Language Unlimited: Up With English - Perfecting Spoken English for the Workplace

Up With English: Perfecting Spoken English

“If I just tried harder, my English would be better.”

”I’m just not good with language. I don’t even speak my own language well.”

Most people feel helpless about improving their language, the way many of us feel about our car engine, or about how to program our DVD player. Up With English provides participants with easily learned ideas for improving their spoken English: They learn how language works and how they can EASILY identify their own errors and correct them. This is speech polishing—speech improvement for smooth communication and clear communication.

The Purpose

Up with English is designed to work with specific groups of employees who need assistance in spoken communications for the workplace. We plan language practice for the individual needs of:

• Non-native English speakers, particularly foreign-born employees who speak English fairly well or fluently, but who need assistance with pronunciation, grammar subtleties, colloquial American English, and cultural practices, and

• U.S.-born employees who speak “non Nine-to-five” dialects, whose language skills may interfere with their ability to communicate or lend an air of authority to their experience and knowledge.

Course Description

Up With English is not a formal grammar course. It is not a public speaking program. Rather, it is a unique training approach focusing on improvements in spoken English.

Up With English uses an approach that is practical and involves a minimum of theory or memorization.

Up With English is individualized, work-place-specific, and emphasizes pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and/or levels of formality, depending on the needs of the group and the individual.

Up With English classes involve any or all of the following activities:

• Analysis of general problems common to most participants
• Analysis of specific problem areas in each student’s speech
• Practice pronouncing words with problem sounds or sound combinations
• Practice using American English intonation patterns and stress patterns
• Practice using and comprehending American idioms and American colloquial expressions
• Discussion of what kinds of English are appropriate in what situations, and why.
• Understanding formal versus informal English and when to use each
• Explanation and practice of grammatical patterns that are difficult for the particular group of participants
• Role-play exercises to practice business interactions necessary in the workplace of the participants
• Reports in class of listening assignments
• Recording and analysis of certain class activities
• Explanation and discussion of American politeness rules and other social conventions

THE INSTRUCTOR CREATES A SAFE, FRIENDLY AND COOPERATIVE ATMOSPHERE. PARTICIPANTS FEEL MORE COMPETENT IN THEIR ENGLISH FROM THE VERY FIRST CLASS.

For more information, email or call Lynn Reer at 503.282.8625.