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KEY INFORMATION:
- ECSC Thailand offers English Plus training, which prioritizes vocabulary over grammar.
- English Plus training ensures real-time error correction & encouragement when students make mistakes.
- We do not limit the amount of talking done by trainers; listening skills are extremely important for students.
- We also do not strictly forbid students’ use of Thai language during lessons, especially by beginners.
- English Plus training is aimed at achieving fluency, not perfection. You can see our services here.
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ECSC Does Things Differently
ECSC (the English Communication Skills Center) was started so we could do things our way. The first thing we wanted to do differently was provide training focused on Business English vocabulary and speaking practice.
The Business English that we teach is called multi-words, which is our straightforward term for multiple-word vocabulary items like phrases, expresssions, idioms, sentences, and questions that are commonly used in professional settings.
Just like single-word vocabulary (cat, smile, excited, busy, magic), you can learn multi-words as individual units and recall them easily when you want to speak.
Examples include: Great job! / Have you checked your email? / I’m a customer service agent. / Do you have a sec?
When employees in companies learn multi-words vocabulary from ECSC trainers, they learn when (situation), why (purpose), and how (tone) to say it. And they have plenty of opportunities to practice using their new vocabulary in real conversations and role-plays with their trainer and fellow students.
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Five Things ECSC Does and Does Not Do
1. We Do Prioritize Vocabulary Over Grammar
Vocabulary is more fundamental to language learning than grammar. Unlike the traditional grammar-heavy approach, ECSC Thailand’s English training enables students to have meaningful, realistic conversations. Instead remembering rules, you will learn words and phrases that you can use right away in your daily life.
Learning Business English vocabulary helps you say the right thing much faster when speaking English in the workplace. That makes you more confident and helps you become fluent.
2. We Do Not Hesitate to Correct Errors
For some reason, English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction has traditionally viewed correcting students’ errors as unhelpful. We would agree that over-correction can interfere with becoming confident and fluent, but ignoring errors altogether is a failure on the part of the trainer.
Our trainers strike a balance between stopping students’ speaking to correct their errors and letting students continue speaking and asking other students if they noticed any mistakes.
And, to minimize students’ negative feelings when they “make mistakes,” we regard “mistakes” as imperfections and “error correction” as reformulation. Constructive and positive reformulation from trainers and fellow students is a win-win.
3. We Do Allow “Teacher Talk Time”
The traditional idea is that the amount of time that your trainer talks during a lesson should be minimized. And while there is some truth to this – we do not want your trainer speaking for 85 minutes and you speaking for 5 minutes during a 90-minute training session – we believe in being flexible.
When your trainer is talking, it is a chance for you to hear natural native speech. This is very important in developing fluency.
So, rather than being strict about limiting teacher talk time, we tailor it to students’ abilities and needs.
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4. We Do Not Insist on a 100% Immersive Environment
Trying to replicate living/working/studying in the UK or USA is thought to be a requirement for effective English learning by traditionalists. Most language centers in Bangkok insist on NO THAI SPOKEN EVER!
I have certainly had my fair share of annoying experiences in language centers in Bangkok. Sometimes, way too much Thai was spoken – such as having Channel 3 stuck on the television in the student lounge area or Hollywood action movies on the DVD player with Thai soundtrack AND Thai subtitles on!).
The point is, sometimes Pasa Thai (or whatever students’ first language is) and the use of translation apps is okay in certain situations – especially with beginners.
5. We Do Strive For Fluency Over Perfection
First, let’s define “fluency” in the ECSC style: You can speak freely like you do in your first language without translating your language to English before speaking and without worrying about “making mistakes.”
Again, in our opinion the best way to achieve that stage is to fill up your vocabulary with multi-words. Knowing words instead of rules allows you to speak without searching for what to say.
And remember: Most native English speakers (like me) are not grammar experts! We don’t even speak perfectly either. In fact, there is no such thing as “perfect English.” So we aim for accuracy and fluency over perfection.
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Further Reading:
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