Content and approach
In this interactive workshop, we will practise situations where you need to use your English spontaneously, developing your fluency and confidence, rather than hesitating over grammar. You will learn phrases and words that will make you feel more prepared for spontaneous encounters. During the session, you will get a lot of opportunities to practice your speaking skills with the other participants, and you will get direct feedback from your teacher.
What will be covered?
What you will learn:
- Confidence in improvising
It is impossible to script everything in life, so you will need to improvise. Thinking on your feet while expressing your thoughts is a skill that can be learned. - Buying time
Sometimes, having to switch to English can be a surprise and you just need some time to collect your thoughts. How do you buy yourself a little time before you engage? - Using standard phrases
Using standard phrases works like anchors in a conversation. Carefully avoiding cliches, of course, you will find strength in knowing idiomatic ways to agree, disagree, ask for clarification and many other ways of interaction. - Adding nuance
When your comfort zone grows, your vocabulary also expands. Before you know it, you will be using words that capture exactly what you mean. These words may have already been familiar to you, or they may be completely new.
What is the outcome of this workshop?
Having completed this workshop, you will:
- feel more confident the next time you have to speak English;
- spend less time searching for the right words;
- find that your conversation partners are no longer distracted by how you say things, but instead focus on what you have to say;
- be able to add more nuance to your message.
Who is this workshop suitable for?
This workshop is suitable for speakers of English as a foreign language at B2 level or higher. This workshop is aimed at anyone who needs to refresh their professional English, so they can be more fluent in their workplace. Unsure about your current level? Take the online level test.
This workshop is also offered within our 8-week English courses at B2, C1 and C2 levels. Would you like to develop your general English alongside your professional speaking skills? You can enrol in one of our English courses and include this workshop in your personalised programme.
What are the costs of this workshop?
- Standard fee: € 199,-
- RU students: € 80,- (60% discount)
- RU staff Radboudumc: free of charge (provided that they meet the necessary conditions for Language Policy Courses)
- RU and Radboudumc employees and alumni: € 179,- (always a 10% discount)
- WUR employees and students: €179,- (10% discount)
Would you like to make use of your discount as RU alumnus, or as WUR student or employee? Please enter this information in the ‘reference’ field on the registration form, or email us once you have registered at info [at] into.ru.nl (info[at]into[dot]ru[dot]nl).
Registration
Important information about registration
- For Radboud University students and staff: in order to register for a course, you must turn your EduVPN on. This also applies when you are on campus.
- For anyone not affiliated with the University: please use the second button.
Registration RU staff/studentsRegistration other participants
This workshop starts every year in April and November. If you would like to take this workshop, but is it fully booked or your desired start date has not yet been listed, let us know that you would like to be kept informed, and we will let you know when you can sign up for new dates.
Prefer to work on professional speaking skills individually or with your team?
Please contact our Tailor-made Department to discuss your needs. During an intake interview, we will determine what is desirable and feasible and we will discuss the approach and design of our offer, from a coaching programme to a short workshop or multi-day course.
A tailor-made course can take place in a small group with your team or department, but also one-on-one. Courses take place at our premises or in-company. In some cases, some or all of the course can also take place online. After the intake interview, you will receive an offer with a tailor-made programme. Radboud University and Radboud university medical center employees can take advantage of an internal rate.
