The first days back can be slow. Routines are rusty. Focus is short. That is normal. You do not need to start again. With a few high-impact moves, you can help students switch back on, feel confident and build momentum for the term.

Start with a short check, then act fast on feedback

Open with a quick, low-stakes check of key ideas from last term. Keep it short (6–8 items). Include a mix of multiple-choice and one or two short answers. This is not for grades. It is to see what students still remember and where the gaps are. Even when students get items wrong, trying to retrieve helps learning later (Richland, Kornell and Kao, 2009).

Follow up with clear, task-focused feedback so students know the next step (“Add units to your answer”; “Show the first step”) rather than general comments. Use the results to form two or three quick groups and assign a short, targeted task to each.

In Part 1, we looked at how to build a sensible measurement philosophy for language training using KPIs and the Global Scale of English (GSE). We’ve established that language programs shouldn’t be treated as a calendar entry, but as a strategic lever, and that independence, granularity and credibility are the secret sauce.

Now it’s time to move from how to why: how these datapoints translate into tangible business outcomes, and how to make sure your investment in English doesn’t just look good on slides but actually delivers value when the CFO walks in.

From measuring to meaning: translating KPIs into ROI

Let’s be blunt: only a reckless stakeholder invests without expecting a return. Weighing costs and benefits, however, can get tricky. Without some operational clarity, ROI quickly becomes either a fairy tale or a labyrinth, both of which are bad news in risk-averse corporate cultures.

From a client’s perspective, it’s vital to include all components in your calculation: direct delivery fees, platform access, materials and, ideally, a provider capable of offering the full package. And please don’t forget the indirect cost of time. Two hours of lessons per week equals more than 100 hours per learner per year. Add the asynchronous learning that every serious learner contributes, and we’re suddenly talking about real numbers.

If you skip that, the ROI will look spectacular on paper until someone performs a reality check and the budget line gets a little uncomfortable. If you’re an L&D manager reading this, add sensible estimates for coordination and reporting. Ideally, your provider helps you keep those to a minimum. At choices®, which provides language services, we see this as part of the service rather than a side quest. Trust me, it saves everyone time and sanity.

It’s that time of year again. Students are heading off on their winter breaks to spend time with their friends and family. It’s the perfect time to think about what we can do to keep our students motivated to practice their English during the break.

Reading is a great way for students to expand their vocabulary and improve their language skills from the comfort of their sofas. The problem learners often have, however, is finding a book that is both suitable for their level and entertaining enough to hold their attention.

Here are three festive readers that you can recommend to your students to keep them busy this holiday season. We have also included downloadable teaching notes and audio samples so you can introduce them in your classes and get an idea of how these could be used as teaching materials.