more
Communication is not only about speaking your mind. It also involves listening to others and reading more so you can expand your vocabulary.
Listening can help you develop proper intonation and pronunciation of words. Doing so will also help you understand ideas and the context where people are coming from.
These are simple yet effective ways to have a better grasp of the English language and help you communicate better in the future.
3. Be confident when communicating
Communication also involves your body language. If you are confident with what you do and what you say, it will show. Whether you are speaking to a large group or to your colleagues and friends, communicating with confidence, standing tall, and having a welcoming disposition do make an impact.
4. Learn from the best
Establishing good foundations in English and communication skills starts in school and continues at home. Learning under a good program allows you to sharpen your skills, perhaps get feedback, and gain more confidence to take it outside of school and talk to different people in different settings. These days it is more helpful to be given the opportunity to apply what you know versus taking exams to measure your proficiency.
Online schools such as Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) advocate Projects, Problems, and Cases (PPC) based classes, which encourage students to apply their knowledge into actual projects and situations that will help develop the right skills needed in the real world.
MMDC’s Director of Learning and Development Noel Torregoza shares, “At MMDC, improving linguistic and communicative proficiency is a key priority. We accomplish this by focusing on targeted practice and functional application. By strategically placing learners in scenarios that demand functional and proficient application of English, we create the need and interest to improve. As they navigate these challenges, their development is supported by comprehensive resources in addition to a robust and iterative coaching process. Through this approach, MMDC is able to improve learners' fluency, grammar, and pronunciation - fostering a holistic enhancement of their communicative abilities in a digital platform.”
To learn more about MMDC and their programs, visit https://www.mmdc.mcl.edu.ph/. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
