Students leave school with high grades, solid essays and public speaking abilities and yet aren't ready in their early months at work. This is not due to their poor English. That's because skills are at university English and workplace English are two different kinds of skills in many aspects. It is important to recognize this distinction, rather than equate it with one parting directly into the other, in order to develop the appropriate type of English skills for the university and workplace.
The reason why University English is different from Workplace English
The main purpose of using English in university is to explain, argue and analyze. Compose formal, structured essays, quote and cite sources, and employ formal academic vocabulary. Presentations are expected to be well prepared, rehearsed and should be informative and thorough to an audience. Even the classroom discussions have a definite pattern: The teacher asks a question and the students give well thought out and well reasoned answers.
Workplace English is much more collaborative, unpredictable and faster, though. You may have to respond to an email discussion. You may be called in for a meeting at a moment's notice and asked to give a summary of a topic. You may have to disagree with a fellow worker - but in a tactful way; you may need to impart a technical solution to someone from an entirely different background. None of this is an academic essay, and none of this is prepared with the time that you are given in university assignments.
That's why many talented graduates become unexpectedly nervous or slow in their initial experience of communicating in the workplace not because their English is deficient, but because they've been trained primarily to communicate in one way.
Key differences between Academic and Professional English
Formality Level Changes Constantly:
Academic writing remains formal throughout, workplace communication however constantly changes. A note to the manager may require a formal and precise message, but a brief conversation with another team member can be direct and informal. A skill that is not taught in university is knowing how to be more relaxed or more stiff when it comes to tone.
The speed is more important than the depth:
University values detailed and well-developed responses. Instead, the workplace is more likely to appreciate a quick and succinct answer. It's much more important to have a concise, clear response during a meeting than a long, perfectly structured response. This is a change in mental set from "how much can I explain" to "how fast can I get my point across.
More emphasis is placed on real-time speaking.
University presentations are prepared and rehearsed. But work-related discussions tend to be spontaneous like a question raised during a meeting, an unexpected call, a rapid exchange of information as part of a discussion. In this place, the need for good spoken English is critical. Being a quick thinker and quick responder in real-time situations is an entirely different ballgame from having a memorized presentation.
Listening Becomes More Practical
At college, listening frequently involves comprehending a lecture or argument of another student. However in the workplace, listening is frequently about hearing details, comprehending foreign accents from foreign coworkers or clients, and decoding implications such as urgency vs. non-urgency.
How to Develop English Proficiency that works in both world
Fortunately, this can be resolved with the proper type of practice. Some good practices are:
Speaking spontaneously rather than always planning what you will say beforehand. See how well you can answer questions without thinking about them first.
Simplifying your vocabulary for everyday use. Sometimes clear is more impressive than complex.
Exposure to different accents as workplace environments tend to be more diverse than university settings.
Working on short writing assignments such as emails and messages.
Small adjustments made to our daily routines can have a significant impact in just a couple of weeks.
How does Structured Support help?
It's a change that many people attempt to make without the help of the structured guidance, but with it, it can be a lot faster. It is possible to close the gap between academic and business English faster than by self-study with well-designed English classes, particularly those that are not based on grammar but are based on actual situations of communication.
This is where English tutoring comes in handy. A tutor can stimulate work-related scenarios, such as a rushed meeting, a misinterpreted instruction, a difficult argument, or a brief client interaction. Practicing these scenarios in a safe space increases confidence before it is necessary in the workplace.
The online English lessons are very helpful for the students that have other commitments such as working or studying, or even being on an internship, and need to develop their skills without going to the classroom. They would give you immediate feedback, controlled speaking situation, and timing flexibility, all of which are very important in your attempt to develop the communication skills amid the busy schedule.
Final thoughts
It is not a problem if you do well in college, but aren't prepared for the way you communicate at work. It's perfectly normal if you're doing well in college, but you're not prepared for the way that you communicate in a workplace as both environments demand different strengths. It's important to develop your English skills with regard to university and work because the two do not necessarily go hand-in-hand. That transition from classroom to workplace English is not as daunting or overwhelming with the right combination of regular practice, effective Spoken English, and the help of either structured English classes, English coaching, or flexible Online English classes.