Making a good start - Global Business Training

Making a good start at English training

Being a bit nervous about starting English training is normal. Even for those who were particularly good at languages at school or college. Maybe you are going to be in a learning group with strangers or with other people you work with. If you have individual training, you may be wondering if you will get on with the trainer. Here are some important things to remember:

Keep stress away from learning

Don’t arrange any important meetings directly before or after your English training. In order to learn effectively, you need to be able to concentrate.

Arrive early

Try to be in the room 10 minutes before your first training session starts. In that way, you have a chance to relax and get ready. You might even have a chance to meet the trainer one to one.

Keep it in English

Even if other participants speak to you in your language during the first class, reply in English. It takes a little time for everyone to adjust to speaking English only. Don’t give in to the temptation to translate or ask for translations. It’s feels fast and efficient of course. But it is the ability to describe around a problem that makes a better speaker. In addition, it is exactly how your international meetings will be in the future and is therefore the best preparation.

Make memorable notes

Before the course starts, think about how you are going to save the new information you will have. If you finish the course with a pile of A4 pages, you will never look at them again. So take time to filter those A4 notes from your first session into an A6 or A7 notebook that you will really look at again after the course has ended. Put no more than one unit of information on each page. It might be a mistake your made or a new word or word family. Use colours and drawings to make each piece of information memorable.

Plan extra practice

Having weekly English training at work is a great benefit. It is also the core part of anyone’s learning. But think now about how you could take more active responsibility for your learning by looking for some TV or movie material you could watch in addition. Regular short practice is the most effective. Even 15 minutes a few times a week. Plan a future trip to an English-speaking country. Go there, chat to people and make a connection with the culture.

It takes time to feel comfortable

Even though some people may seem talkative and confident in the first class, remember
that they too may be nervous about the situation. Your trainer is probably even a little excited too, no matter how much experience he or she has. Our training agenda understands all of this and focuses on exercises that help everyone to relax in the first few classes. It always takes time to feel comfortable with each other and start to build a relationship. Only then can the most effective learning take place.

Approach your trainer

If there is something you would like to discuss, but not in front of the group, be sure to talk to your
trainer directly after the class. Our English trainers will always be glad to take a few minutes time for you.