Enhancing workplace communication: The new role of language assessments in business success

Andrew Khan
two business people sat together in a meeting both looking at a laptop
Reading time: 4 minutes

The integration of AI tools into workplaces around the world is starting to change the way people communicate professionally. Research suggests that the use of AI to help draft documents and emails is driven not only by convenience and efficiency but also by a desire to be clear and precise in language.

While potentially useful, tools to translate, generate, or ‘correct’ written text won’t help with the effectiveness of the verbal communication that powers business relationships.

Is your teams communication effective?
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree Pearson can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

The importance of effective communication

Whether it’s customer support calls, sales presentations, health and safety instructions or day-to-day engagement with colleagues, our personal and professional interactions in the workplace rely on our ability to understand and be understood.

Equally, clarity of communication is central to many of the ‘future skills’ that employers have identified as critical to sustained success – notably leadership, collaboration, critical thinking and empathy.

It can be challenging for people who have English as a first language to feel confident in these skills – and even more difficult for those who may use another language at home but are required to speak English at work.

Challenges faced by second-language English speakers

When designing assessments that measure English proficiency, we need to balance the convenience and duration that enable them to fit into a fast-paced hiring workflow with the coverage that gives businesses confidence in the results. This means focusing on the most essential elements of effective communication.

Introducing the Versant by Pearson English Speaking and Listening Test

With the new Versant by Pearson English Speaking and Listening Test, we take just seventeen minutes to give a comprehensive picture of communicative English competence. So where do we focus?

Effective verbal communication: Balancing listening and speaking skills

As a starting point, the businesses that we heard from in our research were clear that listening is just as important a skill as speaking when it comes to making hiring decisions.

Anyone who has been through sales or customer support training in the past will likely be familiar with the phrase “you have one mouth but two ears,” meaning that, in a professional context, our ability to listen, actively and attentively, for detail and nuance, can be twice as valuable as speaking. A test that didn’t place equal weight on comprehension and productive speech when assessing communicative ability would be missing the mark.

Evolving expectations around speech

Our research also pointed to expectations around speech having shifted in recent years. The range of jobs where English is required at the point of hiring has increased in many countries – with professionals from taxi drivers to online tutors often asked to demonstrate communicative competence.

With this in mind, Pearson has introduced the Global Scale of English Job Profiles framework to help employers define appropriate English requirements for a variety of different positions.

Customer Support roles and communicative ability

Customer Support roles, historically the main use case for testing English in the workplace, are also evolving. Employers are placing a much greater emphasis on true communicative ability to help resolve complex problems rather than scripted or pre-prepared responses delivered with US-style accents.

Designing effective assessments

Taking this into account, we recognized a need to design a more effective way of testing both the manner of speaking and the content of that speech. Manner-of-speaking scores bring together the measurement of fluency or the fluidity and cohesion of a spoken response, pronunciation and intelligibility.

Pronunciation is different from accent – a test taker can have an Indian accent, a French accent or a Japanese accent and still pronounce English words in a way that first-language speakers will expect to hear them. Intelligibility reflects the reality that we all speak in different ways, with a voice authentic to ourselves, and looks to assess whether that voice can be easily understood by others.

Measuring communication skills

The most relevant measure of communication skills isn’t whether you sound like a fluent speaker but whether you can use your ability with language to convey meaning effectively. Our speech also needs to be relevant and appropriate, with suitable vocabulary and grammatical accuracy.

We’ve found the most successful way to measure speech content is to blend short questions with a limited set of potential responses with more open-ended items. This enables test takers to speak organically and really show what they can do with their language skills.

The value of fair and objective assessments

Whether used as a hiring tool, to diagnose employees' learning and development needs or to benchmark improvement over time, English assessments can be a great asset to businesses – but only if they’re fair, objective and laser-focused on the skills that underpin true communicative competence.

More blogs from Pearson

  • University students sat in a lecture hall, one has his hand raised
    Supporting student success beyond admissions
    By Alice Bazzi
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    In international education, admissions are just the beginning. While securing a place at a university is a massive milestone for a student, measuring success continues for them from the moment they arrive on campus. Institutions know that academic performance, engagement and retention are shaped long before the first lecture begins, and one of those critical factors is English language proficiency. 

    Students who begin their studies with the right level of English are better equipped to participate fully in academic life. They understand course material, contribute to discussions and complete assignments with confidence. This foundation does not support individual achievement; it also strengthens the entire learning environment. 

    That is why reliable proficiency testing is more than an admissions tool. It is a strategic investment in student success. 

    The link between proficiency and performance 

    Universities have long understood the connection between language readiness and academic outcomes. When students are placed correctly, they are more likely to thrive. Misplacement, on the other hand, can lead to frustration, disengagement and even dropout. 

    Reliable testing helps institutions avoid such pitfalls. It ensures that students are matched to the right level of study, reducing the need for remedial support and improving retention rates. For universities, this translates into stronger performance metrics and a cohesive student experience overall. 

    Pearson English Express Test: A foundation for success

    The Pearson English Express Test is designed to support this journey before day one. With fast, secure and trusted results, it gives both students and institutions the clarity they need to move forward with confidence. 

    It delivers certified scores within 48 hours, allowing universities to make timely decisions and students to begin their academic journey without delay. It is AI-powered scoring and alignment with CEFR and GSE frameworks ensures accuracy, while remote proctoring and identity verfication protect the integrity of the results. 

    This combination of speed, precision and security makes the Pearson English Express Test more than just a test but a strategic tool for long-term success 

    Institutional value that goes beyond admissions 

    For universities, adopting the Pearson English Express Test is not just about streamlining admissions; it is about strengthening the entire student lifecycle. By ensuring that potential students are linguistically prepared, institutions can reduce academic risk, improve retention and enhance their reputation for supporting international learners. 

    The Pearson English Express Test helps universities to demonstrate a commitment to quality and care. It shows that they are not just admitting students, they are setting them up for success. 

    A smarter start for international students

    In a competitive global education market, institutions need solutions that go beyond the basics. The Pearson English Express Test offers a smarter, more strategically driven approach to language assessment. One that not only supports them getting into university, but also from application to graduation. 

    By choosing the Pearson English Express Test, universities are investing in outcomes that matter: academic success, student satisfaction and long-term institutional positive impact. 

  • Youung adults outside dressed up warm chatting together
    Celebrating global holidays: Inclusive festive activities for your English classroom
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Across classrooms, holidays show up as stories, songs, recipes, colors and customs. For English educators, they also offer language tasks that build communication, intercultural understanding and community. The key is to celebrate in a way that’s inclusive, academically rich, and respectful of diverse beliefs and backgrounds. Here are some activities you can do this festive season with minimal fluff and maximum impact, each tied to clear language objectives.

    Principles for inclusive festive learning

    • Student choice: Invite learners to showcase their traditions, for example, Diwali, Lunar New Year, Eid, Hanukkah, Christmas, Día de los Muertos, Nowruz or a seasonal theme without a religious focus.
    • Language-first design: Anchor activities in explicit objectives – for example, “Can describe customs and traditions,” “Can compare events,” “Can write instructions” – to ensure measurable progress.
    • Do-no-harm approach: Provide opt-in alternatives, avoid stereotyping and create space for students who do not celebrate holidays.
    • Representation: Use materials that reflect multiple regions and voices. Encourage translanguaging to deepen understanding and honor identity.
    • Accessibility: Scaffold with visuals, sentence frames and leveled texts so every learner can contribute meaningfully.
  • students sitting outside on a wall together looking at a laptop together
    Using the principles of Japanese philosophy to improve the quality of our teaching
    By Michael Rost
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Learning a new language opens doors to unique ways of thinking and feeling, deeply rooted in culture. As teachers, we have the privilege of guiding learners to these insights, helping them broaden their worldview.

    When I first moved to Japan, I was struck by concepts like wa (和, social harmony), enryo (遠慮, restraint out of respect) and gaman (我慢, patient endurance). Discovering these ideas was energizing and made learning Japanese feel like more than just mastering a new language – it was about embracing a vibrant culture.

    I soon found that many expats shared similar experiences. In my first year teaching in Japan, over 40 years ago, I met Marc Helgesen at one of the first JALT meetings. We connected over our shared interest in developing a revolutionary approach to language teaching in Japan – a kind of kakushin (革新), or innovation, that challenged the status quo.

    Our collaboration led to many teaching experiments and, eventually, the publication of English Firsthand as a single-level course in 1985.