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Imagine it’s your first day teaching Business English, and a student says to you, “Please correct all my mistakes.” Upon this request, you are faced with an important question: What is more valuable in real-world communication – perfection, or the ability to be clearly understood?
Intelligibility in Business English
The stakes are incredibly high in the fast-paced business world where clear communication can make or break a deal. For many Business English students, mastering the language isn’t just a skill – it’s a pathway to career growth. Developing English proficiency often serves as a motivating factor by unlocking better client relationships, global professional opportunities, and career advancement.
However, striving for perfection can be detrimental to both your students and the class itself. Focusing on correcting every minor error can cause you to get stuck on grammar rules instead of prioritizing communicative skills. Students benefit more from developing intelligibility – the ability to be easily understood despite making mistakes due to their non-native grammar or pronunciation.
The adage “perfection is the enemy of progress” captures this perfectly. Communication is not about flawlessness; it’s about conveying ideas in ways that can be easily understood. Intelligibility helps students achieve this by emphasizing clear, structured communication that prioritizes comprehension.
Supporting business professionals in real-life situations can help them achieve career goals. Educators engaged in these activities understand that language clarity can build confidence and enhance credibility. This is especially true when most interactions involve participants residing in different countries and require providing quick and efficient responses to questions.
Who Speaks English?
Furthermore, the world is now home to significantly more non-native than native English speakers. For instance, according to Ethnologue, non-native speakers account for over 70% of English speakers globally. In international business, a professional in Chile might speak English with a client in Indonesia. Both bring unique accents and cultural perspectives, making it essential to focus on clarity and practical communication.
Additionally, there are many variations to both pronunciation and word use even between English-speaking countries such as Australia and the United States, or within the same country. For example, the Louis Armstrong song “Let’s call the whole thing off!” famously points out, “You say potato, I say potahto.”
Instructors can empower their students by addressing transferable skills and business-specific communication needs. This helps ensure they can be understood by a wide audience without obsessing over accent or grammatical perfection.
Interested in training to build effective skills in teaching global English? Learn more about Bridge’s Micro-credential course in Teaching English as a Global Language.
The Shift from Perfection to Practicality
English language education has traditionally emphasized accuracy over fluency, with a strong focus on grammar drills and pronunciation exercises. Remnants of this approach linger today, often reflected in students’ anxieties about speaking “imperfect” English.
Social media can amplify these fears, with users frequently facing criticism or mockery for grammar “mistakes” in comments. As a result, many students feel hesitant to speak in English for fear that their errors will be judged. However, even native English speakers regularly make small grammatical slips without impacting the message’s clarity.
Today, the goal has shifted from perfection to practicality: clear, effective communication that gets to the point without unnecessary elaboration. For busy professionals, time is money, and the best communication is concise and straightforward.
Few professionals want to sit through a long, convoluted meeting, regardless of how accurate the grammar is. They are more interested in developing clarity and speed. This is especially important for individuals working across language barriers – and adds immediate value to their professional lives.
For example, Bridge Corporate Language Learning prioritizes practical and tailored activities that meet students’ specific needs in their business contexts.
For instance, you could encourage students to engage in real-world simulations such as placing an order, discussing market trends, or negotiating a contract. This is an effective way to ensure they’re building valuable, relevant skills. These realistic activities allow students to gain confidence in their language abilities while focusing on their core professional goals.
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Apply TodayBenefits of Prioritizing Intelligibility in Business Communication
Focusing on intelligibility not only benefits the student but also positively impacts the classroom environment. One of the greatest advantages is that it speeds up interactions and increases efficiency. In business, clear communication ensures that everything runs smoothly without the need for repeated clarifications.
Communication breakdowns in business can be costly, leading to errors in decision-making, financial losses, or damaged relationships. However, there are usually fewer misunderstandings when you focus on intelligibility.
In international business settings, it’s common to work with partners or teams who speak English as a second or even third language.
Speakers who concentrate on achieving clear, concise communication rather than striving for a native-like accent are more likely to be understood by others from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This approach fosters smoother, more effective collaborations across cultures and language barriers.
Discover how to strengthen your teaching toolkit with practical strategies to help learners build confidence and leadership skills in professional settings through the Instilling Confidence and Leadership in Your Learners micro-credential course.
Practical Strategies for Teaching Intelligibility
So, what kind of methods can help learners improve their intelligibility in a business setting?
The best strategies are those that emphasize skills they can use in real life. Task-based activities are powerful tools for building clear and effective communication. For instance, asking students to role-play a negotiation or present a project helps them focus on getting their message across clearly and succinctly. These activities also allow students to practice word stress, emphasizing key points to improve understanding.
In fact, simply getting students to talk about their daily routines can build rapport and confidence.
Asking questions like, “How is your day going?” or “What are you working on?” can lead to enriching conversations. They can also boost students’ confidence in their language abilities. Such discussions provide opportunities to practice work-specific vocabulary, as well as the processes and tasks students are responsible for.
Those who do want to delve into pronunciation may benefit from teaching the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). This can be a helpful tool for practicing and identifying distinct sounds.
Gamification can make this endeavor even more exciting. For instance, students can race to put phonetic spellings into words. “Does anyone know what /ʤʌmp/ is? It’s jump!” and other exercises like these can improve both pronunciation and listening.
Listening comprehension is another essential skill for business professionals, who frequently interact with colleagues and clients from diverse linguistic backgrounds. A well-rounded course includes exposure to various accents, often through resources like podcasts, TED Talks, and even AI-generated voices. Developing strong listening skills allows students to better understand others and learn how they, too, can speak with more clarity.
Learn more about creating engaging multimedia content for your Business English learners.
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Business English: Empowering Teachers With Dynamic Resources
downloadEffective Feedback for Improvement
Feedback is crucial in supporting students’ journey toward clearer communication.
Effective feedback focuses on the message’s clarity rather than strict correctness. If a student repeatedly makes a grammatical error, it may be worth addressing. However, it’s usually more productive to help them understand when their language is unclear.
Simple non-verbal cues, like a quizzical look, can encourage the student to rephrase and communicate more effectively.
This approach also helps learners recognize patterns. For example, if a student frequently omits articles or misplaces word stress, teachers can point out how these issues impact clarity. Over time, students learn to make adjustments that naturally improve their intelligibility.
It is best to avoid excessive corrections. In the end, they might dampen students’ confidence and hinder progress for the rest of the class.
Bringing it All Together
Think once again about the original scenario. What should you do if a student asks you to correct all their mistakes? Emphasize that being an effective, intelligible communicator is far more important than avoiding every small error. Perfection is an unattainable goal. However, achieving effective, clear, and confident communication is what ultimately drives success in the world of Business English.
