How to improve English? Moving to Europe for consulting role

Question

I will soon move to Europe to work in a consulting role, where the working language is English. As a non-native speaker, I would like to seek your advice on improving English (speaking & writing), with the objective of using English at work fluently.

Some challenges that I foresee:

(1) Slide writing: as a non-native speaker, I still need to improve on writing in a native, concise, and precise manner. However, I know less vocabulary compared to native speakers, and I will need to enhance my writing.

(2) Communication: I can talk fluently in English, but when discussing business topics, I still mumble a bit and sometimes the word choice is not precise and crispy. Also, my English may be sound “formal" and not colloquial in social settings.

Could you share your advice, please? Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi there,

Having learned (and maintained) 3 languages, I recommend the following approach...efficiency in time is key here:

1. Conversational: Download the app HelloTalk. It pairs you up with people that are opposite to you (i.e. learning your language, but native in English) and you chat via text, audio, call etc. It has awesome features (such as edit functionality so the other person can edit your messages for correctness).

2. Vocabulary: Use either handwritten flashcards and/or the app Quizlet. Review these whenever waiting (i.e. on the bus, cooking, on hold, etc)

3. Listening: Download English podcasts and listen while you sleep. I.e. put the phone next to your bed, at a soft enough volume that you can sleep, but loud enough that you cna hear the words. You'll be amazing how your listening improves.

4. Dedicated/tailored training: Go to www.italki.com. It's the PrepLounge for languages!

For languages I use the following:

Italki (cheap tutors)
Brainscape (vocabulary…flash cards)
HelloTalk (peer-to-peer conversation)
iPodcasts/Spotify (comprehension)

It's important to use all the above hollistically!

Slide Writing

1) Think like a story

If I were telling this persona story, how would I do it? What would be the leading sentences to each paragraph? Does the sentence before and the sentence after make sence?

2) Write leading titles - "We have identified x" or "X value has resulted in y"

3) Be concise - Less is more. Work to keep your words sharp and succinct

4) Come back later - Write it, then come back later to try and re-write it better!

5) Read it outloud - Read the title + content outloud. See if it takes too long, is wordy, doesn't make sense, etc.

6) Print it out - this lets you read it with new eyes. Physcologically, your brain will treat it as new material. This will let you catch when you're written poorly or not directly

Answer 2

Hi,

Here are some advice and strategies to address the challenges you've outlined:

1. Slide Writing:

Expand Your Vocabulary: To enhance your writing, start by expanding your vocabulary. Regularly read English books, articles, and publications in the consulting field. Keep a vocabulary journal to record new words and their usage.

Practice and Feedback: Work on your slide writing skills through practice. Create slides and seek feedback from native speakers or colleagues. This will help you refine your writing style and learn to be concise and precise.

Use Templates: Utilize professional templates for slide creation. Consulting firms often have standard formats and layouts for presentations. Using these templates can help you structure your content effectively.

2. Communication:

Speak Regularly: Engage in regular conversations in English to improve your fluency. Practice speaking with colleagues, friends, or language exchange partners. The more you practice, the more confident and precise you'll become in your business discussions.

Industry Terminology: Familiarize yourself with industry-specific terminology and jargon commonly used in consulting. This will make your language more precise and relevant.

Seek Feedback: Encourage colleagues or mentors to provide feedback on your communication. They can point out areas where you might mumble or where your word choice could be improved.

Colloquial English: While you aim for professional fluency, also work on understanding and using colloquial English. It's essential to be able to adapt your language to different settings, whether formal or informal.

Use Language Learning Apps: Consider using language learning apps like Duolingo, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone. They offer structured language exercises and vocabulary building.

Professional Development: Consulting firms often provide language training or resources for employees. Take advantage of these opportunities to improve your language skills.

Engage in Cultural Activities: Immerse yourself in English-speaking cultural activities, such as watching English movies, TV shows, and reading newspapers. This will help you understand cultural nuances in language.

Remember that language improvement is an ongoing process, and it's natural to face challenges along the way. Be patient with yourself and set achievable goals. Over time, you'll become more fluent and confident in your English language skills, which will benefit your consulting career in Europe.

Cheers,

Alexandre

Answer 3

Hi,

This is a great question and really important for anyone facing a similar working situation.

I will suggest the following things:

Take language classes
- Take classes that focus on business terminology and language - this is definitely the most helpful way to learn the key useful vocab
- Some online platforms give you alot of flexibility to dictate this (e.g. iTalki.com)
Practice speaking
- Several language learning communities (e.g. iTalki, Facebook) will give you an opportunity to practice talking in business type situations
When you join your firm, immediately ask around your colleagues for a selection of the best decks in the most common project types in your office
- This will help you get exposed to common terminology and phrasing that will be useful for you
- You can also start to build up your own ‘slide library’ which is immensely helpful
Leverage your peers
- In my experience, peers are often willing to sacrifice their time to take a quick look at your work (at least at Kearney/BCG)

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on landing the job! Remember that you've already demonstrated your abilities and met the required standards. It's quite common for English not to be the native language for many in the consulting field. Here some tips:

Consulting Articles: Read articles on platforms like McKinsey Quarterly. It exposes you to typical consulting jargon, phrases, and writing styles, helping you expand your vocabulary and become more comfortable with the language.

English Media: Engage with English-language media. Listen to English podcasts, watch business news in English, and participate in webinars. Pay attention to pronunciation, intonation, and the ways native speakers express their ideas.

Powerpoint Practice: Do PPT Karaoke with peers or seeking guidance from a coach. This not only enhances your language skills but also your overall communication abilities.

Hope these tips prove helpful. If you have any more questions or concerns, feel free to reach out.

Warm regards, Frederic 👍

Answer 5

Hi there,

Congratulations on the offer! In terms of your question:

Q: I would like to seek your advice on improving English

I would recommend the following:

Find a teacher. I used preply.com in the past, another alternative is italki.com. You can filter teachers based on languages, reviews, budget, availability, etc, similar to PrepLounge coaches. In your case, you should probably target teachers with a focus on business English. Working with a teacher is relatively cheap and helps a lot if you manage to stick to a weekly class. You can ask for help also to improve your writing skills.
Study daily new words. I recommend the app Anki, which uses the SRS system and works very well to learn new words. You can focus on the words critical for your job – usually, if you master the 1000 most important ones, you can talk and understand relatively well in your niche.
Gamify your learning. I tried a few apps and the one I liked the most in terms of gamification is Memrise (focused mainly on building vocabulary) – you should probably target a course based on business terms in your case (you can add for free one of those created by the other users, besides the official ones offered by the app).

BONUS: you can look for a good business book on Audible, check if you like the style of the speaker and listen to it during breaks/downtime. You will learn new things and improve your English at the same time.

Best,

Francesco

Answer 6

Hi there,

Congrats on your new consulting role in Europe! Let’s separate your challenges in two:

English level: from your context, I understand you already have a strong English level and you want to improve your business vocabulary and your colloquial style in social settings. For your business vocabulary I suggest you read a lot of consulting / business articles (e.g., from main consulting firms or HRB) to incorporate more depth to your vocabulary. For improving on your verbal skills, practice in different setups (e.g., network with other English-speaking consultants in your area or online, join English-speaking social events for students in your area, sign in for a language exchange events, etc.).
Communication style: consulting communication style is quite particular and even native speakers of every tenure struggle until they sharpen their style. Some consulting firms (e.g, MBB) do extensive training on top-down communication style for new entries on every position. Ask your recruiting contact if this would be the case in your new job.

I hope this helps!

Alberto

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Answer 7

Make it fun.

This way it will feel less like work.

So take a step back and think about what are the things that you enjoy doing. Let's say, watching movies. Then watch more content in English with English subtitles. Pause when something doens't make sense. Look it up.

In parallel, subscribe to a newspaper or a publication such as The Economist or Financial Times. This way you can gradually start to absorb the business language, while also getting a better understanding of what's happening in the world and in business.

Lastly, seek more opportunities to speak with native speakers. There are lots of platforms out there where you can exercise this. You might even make a few friends in the process.

Best,
Cristian

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Answer 8

Improving your English language skills for professional purposes is a great goal, and I'm here to provide some advice to help you achieve it. Here are a few tips to address the challenges you mentioned:

Slide Writing: To improve your writing skills, I recommend expanding your vocabulary by reading extensively in English. This can include books, articles, and business publications. Pay attention to the style and structure of well-written materials and try to incorporate those elements into your own writing. Additionally, consider using online resources and language learning apps to practice and expand your vocabulary. Finally, seek feedback from native English speakers or language coaches who can help you refine your writing style.

Communication: To enhance your communication skills, it's important to practice speaking in English as much as possible. Engage in conversations with native English speakers, either through language exchange programs or by joining professional networking events. This will help you become more comfortable discussing business topics and improve your word choice and clarity. Additionally, consider watching English movies, TV shows, and listening to podcasts to familiarize yourself with colloquial language and idiomatic expressions. Mimicking native speakers' pronunciation and intonation can also help you sound more natural in social settings.