Start-up guide: Language training for your business

Samantha Ball
Samantha Ball
A business woman stood in front of a board of sticky notes, with others looking at the sticky notes.
Reading time: 4 minutes

As HR professionals, you understand the importance of equipping your workforce with the skills they need to thrive. One such critical skill is proficiency in business English. Implementing a corporate language training program can seem daunting, but with the right resources and a clear plan, you can set your organization on a path to success. Here’s a methodical guide to help you get started with resources to help you along the way.

Start-up guide: Language training for your business
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.

Step 1: Assess your needs

Before diving into language training, it’s essential to understand your organization’s specific needs. Consider the following:

  • Identify roles and skills: Determine which roles require strong English proficiency. Use tools like the GSE Job Profiles to map English skills to over 1300 roles.
  • Evaluate current proficiency: Use automated English language tests like Versant by Pearson to assess the current proficiency levels of your employees. This will help you identify gaps and tailor your training programs accordingly.

Step 2: Choose the right training solutions

Selecting the appropriate training solutions is crucial for the success of your language program. Pearson offers a variety of options to suit different needs:

  • Digital Language Tutor: For scalable, remote learning, consider Mondly by Pearson and its Digital Language Tutor. This platform uses AI-powered Conversation Partners to simulate corporate scenarios, enhancing listening and speaking skills in relevant business contexts.
  • Instructor-led courses: For more personalized learning, explore courses like Business Partner and Step Up. These programs focus on developing business English and soft skills through authentic business situations and teamwork exercises.

Step 3: Develop a comprehensive plan

A well-structured plan ensures that your language training program is effective and sustainable. Here’s how to get started:

  • Set clear objectives: Define what you aim to achieve with your language training program. Whether it’s improving customer service, enhancing internal communication, or supporting international business expansion, having clear goals will guide your efforts.
  • Create a curriculum: Use tools like the GSE Teacher Toolkit to create job-specific language profiles and design a curriculum that aligns with your objectives.
  • Integrate assessments: Regularly assess your employees’ progress using tools like Versant by Pearson. This will help you measure the effectiveness of your training and make necessary adjustments.

Step 4: Secure stakeholder buy-in

Gaining support from key stakeholders is critical for the success of your language training program. Here’s how to build a compelling case:

  • Highlight the Benefits: Use data to demonstrate the tangible benefits of language training, such as improved customer satisfaction, increased revenue, and enhanced employee engagement. Refer to resources like the Global English Proficiency Report for insights.
  • Calculate ROI: Use our business case template to calculate the potential return on investment (ROI) of your language training program. This will help you present a well-rounded argument to decision-makers.

Step 5: Implement and monitor

Once you have your plan and stakeholder support, it’s time to implement your language training program:

  • Launch the program: Roll out the training program across your organization. Ensure that employees understand the objectives and benefits of the training.
  • Monitor progress: Regularly track the progress of your employees using assessments and feedback. Use this data to make necessary adjustments and ensure continuous improvement.

Explore further

For additional insights, watch the webinar series 'The Power of Language Training and Assessment for Businesses.' This series is designed for HR innovators, talent acquisition and development professionals, people managers, and business leaders. It covers how integrating English language training and assessments into your talent strategy can power business success. The webinars feature exclusive product demos, real case studies, and the latest data and research, making them a must-watch to set your workforce up for success.

For more resources, explore our comprehensive collection of articles, reports and tools:

By following these steps and leveraging Pearson’s innovative solutions, you can empower your workforce with the language skills they need to excel in today’s global business environment. Start your corporate language training journey today and unlock the full potential of your organization.

Get in touch and start your company language journey

More blogs from Pearson

  • A child in a classroom working on a laptop smiling
    AI and safeguarding in the classroom: What teachers need to know
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in education. Teachers and students may use AI tools to create ideas, support learning, translate text or find information. But as AI becomes part of everyday classroom life, safeguarding needs to remain a priority.

    Safeguarding is about protecting children and young people from harm. When using AI, this means thinking carefully about privacy, online safety, inappropriate content and how students interact with technology.

    Protect students' personal information

    One of the most important safeguarding issues is privacy. Students may be tempted to enter personal information into an AI tool without understanding where that information goes or how it may be used. Personal information could include a student's full name, address, school details, photographs, contact information or information about their family. It could also include sensitive information about their health, behavior or personal circumstances.

    Teachers can help by setting clear rules about what students should and should not share with AI tools. If students are using AI in class, use activities that do not require them to enter personal or sensitive information.

  • A woman working in a office concentrating on her laptop
    Is AI scoring unreliable?
    By Alice Bazzi
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Artificial intelligence has transformed many industries, but in education, one question persists: can you truly trust AI to assess language skills?

    The short answer is yes, and in many cases, AI scoring is more reliable than traditional methods. PTE Express uses advanced machine-learning models trained on hundreds of thousands of real responses to evaluate language proficiency consistently at scale. 

    Unlike human examiners, AI does not experience fatigue, bias, or inconsistency. Every test is assessed using the same criteria, ensuring fairness for all candidates regardless of location or volume. Additionally, AI scoring is not developed in isolation. It is built and continuously refined using input from linguistic experts and large datasets, ensuring that scoring reflects real-world language use and academic expectations. 

  • Woman listening to music with headphones on while lying on sofa
    How to improve your listening skills quickly
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Listening is an important part of learning a language. It helps you understand conversations, follow instructions and communicate with confidence. But listening can also feel difficult, especially when people speak quickly or use words you do not know.

    The good news is that you do not need to spend hours listening every day to improve. With the right practice, you can make progress in just a few minutes. Here are some ways to improve your listening skills quickly.

    1. Listen to something you understand

    Choose audio or video that is close to your current language level. If you understand almost nothing, it can be difficult to learn from it. If you understand every word, you may not be learning much.

    Start with short conversations, learner podcasts or videos with clear speech. You can also use social media content, including memes, short videos and posts in the language you are learning. These can be a fun way to see and hear everyday language without feeling like you are doing a formal lesson.

    For example, you could look at a meme in your target language and try to understand the joke before using a translation tool. Short videos can also help you hear common expressions and the way people speak naturally.

    Try to understand the main idea before worrying about every word. If you are learning English, you could listen to a short conversation about shopping, travel or daily routines. These topics are useful because you are likely to hear similar language in real life.