*EDITOR’S NOTE: This article makes reference to something called “multi-words,” which is ECSC’s own term for vocabulary that contains more than one word.
Business English Workshops are an efficient way for Thai professionals to improve their Business English abilities. You’ve likely thought that there’s room for your employees to improve when reading emails & chats and when listening to conversations & presentations in meetings. Or when you’ve read the recent news about worldwide English proficiency.
And that’s fine, no country’s business culture is perfect, and that includes the one here in Thailand. The good news is, there are new ways for your employees to get better at understanding and “producing” written & spoken English, which in 2024 is something that Human Resources and Training departments should really take advantage of.
That’s because effective communication is a key driver of success – not only for individual employees, but for your company’s bottom line and reputation.
What do we mean by “effective communication”? Imagine that all of your employees could speak English with foreign colleagues and customers as clearly & confidently as they speak pasa Thai with their fellow Thais.
We realize that’s not possible for 100% of your employees because becoming fluent in a second language definitely doesn’t happen overnight. But what if 50% of your employees could improve their English language skills by 50%? ECSC believes that this is definitely possible.
This article show you the top 5 ways our Business English Workshops (and our Corporate English Courses) help motivated individuals at your company become more effective communicators in English.
1. Professional Composure
Thai professionals can showcase their Business English abilities by demonstrating confidence when communicating with company Executives, Managers, and direct reports. This often involves using concise industry-specific language in emails, meetings, and presentations.
Creating professional emails is a fundamental skill, so your people should be able to use proper etiquette and understand how to keep messages brief and to the point, all while using the right vocabulary. (The right vocabulary is so much more important than the right grammar!)
The same is true for meetings. It is often the case that Thai employees know exactly what they want to contribute to the conversation, but can’t translate their ideas to English fast enough or formally enough or without stumbling over the wrong words. So, they either say nothing, get a bit flustered, or even show embarrassment.
Again that’s okay, English isn’t easy. And that’s why we’re doing what we do.
2. Networking & Relationship Building
Successful business people understand the importance of networking and relationship building. For Thai professionals, mastering the art of engaging with English speakers both formally and informally is crucial.
Small talk, maintaining eye contact, and displaying cultural awareness are key components of effective networking. By confidently navigating social interactions with “unhesitating” Business English, Thai professionals can leave a lasting impression.
We can tell you from experience that farang in Thailand gravitate towards those Thai professionals who can carry on conversations with the kind of composure we talked about in point #1.
3. Business Writing Skills
In the corporate world – whether in small businesses or large national & multinational companies – effective communication via the written word is a powerful tool. Thai people working for corporations in Bangkok can distinguish themselves by honing their writing skills (and ECSC’s Business English Workshops can help them do that).
This goes beyond emails & chats to include well-structured slides decks, various kinds of reports & proposals, and many other written documents. Just think of some of the writing that you and your employees have to do in Thai, and imagine being able to do it really well in English.
A focus on correct multi-words vocabulary (common word pairs, phrases, expressions, idioms), punctuation, and structure is essential. Thai professionals should strive to produce documents that are not only error-free, but also demonstrate an understanding of what native-English speakers expect when receiving written work.
As mentioned above, when farang are presented with high-quality written work from their Thai colleagues, it gives them confidence in that person’s overall professionalism.
Just imagine if you received a high-quality document written entirely in pasa Thai from one of your farang coworkers! You’d probably feel quite comfortable doing work with them in the future.
4. Cross-Cultural Communication
As businesses become more globalized, the ability to navigate cross-cultural communication is indispensable. Thai professionals can showcase their Business English abilities by understanding and adapting to the many different communication styles present in the modern workplace.
This involves being sensitive to other cultures’ special characteristics both in written & spoken language and in non-verbal communication.
Thai professionals should strive to relate with English-speaking associates on a level that they’re familiar with. This adaptability not only demonstrates language proficiency, but also fosters an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
And bottom line: Your Thai employees benefit from being able to joke around politely with the American CEO or the British MD!
5. Presentation Skills
Everybody’s favorite, I’m sure: Standing in front of a room full of people to tell them about something complicated using your second language!
To be honest, I’ve never had to do this (unless you include my German class presentations in high school). But I have been in the audience when a Thai colleague led us through a Powerpoint in English (while doing all the other things that a presenter in a conference room has to do to keep people engaged). It doesn’t look easy.
For me, what Thai business people should do in these situations is first take a deep breath, and then focus on speaking in a composed manner. This includes during Q&A, when not only is Business English important, but so is body language, politeness, and exhibiting confidence.
When a presenter does these things, it reflects positively on their individual abilities and also contributes to the overall success of the organization. After all, no matter how cool a slide deck looks, if the presenter can’t explain it the audience will certainly miss out on something.
In conclusion, Thai professionals can move forward in the business world by speaking the language of the business world.
ECSC’s Business English Workshops or Corporate Courses are a great place to improve English skills and many other professional skills.
Key multi-words vocabulary in this article:
- room to improve
- take advantage of
- definitely possible
- proper etiquette
- get flustered
To learn more about how multi-words help Thai professionals like you to speak English better (พูดภาษาอังกฤษ) or how ECSC’s corporate English courses help Human Resources departments improve their employees’ Business English skills, contact us today.
EN 
TH