with Siobhán Julia Prendergast

The advantages of learning with a native speaker.

Certainly, as a native English speaker teaching English in companies, you can emphasise the importance of learning English with a native speaker and the numerous advantages it offers in comparsion to learning with a non-native speaker.

The following are some of the advantages learing English with a native speaker.

1. Authentic Pronunciation and Accent:

Learning from a native speaker allows you to hear and imitate the correct pronunciation and accent. This is essential for clear and effective communication in the global business world.

2. Natural Language Use:

Native speakers can teach you how English is used in real-life situations, including idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, and cultural nuances, small talk, everyday English. This knowledge is vital for professional interactions. This also enables you to understand them when you hear them speaking.

3. Improved Listening Skills:

Interacting with a native speaker regularly improves your listening skills. You'll get accustomed to various accents and speaking speeds, making it easier to understand different English speakers and their phrases and idioms etc.

4. Enhanced Communication Skills:

Native speakers can provide feedback on your speaking and writing, helping you refine your communication skills, such as articulation, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar.

5. Cultural Insight:

Learning from a native speaker also means gaining insight into English-speaking cultures. Understanding cultural norms and expectations is essential when working with international clients or colleagues. They can help you to understand their culture and things you should and should´nt say in English regarding the cultural understanding and how people perceive what you are saying.  This assistance can also avoid any insulting or offending a native speaker by using some wording in the incorrect way.

6. Increased Confidence:

Regular interaction with a native speaker can boost your confidence when speaking English. You'll feel more comfortable in meetings, presentations, and negotiations and in everyday speaking and small talk. You will even enjoy speaking English more when you know more vocabulary, idoms, sayings, terms etc.

7. Networking Opportunities:

Having a native English teacher often means building a professional and social network. Native speakers can introduce you to their contacts and resources, which can be valuable for your career and of course for your practice .

8. Tailored Learning:

A native speaker can personalise lessons to meet your specific needs and goals, ensuring that you're learning relevant vocabulary and skills for your industry and job as well as for everyday English communication.

With this you can learn all the necessary technical and other terms depending on the theme and job.

9. Career Advancement:

Being proficient in English can open doors to better job opportunities and career advancement, as English is often the international language of business and diplomacy.

Most employers  nowadays require English speakers in ´companies due to constant global communication.

10. International Competence:

In a globalised world, English is a crucial tool for international business. Learning it from a native speaker positions you as a competent and valuable asset in the global job market.

This in turn also shows that your company is more professional by having fluent English speaking employees. Communicating in the correct manner in English could also lead to  better business results and turnover for the company.

11. Multilingual Advantage:

Many native English speakers are also proficient in other languages. This means they understand the challenges of learning a new language and can offer insights from personal experience.

12. Real-world Scenarios:

Native speakers can provide you with practical knowledge for real-world scenarios, such as negotiations, conference calls, and cross-cultural communication, small talk, everyday English in all situations. Remember that without the small talk and everyday English you can´t learn business English. So both are necessary.

13 Idioms and Phrases in Business and Everyday English

This is also of vital importance as native speakers use a lot of idioms and phrases in Business and in Everyday English. Many idioms and phrases have a totally different meaning to the wording in the phrase or idiom . These idioms and phrases are used regularly.

These you can learn  best with a native speaker as they have grown up using them and they are  also an important part of the language.

In conclusion, learning English with a native speaker offers numerous advantages that extend beyond language proficiency. It's an investment in your professional development and a strategic choice for those looking to excel in an international business environment. Native speakers provide invaluable cultural and linguistic insights, equipping you with the skills and confidence to succeed in the global marketplace.