| In our ever-increasing global marketplace, it is | | | | English sounds just as fast to a non-native |
| more and more likely that you will encounter | | | | speaker as those foreign languages did to you. I'm |
| non-native speakers of English in your workplace. | | | | not suggesting that you slow down to an |
| This can be a wonderful opportunity to get | | | | embarrassingly slow pace, but be conscious of |
| familiar with another culture, but it can be | | | | how rapidly you are speaking. Particularly when |
| frustrating when the other person's limited English | | | | communicating technical information, it is important |
| or accent interferes with communication. You | | | | to ensure that the other person has understood |
| may not think that you can do anything about it, | | | | every piece of the communication. If you are |
| but actually there are several steps you can take. | | | | hurried or stressed, work even harder to slow |
| If the person has very limited English, you could | | | | down. It is very natural when we are stressed to |
| offer to help him or her find ESL classes. If their | | | | talk even faster, but most likely this is when it will |
| knowledge of English is good, but their accent | | | | be most critical to speak slowly enough to get |
| makes them hard to understand, suggest to | | | | your message across clearly. A few extra |
| management that they offer accent reduction | | | | seconds on the front end can save an endless |
| training for those who need it. In the meantime, | | | | stream of headaches later on. |
| though, what do you do if you are working with | | | | 4. DO offer to explain unfamiliar words |
| this person and you just can't understand each | | | | Most non-native speakers are working hard to |
| other? | | | | improve their English and are extremely intelligent. |
| Try these five tips to improve your ability to | | | | After all, they are performing their job in a |
| communicate: | | | | foreign language; not everyone could do that! If |
| 1. DO NOT Speak More Loudly | | | | you kindly offer to explain an unfamiliar word, you |
| Unless the person is wearing hearing aids or has a | | | | are not only helping your colleague to boost his |
| known hearing loss, please do not speak more | | | | English skills, but you are building trust and rapport |
| loudly to him or her. He or she is not deaf, and | | | | as well. |
| shouting does not improve communication. It is a | | | | 5. DO ask if they would like your help with |
| natural reaction for many people who are | | | | pronunciation |
| misunderstood to repeat their statement a little | | | | Have you ever had one of those embarrassing |
| louder each time, as if the listener were a | | | | moments where you had a piece of spinach |
| stubborn two year old willfully ignoring the request. | | | | caught in your teeth, or your fly was down, or |
| Use a normal tone of voice. Your listener will | | | | you had toilet paper caught on your shoe.....and no |
| thank you. | | | | one told you? Didn't you wish someone had just |
| 2. DO NOT Over- Enunciate | | | | said something to you sooner instead of letting |
| Another tendency many of us have when faced | | | | you walk around like that? That is how most |
| with awkward communication is to s-l-o-w- | | | | non-native speakers of English feel when they |
| d-o-w-n and over-enunciate. Do you hear the | | | | mispronounce a word and no one tells them it is |
| words I am trying to say? we think to ourselves | | | | wrong. Some people are very self- conscious and |
| in an over-exaggerated fashion. But that is not | | | | prefer not to be corrected, but many |
| how English really sounds, and it won't increase | | | | foreign-born professionals are very appreciative |
| the chances of being understood. It will only make | | | | of a little English guidance. It is important to be |
| the listener feel belittled. | | | | polite and discreet, though. Correcting someone |
| 3. DO Speak More Slowly | | | | across the table in a meeting with the boss may |
| Try to think back to the foreign language class | | | | not go over so well, but a casual comment |
| you took in high school. Whether it was French, | | | | afterward could be helpful. In fact, if you develop |
| Spanish, or German, I'll bet that your reaction to | | | | a good rapport with the person, you could offer |
| hearing native speakers was something like this : | | | | to be their resource contact whenever they are |
| Why do they talk so fast? Can't they just slow | | | | unsure of how to pronounce a word. You could |
| down? I can't even understand the words they | | | | help them avoid many of those embarrassing little |
| are saying. Now the shoe is on the other foot. | | | | moments! |