Four steps to improve your English communication skills
Call centers in the Philippines require a high level of professional English communication skills. Truth be told, it is hard to communicate fluently in the English language especially when it’s not your native tongue. However, you have to remind yourself time and time again that “Success isn’t for quitters” and that “Practice makes perfect.” If you are determined to work in the call center industry or if you simply would want to improve your English communication skills, then this article’s tailored just for you.
1) Keep it natural, slow to speak
Among the common mistakes non-native English speakers make is expecting that they should speak in English in the similar way that they speak in their mother tongue. Yes?
Of course, learning something different can be hard at first. Hence, you can’t expect to be natural like you are with your mother tongue. As they say, take it slow. You have to keep in mind that you’re still learning, and for people to better understand you, you have to speak clearly despite it being slow. They can’t hold that against you. You’re thinking!
Moreover, being careful with your words can be taken across as a sign of respect to the person you’re talking to. Pretending to be great in a foreign language [when you’re not], on the other hand, can cause risky misinterpretations of your message.
2) Do not forget to listen
As you practice your English communication skills, you should bear in mind that communication is a two-way street: to listen and to speak.
The point here is: as we speak, we often forget to listen to what people are talking about. We try to get our point across without considering what they are saying. This makes a huge mistake in communicating with customers/clients. Not only are you missing on what they could be pointing out, but also missing words that could help you out as you speak with them. After all, conversing with an English communicator is the best and fastest way to improve your English communication skills.
Take Artificial Intelligence for example. Most of these technology solutions are designed from humans’ observations and experiences. An AI-based smartphone keyboard such as SwiftKey can learn from its experience of your usage; as you type on it, it learns. Hence, after a while or so, it will recommend words that you would use. See?
3) Take your time doing it
As they say, you have to practice before you perfect a process. It might seem a slow process, but it’s totally worth it when you devote your time to it. Basically, you can do it in two ways (and it has to be both):
- Write
Writing is the best way to get ahold of your grammar and sentence structure in the English language. You can start by incorporating the basics: learn the rules on subjects and predicates, different parts of speech, and punctuation. This can help you not only improve your English grammar but create a clear tone on how you express yourself.
- Speak
Speaking, on the other hand, helps you better prepare towards conversing with people, specifically clients. If you can find someone to help you with, the better. However, if it’s too much for you, you can still practice it through language exchange sites or apps, or an actual English teaching site. It will be worth it.
4) Maintain the drill
Lastly, you have to maintain the drill. Similar to medicines, you have to maintain the intake in order for the solution to take effect. You can either try reading a book aloud or talk to yourself in the mirror once in a while. Don’t worry, we won’t judge you.
Key Takeaway
So, there you go. Did you have fun? Improving your English communication skills is not difficult when you put your heart into it. In fact, you can even enjoy it! Just take your time and invest into it, it will be worth it.
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