Work in the USA with English as a Second Language

Moving to another country--even temporarily-- has its challenges. One of the biggest challenges of this is mastering the language. Don't worry! There are many opportunities to improve your English and advance your career at the same time.

Steps

  1. Consider your workplace. Do you work in a more casual environment or is it very formal? Is your work highly specialised with its own jargon? Do you work with the public every day? Thinking about where you work (or hope to work if you haven't moved yet) will help you to choose what vocabulary you'll need in English.
  2. Learn from local media about customs and slang. Television, music, magazines, social media and talk radio are all effective ways to learn more about American culture and norms. Watch shows and listen to music that is especially popular. Although you might not use slang at work, you'll likely use it with your co-workers after hours.
  3. Practice with a tutor. There are many free or low-cost resources for ESL (English as a Second Language) that will help you to get a good grip on pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Some community centers and churches host ESL classes.
  4. Use the Internet. In addition to taking classes in person, there are countless websites, videos and drills online that are available to use for free. There are websites you can video-chat with a native speaker for extra practise as well.
  5. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Your colleagues are more willing to help you than you might think! If you're unsure, it does not make you look "bad" to ask if you're pronouncing something right-- especially if it's someone's name! Many people can see you're making your best effort at English and will be more than happy to help you learn the correct way to say something.
  6. Read daily. Reading will help you expand your vocabulary and will help you to visualize words in English! Reading a variety of books will also help you to grasp cultural concepts also.
  7. Record yourself reading aloud. This will help you to catch mistakes in your grammar and pronunciation.
  8. Listen to audiobooks. The professionals who listen audiobooks are masters of fluency!
  9. Practise writing in English daily. Practising English in a diary can be very beneficial. This will help you to get used to thinking and expressing yourself in English. Copying published books and even the dictionary by hand will help you to correct mistakes you might not catch in your diary.
  10. Learn to spell correctly as soon as possible. Correct grammar, spelling and syntax are all essential in the workplace! Correspondence with poor grammar and spelling can make you look less credible.
  11. Read books about etiquette. A lot of communication is non-verbal in ANY language. It is important to learn to recognize what certain non-verbal signs or unspoken rules apply in America, particularly in the formal setting of the workplace.
  12. Be patient with yourself! Mastering a new language and adjusting to a new culture is an on-going process. As the saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day!" Remain positive about your progress and work on improving your English daily.

Tips

  • Your language skills do not have to be 100% perfect. No ENGLISH speaker is 100% perfect--native or not! Focus on communicating effectively as possible.
  • Accents don't go away completely in adults, but they can be reduced with training. Worry less about your accent and more about your vocabulary and adjusting to customs.
  • Keep practicing every day! It's only through everyday use that you will get better at the English language.

Warnings

  • Swearing at the work place is usually considered rude. It's best to leave more crass language for after-hours with your friends.
  • Address your boss or supervisors as they instruct you to. If your boss insists you call him Steve, do that. If your boss insists on calling him "sir", do that.

Things You'll Need

  • pens and pencils
  • spiral-bound notebooks
  • flashcards
  • dry-erase board
  • laptop or tablet
  • Internet access
  • handwriting books
  • highlighters
  • English dictionary
  • phrase books

References

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