Enhancing workplace communication: The new role of language assessments in business success

Andrew Khan
two business people sat together in a meeting both looking at a laptop
Reading time: 4 minutes

The integration of AI tools into workplaces around the world is starting to change the way people communicate professionally. that the use of AI to help draft documents and emails is driven not only by convenience and efficiency but also by a desire to be clear and precise in language.

While potentially useful, tools to translate, generate, or ‘correct’ written text won’t help with the effectiveness of the verbal communication that powers business relationships.

Is your teams communication effective?
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The importance of effective communication

Whether it’s customer support calls, sales presentations, health and safety instructions or day-to-day engagement with colleagues, our personal and professional interactions in the workplace rely on our ability to understand and be understood.

Equally, clarity of communication is central to many of the ‘future skills’ that employers have identified as critical to sustained success – notably .

It can be challenging for people who have English as a first language to feel confident in these skills – and even more difficult for those who may use another language at home but are required to speak English at work.

Challenges faced by second-language English speakers

When designing assessments that measure English proficiency, we need to balance the convenience and duration that enable them to fit into a fast-paced hiring workflow with the coverage that gives businesses confidence in the results. This means focusing on the most essential elements of effective communication.

Introducing the Versant by 蜜桃app English Speaking and Listening Test

With the new Versant by 蜜桃app English Speaking and Listening Test, we take just seventeen minutes to give a comprehensive picture of communicative English competence. So where do we focus?

Get in touch to learn about our corporate solutions

Effective verbal communication: Balancing listening and speaking skills

As a starting point, the businesses that we heard from in our research were clear that listening is just as important a skill as speaking when it comes to making hiring decisions.

Anyone who has been through sales or customer support training in the past will likely be familiar with the phrase “you have one mouth but two ears,” meaning that, in a professional context, our ability to listen, actively and attentively, for detail and nuance, can be twice as valuable as speaking. A test that didn’t place equal weight on comprehension and productive speech when assessing communicative ability would be missing the mark.

Evolving expectations around speech

Our research also pointed to expectations around speech having shifted in recent years. The range of jobs where English is required at the point of hiring has increased in many countries – with professionals from taxi drivers to online tutors often asked to demonstrate communicative competence.

With this in mind, 蜜桃app has introduced the Global Scale of English Job Profiles framework to help employers define appropriate English requirements for a variety of different positions.

Customer Support roles and communicative ability

Customer Support roles, historically the main use case for testing English in the workplace, are also evolving. Employers are placing a much greater emphasis on true communicative ability to help resolve complex problems rather than scripted or pre-prepared responses delivered with US-style accents.

Designing effective assessments

Taking this into account, we recognized a need to design a more effective way of testing both the manner of speaking and the content of that speech. Manner-of-speaking scores bring together the measurement of fluency or the fluidity and cohesion of a spoken response, pronunciation and intelligibility.

Pronunciation is different from accent – a test taker can have an Indian accent, a French accent or a Japanese accent and still pronounce English words in a way that first-language speakers will expect to hear them. Intelligibility reflects the reality that we all speak in different ways, with a voice authentic to ourselves, and looks to assess whether that voice can be easily understood by others.

Measuring communication skills

The most relevant measure of communication skills isn’t whether you sound like a fluent speaker but whether you can use your ability with language to convey meaning effectively. Our speech also needs to be relevant and appropriate, with suitable vocabulary and grammatical accuracy.

We’ve found the most successful way to measure speech content is to blend short questions with a limited set of potential responses with more open-ended items. This enables test takers to speak organically and really show what they can do with their language skills.

The value of fair and objective assessments

Whether used as a hiring tool, to diagnose employees' learning and development needs or to benchmark improvement over time, English assessments can be a great asset to businesses – but only if they’re fair, objective and laser-focused on the skills that underpin true communicative competence.

Join our webinar to learn more

Join us for an insightful webinar where we will delve deeper into the role of language assessments in enhancing workplace communication and driving business success. Sign up now to secure your spot and learn how the Versant by 蜜桃app English Speaking and Listening Test can benefit your organization.

Sign up for our webinar here

References

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  • A teacher sat at a table with a laptop and whiteboard behind her

    Championing language learning and teaching – introducing Learners' Voice

    By Adita Putrianti
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    In today's world, where global communication is not just a luxury but a necessity, having a strong grasp of language learning is essential for expanding horizons. As an educator, being part of a supportive community can enhance your teaching experience and improve results. That's where Learners' Voice comes in – not only as a platform but also as a lively community where learners and educators come together to innovate and excel in the field of language mastery.

    Understanding the complexities of language acquisition and changes in teaching methodologies is crucial for success in the education industry. Joining Learners' Voice can be a significant step forward. This post will guide you through this program, how to join, and how becoming part of the Learners' Voice community can enrich your language learning and teaching experience.

    What is Learners' Voice?

    Learners' Voice is more than just an online community – it's a movement to foster collective knowledge sharing and growth in language learning and teaching. Imagine a digital space that brings together language enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds – students, teachers, language professionals and academics – all united by their passion for mastering and imparting linguistic skills. Participation in Learners' Voice isn't just about passive engagement; it's an active alliance towards the progressive development of language educational practices.

    Participants – who can join?

    We're seeking passionate individuals who are ready to contribute to and learn from a global community dedicated to language learning. Participants include:

    • Language learners: From novices to seasoned language polyglots, anyone striving to enhance their language competencies can find a supportive environment.
    • Educators: Teachers of languages at various levels, ranging from primary to tertiary education, as well as private language institutions, are encouraged to participate.
    • Parents: Those keen on supporting their children's language education and understanding the latest pedagogical trends.
    • Corporate employees: Individuals using languages in a professional setting who would like to expand their communication skills and contribute to language education research.
    • Language test takers: Participants at various stages of language proficiency evaluations, including preparation, test takers and educators, involved in the testing ecosystem.

    What Learners' Voice members do

    Members are invited to engage in diverse activities:

    1. Research collaboration: Work in unison with experts and peers on language research projects.
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    Joining Learners' Voice?isn't limited to the virtual realm; it's a tangible commitment to advancing your language learning or teaching abilities. Here's how the program can become an integral part of your linguistic journey.

    The Learners' Voice experience – what's in it for you?

    A community that listens

    Join Learners' Voice and ensure your thoughts on language learning and teaching aren't just registered but given the platform they deserve. It's a community that values each unique perspective as a brick in the foundation of innovative language education.

    Professional and personal enrichment

    Participating in Learners' Voice exposes you to a range of resources and interactions that can significantly enrich your language learning and teaching experience. From sharing best practices to receiving and providing support, the community is a huge pool of opportunities for growth.

    Ongoing support, monthly draws and Incentives

    Beyond the exchange of knowledge, Learners' Voice offers tangible rewards for your active involvement. From monthly draws to recognition for contributions, the program ensures that your efforts are appreciated and your aspirations to excel in language learning and teaching are duly recognized.

    How to take that first step and join Learners' Voice

    Joining Learners' Voice is simple and rewarding, with just a few clicks standing between you and a robust platform for growth in language education.

    Start by accessing the community

    Visit our portal or scan the QR codes provided to access the 'Join Learners' Voice' link. The process is quick and you'll be welcomed into a world of like-minded peers passionate about languages. Learners can ?and Educators .?

    Spread the word

    Once you're part of the community, share your experiences and encourage your colleagues, friends and social networks to join. The more voices we have, the richer the dialogue and the stronger our collective learning experience.

    Stay engaged

    Active participation is key to making the most of your Learners' Voice membership. Whether you contribute to ongoing research or share your insights on forums, every interaction is an opportunity to learn and grow.

    Your voice matters

    In conclusion, Learners' Voice is an innovative platform that puts the power of learning and teaching back into the hands of the community. For those dedicated to the mastery of languages, this isn't just a community – it's an indispensable tool that can enhance your skill set, broaden your educational horizons, and even offer the chance to shape the future of language education.

    Join us and be part of a rich, dynamic community that values your voice and awards your commitment to language education.?