Setting Students up for Success in the Workplace
English language trainer Leo Wu shares insights into tasks he uses in his classes to support his Business English learners in developing essential soft skills for the workplace. In this episode, Leo explains why communication, rather than just language proficiency, is key to success in the business world.
Key talking points
Misconceptions in Business English
Leo discusses how many students, especially in Taiwan, see Business English as grammar and vocabulary-focused, rather than as a tool for effective communication in the workplace. Leo goes on to highlight the importance of building soft skills like confidence, teamwork, and interpersonal communication to succeed in real-world business environments.
Classroom Activities
Leo walks through tasks and activities he uses in classes, such as mock business meetings, writing appreciation emails, and icebreaker activities, that foster teamwork and improve students' ability to communicate effectively.
Test Preparation versus Communication Skills
Leo touches on the need to balance test-focused learning with practical language use to help students excel both academically and professionally.
References & Resources
Follow Leo on socials for more inspiring content.
All hyperlinks listed were accessed on 17/09/2024.
Watch the video with closed captions or refer to the transcript below.
Transcript
00:00:00:03 - 00:00:24:12
Laura
TESOL pop season ten, episode two. How can we equip our students with skills that help them build stronger relationships in the workplace? This is the big question that my guest today, Leo Wu, addresses. Now, Leo teaches General English and Business English in Taiwan, and he focuses on going beyond grammar vocabulary to build students soft skills to set them up for success in their careers.
00:00:24:14 - 00:00:29:06
Laura
Let's join the conversation where I ask Leo, what does business English involve?
00:00:29:08 - 00:00:51:02
Leo
Well, first and foremost, there is nothing wrong with thinking that business English or most of the English like business English lessons were programs involves tons of English words, higher level phrases and structures, grammar, and so on and so forth. I can say that, that is one of the misconceptions that a lot of people have, especially in Asian countries.
00:00:51:02 - 00:01:10:09
Leo
Here in Taiwan, we do have these kind of like misconceptions everywhere. And yet it is more important that we think about like, what is the purpose? What is the meaning? What is what is the goal of like, what do students really need? Most of my trainees students in Asia have something in common. They know tons of vocabulary to remember.
00:01:10:09 - 00:01:37:19
Leo
Memorise lots of grammar patterns, rules, phrases. But the truth is they still fail to utilise all of this English words since the structures they have learned to remember in a real life situations, so that they also fail to speak fluent English or communicate well in a business world and we always talked about like the ultimate goal in a business was always to enhance the communication, like the overall communication, right.
00:01:37:21 - 00:02:02:12
Leo
So we always want to make sure that we can speak fluently, we can communicate efficiently and effectively, but if they still fail to speak fluent English or to communicate well in a business world. So this is actually quite common among Asian learners that we used to see English as a subject and a process language in the wrong way, or even taught in the wrong way.
00:02:02:17 - 00:02:25:12
Leo
When we're young and small school, like it's always about getting higher grades or memorising as many words as we could. Even, you know, a lot of words, but you can use the ending for you for all. You're still not using it as a communication tool. And like I said previously, we all know for sure that communication is the key in business environment.
00:02:25:18 - 00:02:57:22
Leo
Therefore, my philosophy and my philosophy is and will always be building confidence and making sure you know the fundamentals in the first place. These could be every day, most commonly used, commonly used in structures. But a point is to really familiarise yourself with them digest, internalise, making them truly yours. After that, you will be able to combine your language skills with the business knowledge, your expertise you already have, and do the output so that you can produce effective communication.
00:02:57:24 - 00:03:26:09
Leo
To really see and use English is communication tool to get the result you want in different situations. I want to give you an example. In my business program, I always put my students in situations where they need to really communicate with each other to solve a problem. I'll make sure the scenarios are real and practical enough so that the train, the trainees, my trainees, or my students can really feel the need or urgency to put effort into understanding the issues.
00:03:26:11 - 00:03:51:04
Leo
And using what they have learned to achieve results. For instance, we conduct mock business meetings to develop marketing campaigns solution for brands like Starbucks, UberEats, even the best plan for the more we do role playing to beside different like different tests to training is given the chance to assume different roles and set appropriate tone for holding themselves accountable.
00:03:51:06 - 00:04:13:21
Laura
You know, when you describing, a lot of students over your contacts in Taiwan, they tend to feel that English is like a subject such as biology, like there's right or wrong answers. Do you feel that kind of stems from the exam system? Because I know there's quite a big pressure on students in high school to pass the exams in English and other subjects.
00:04:13:21 - 00:04:32:15
Laura
Of course, that affects their university options. Do you feel that what is maybe Miss shaping mis aligning studies of English students studying to pass a test, rather than to use a language to communicate?
00:04:32:17 - 00:05:10:17
Leo
Yeah. So for me it's more about like you got to have two different approaches in this. Like, you want people to pass exams or like to, you know, to pass to university entrance exam. I think there's nothing wrong with that. But if you got to use the language, it's a communication tool. You got to be able to, you know, to really be in the real life situations, to do like practical applications were often so like we got to have multiple approaches towards this kind of issue, not just like, hey, you got to see, this is a subject, you got to get higher grades or you got to do this so that you can pass
00:05:10:17 - 00:05:26:03
Leo
the entrance exam, not like that. So that could be one of like the wrong way that we have we have taken for such a long period of time in Taiwan. Yeah. You know, our education system.
00:05:26:05 - 00:05:49:10
Laura
I think that is not just in Taiwan, but in a lot of educational systems where we see this negative wash back from an exam that's meant to be supporting, learning and supporting both the linguistic foundations and the communication skills. But what we find is that we get really good students who are great at test taking, but not necessarily good at language, use.
00:05:49:12 - 00:06:27:13
Laura
So I think this is indicative of many exam systems around the world, not just Taiwan. I'm really excited that she didn't stay to step away from that kind of world of grammar and vocabulary and that sort of piece of business English that doesn't exist to focus more on the relationship side, because I know you work with your students that you're teaching now to kind of think about how they build their communication skills, how they build their soft skills so they can use their language and flourish in, in the workplace as, as, you know, multilingual, speakers.
00:06:27:15 - 00:06:44:16
Laura
Could you give an example of how you've helped your students build relationships using English? Because that is a key part of business English, isn't it? Is building good relationships with your colleagues, building good relationships with your clients, your boss. How do you do it in your lessons?
00:06:44:18 - 00:07:08:17
Leo
Well, for that question, there are actually many different approaches that we could choose to take to help students or our colleagues in one company build stronger or closer relationships. I recall an experience from last year. I was invited to give a business seminar at NDS Group office, located in Neihu, Taipei. You know, Neihu is a is a huge city.
00:07:08:19 - 00:07:37:12
Leo
Yeah. So in order to get a better understanding of the company's background and to get all the people engaged involved in our seminar, I always pushed myself to do some proper research prior to the event. And speaking of them, my mission that time was there to teach business email writing and were thinking about why don't we write a thank you letter to really send appreciation to our beloved colleagues, to really show gratitude after we've completed all the like, the do's and don'ts and learn to write ways to write an email.
00:07:37:14 - 00:07:59:23
Leo
So it entered. At the end of the seminar, I really asked them to write a thank you letter or email to a colleague to show you know their love or care, for or for their support. And, you know, at the same time, they can practice writing with the techniques, phrases, structures that just learned, but also doing something meaningful.
00:08:00:00 - 00:08:26:08
Leo
So, you know, for me, there was actually quite a fantastic, fantastic moment that I recall. And, and, and I felt like they really got an opportunity to bond closer with their colleagues in this while we in for right? To foster a long term relationships among our co-workers in the workplace, because it certainly has this the overall team's morals, performance, positive attitude and satisfaction.
00:08:26:10 - 00:08:57:04
Laura
I think this is really inspiring that you're kind of using these, kind of smaller interactions that happen in the workplace are often overlooked, and bringing those into your business. English teaching, because I think they're not really explored that much, and yet they're so powerful, as we've mentioned. I wonder, are there any other ways or ideas you'd like to share that focus on this relationship building that listeners could try out with their students?
00:08:57:06 - 00:09:30:05
Leo
I'm thinking about doing one of the most fundamental classic buddies central activities, icebreaker activities. So we could possibly use icebreaker if activities right at the beginning of each class or each session to help students get to know each other better, creating a more comfortable and open atmosphere for learning. And I think like, if you're able to create a good vibe in your classroom, it's going to be beneficial for both parties because we feel good.
00:09:30:07 - 00:09:52:22
Leo
So we want to make contribution and want to make more contribution. So for example, I did Story Marathon Relay Challenge by simply asked the students to like connect the story dice as displayed on the screen and contribute to make a story that is convincing. So we have to, you know, come up with something that makes sense. So this activity relies so much on teamwork.
00:09:52:22 - 00:10:29:02
Leo
And it's all it's all about team effort. So it's good for your listening. Because you have to focus. Like, you have to make sure that you focus like, entirely on the person who is speaking to make sure that you know exactly what she is or what he is trying to say. And then when it's your turn to speak, you're going to make sure that you come up with something, something something, something convincing or something persuasive and something, educational at the same time.
00:10:29:04 - 00:10:53:16
Leo
So my thinking was fun, and most my trainees enjoyed it. And in addition, like I mentioned previously, that we have done a lot of, you know, group projects into our business program. When they're involved in a group project, they brainstorm ideas, thoughts, possible solutions together. And this is really, really similar to the real lives, like real business situations.
00:10:53:16 - 00:11:17:13
Leo
Like you got to work together towards a common goal or towards multiple goals. And these can foster teamwork and can certainly improve relationships among individuals. And obviously, there's one thing I want to mention. The idea of kudos on LinkedIn. And I've done this when I was studying in the UK. This is a fantastic way to acknowledge and appreciate your colleagues or connections for their skills.
00:11:17:15 - 00:11:45:09
Leo
So it's like writing an email to send appreciation. Send your gratitude to, to to your beloved colleagues. This is kind of like the same idea. You acknowledge your colleagues for their skills, expertise, achievements, contributions, and for me, it's quite essential that we we leave the message that is authentic. Something that is real and meaningful because all relationships are mutual.
00:11:45:11 - 00:11:50:05
Leo
So make sure you personalise your comment and maintain a high level of authenticity.
00:11:50:07 - 00:12:05:02
Laura
Leo, it's been lovely talking to you today. Thank you so much for sharing your insights into your classes and how you build relationships and develop these skills. Before we close today, please can you tell listeners where can they find out more and follow your work?
00:12:05:04 - 00:12:33:09
Leo
Well, Laura, first of all, thank you for having me here. I'm just more than thrilled to have this opportunity to share my experiences and teaching journey, in the teaching fields. If you want to know more about me and gain useful business English content. Search Wuber English. So that will be W.U.B.E.R.E.N.G on Instagram. And, I believe that there you will find something practical and useful out there.
00:12:33:11 - 00:12:47:16
Laura
Brilliant. And as always, I'm going to include the links in the show notes so you can find it easily. So you can follow Leo's work and see the wonderful work he's doing in his classes. If you've got a question or an idea that you'd like to pitch to the podcast, and you can go to the website tesolpop.com
00:12:47:16 - 00:13:04:06
Laura
That's lovely. And as always, those links are in the show notes so you can find them easily. Now, if you have a question or an idea that you'd like to pitch to the podcast, you can go to the website tesolpop.com.
Finally, you can support the work we do by leaving a rating, a review wherever you listen to the podcast, by sharing today's episode with your teaching community, or by even buying as a coffee, by going to ko-fi.com/tesolpop
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