Why speaking remains the biggest challenge
Dutch people are among the best non-native speakers of English in the world. Yet many people feel insecure when they have to actively participate in a conversation, respond to unexpected questions or convey their ideas convincingly. To better understand why this is the case, and above all what can be done about it, we spoke to two of In’to’s English experts: teacher and course coordinator Myrte van Hilten and language and communication trainer Lorraine Faulds.
“Speaking skills often lag behind other skills,” says Myrte. “That’s not surprising, because when writing or reading, you have time to think and look things up, but when you speak, you have to produce language ‘live’.” “It’s also harder to practise on your own,” adds Lorraine. “People often have limited opportunities to speak English in the situations they find most difficult, and as a result, it remains nerve-wracking and awkward.”
It’s (probably) not down to your grammar
“My grammar isn’t good enough,” is something Myrte and Lorraine often hear from people who want to improve their English. But for advanced speakers, that often isn’t really the reason why they struggle to communicate effectively. “Of course you need grammar,” says Myrte, “but it’s actually not that important for communication and understanding. The problem is more often a lack of confidence in that grammar, and in your language skills in general.” This phenomenon is known as ‘Foreign Language Anxiety’, a form of social anxiety. People are afraid of coming across as stupid, or of not being taken seriously if their English isn’t perfect. “And this anxiety causes the parts of the brain you need for language to function less effectively,” explains Lorraine. “As a result, you speak less fluently and find it harder to find the right words.”
Foreign Language Anxiety causes the parts of the brain you need for language to function less effectively
Moreover, insecurity sometimes causes people to avoid certain conversational situations. Yet actively using the language is essential for improving. “Research shows that people who dare to speak up more often or engage in conversation also make faster progress in developing their language skills. They automatically get more practice, which not only helps them improve but also boosts their self-confidence. In short, having the courage to speak is actually much more important than constantly reviewing grammar.”
Adapting to the context
Although insecurity plays a role for many, it is not the only challenge that advanced English speakers face. “If you have a good foundation in English, the next step is to adapt your communication to the situation,” explains Myrte. “In a work meeting, you use different words and expressions than you would in a conversation with a friend, and a phone call with a client requires yet another tone. Switching gears and adding appropriate nuance for the context is something you need to practise in realistic situations.”
One example of a situation where many people find their English falls short is meetings. “We hear this time and time again,” says Lorraine. “Many factors come into play here: you need to be able to respond spontaneously, often in the presence of ‘important’ people, and you have to take into account certain conventions or ideas about ‘how things should be done’. When different nationalities are involved, first language influences, varying language levels and cultural differences also play a role. All of this places a lot of demands on your communication skills.”
From good English to professional English
So, if you use English regularly at work or during your studies but still get stuck from time to time, you might be wondering: how do I move forward? How do I make the leap from ‘good English’ to ‘professional English’? According to Myrte and Lorraine, the solution is not just about learning grammar or vocabulary, but targeted practice of the tasks you actually have to do in English. “Practising realistic situations in a safe learning environment boosts your confidence,” says Lorraine. “An experienced trainer can give you feedback and help you refine your English for the context. This gradually lowers the barrier to speaking ‘in real life’.”
Practising realistic situations in a safe learning environment boosts your confidence and lowers the barrier to speaking ‘in real life’.”
“We see that applied learning really works,” says Myrte. “Recently, I taught someone who often spoke in long, rambling sentences at work, which meant nobody understood her properly. During the training, we used role-plays to simulate her work situation and practised communicating concisely and effectively. When she applied this at work, she immediately noticed that her message was actually landing. That gave her confidence, which in turn made it easier and easier for her to communicate clearly.”
Changing learning needs call for a different approach
Although the language level of many English speakers is already high, there is still a need for training. That need simply looks different from before: the focus is shifting from general language proficiency to being able to communicate in English more effectively and confidently in specific situations. That insight formed the basis for the revamp of Radboud in’to Languages’ English course programme.
The long, general language proficiency courses have been replaced by more compact courses, offering the flexibility to work on what matters most to you. In addition, you can choose from six new workshops to tackle a specific skill in a concise and effective manner – from giving presentations to speaking English spontaneously. This makes the course programme more results-oriented, but also more accessible – both in terms of time commitment and cost.
Speaking skills are central to all the training courses. “We do a lot of role-plays and speaking exercises, and students can also bring in situations from their own lives or work experience,” says Lorraine. “We aim to make every lesson as practical as possible, but also fun and enjoyable, and to take the pressure off being the perfect speaker. Because don’t forget: making mistakes, hesitating, and starting sentences over are all natural parts of communication.”
