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Executive training in the USA
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Current and topical course content, interaction with other business professionals and a focus on cultural familiarity and presentation skills; these aspects are typical of professional executive language training in the USA. Amy Baker reports.
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Global Immersions Inc. distinguishes itself in the industry with its commitment to building cultural awareness and fostering global understanding,” says Jeanne Fahey in Boston, MA, which is one of the language schools offering a dedicated executive language training programme for its overseas clients.
Fahey details an aspect of Global Immersion’s executive training that is offered quite often by US providers: interaction and introductions to American counterparts in a similar industry. She explains, “As a unique opportunity for authentic business communication, our programme includes direct interaction with a US counterpart in a similar career role or profession.”
Likewise, at the International Language Institute (ILI) of MA in nearby Northampton, MA, Betsy Rider explains that this school takes a similar approach to teaching linguistic fluency (and cultural ease). “We focus on a combination of presentation skills and, through our involvement with the Rotary Club, we facilitate interactions with native speakers who are business people themselves,” she explains.
Afternoon targeted lessons are combined with intensive English language classes in the morning at ILI. “We have found that many people learning English are doing so for busines purposes and that not only are vocabulary and grammar important, but so is an understanding of cultural expectations surrounding business,” says Rider.
As well as presentation skills, other areas focused on by various executive programmes include conference calls and best practice in meetings. Teresa Barile at Rennert New York, who says the school has offered executive programmes for 15 years, details, “Rennert Professional English Program students enjoy the small classes, case studies, role plays and discussions which spring from articles in current newspapers and magazines.”
Marco Pinna at The Language Academy (TLA) in Fort Lauderdale, FL, backs up a trend towards a dynamic learning approach. “At TLA, when training business executives we tend to shy away from standardised textbooks,” he says. “An executive language programme is an integrated process different from a language acquisition course. Training session materials are inspired by current events and focus on US and global business issues.” He points out that training aims at developing each participant’s communication skills while providing a deep, effective understanding of America’s lifestyle and cultural, socio-political current events. “Accent reduction and international business etiquette are also important components of the course,” he adds. “That’s why we require a solid intermediate admission level.”
At LCI English Center in Denver, CO, Tamara Prazak, Marketing Manager, gives another example of in situ learning that is possible for executive clients. “We recently took an executive client to an American car dealership where he went through the car buying process in English – which was an amazing hands-on experience to practise his English!,” she says. Again, LCI provides course participants “with local networking opportunities and business seminars to meet other professionals and executives from Denver’s thriving business community”.
Executive courses tend to be more intensive than normal, although most are offered on a bespoke basis, with a minimum number of hours offered of 15 or 20 hours, which can be scaled upwards as the client wishes. At BridgeEnglish and BridgeDenver in Denver, CO, Director, Richard Brown, says that a small group programme of 21 hours combined with 15 hours of private classes per week is a very popular option. Alternatively, clients can consider a full immersion package of 37.5 hours per week that includes lunch with a teacher.
All executive training providers emphasise that as much contact in the English language as possible leads to a better learning outcome. Fahey points out that for that reason, clients are all offered executive-standard host family accommodation, although they can choose a hotel if they prefer. “The homestay experience allows for a greater understanding of US culture and continual practice in a non-structured environment,” she says.
A number of providers also point out the need for separate “executive-only” facilities. Martha Hall at NESE in Boston, MA, says, “NESE offers students a professionals-only residence and separate professionals-only facilities within the school (such as an executive computer lounge and an executive student lounge, with wireless access free to all students).” |
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