English Language Proficiency and Today’s Workplace

By Arthur Rubin

 People are more than ever focused on how to navigate today’s tortuous economy. In an increasingly English-speaking world, command of that language is critical to everyone in the workplace. Linguistic proficiency is advantageous for getting and keeping a good job, for career advancement, for enjoying work and simply keeping up with day-day-to-day life.  

Vocational education is non-academic in orientation; its purpose is to prepare trainees for manual and technical jobs. Language proficiency plays an important role here: the skills learned via voc ed are more easily acquired by students working to improve their oral and written language skills (VESL, or Vocational English as a Second Language).

Then there is language training designed to help people fulfill academic and career goals, often referred to as English for Special Purposes. This can be used for career development, job search preparation, starting or growing a business, customer relations, sales skills, functioning in teams, presentation anxiety, dealing with stress, “thriving vs. surviving” in the workplace and other relevant topics. Moreover, such language training can focus on specific industries: healthcare, finance, law, psychology, social work and others.

To conclude: whatever their ultimate goals, young people desiring secure and satisfying careers can benefit from the acquisition and/or improvement of English language skills.