Why you should care about your business English trainer’s background

When you are looking for a business English training solution, how much value do you put on a trainer who understands your business needs? Are you confident that your training is being delivered by a committed, experienced professional? If you want your training to have a real impact, you need somebody who has the skills and speaks the jargon of your industry. Being an effective business English trainer means more than having an English teaching qualification. Your business English trainer must be able to draw upon personal experience and must have the ability to effectively tailor the training material to the needs of the client.

The training investment will never pay off with the wrong trainer

If participants don’t want to go to the training because they feel it’s a waste of time, you should rethink the training program and the trainer. You have the freedom not only to find a qualified English trainer, but, more importantly, one who also better understands your needs and industry. If you need help with technical English, look for a technical background or alternatively extensive experience training technical English. If you have a need for soft skills development, find a trainer with direct experience in this area or impressive experience training these skills. Bottom line, you want a trainer who knows what they’re talking about.

Symptoms of having the wrong business English trainer

1. There’s a disconnect between participant needs and training delivered. The participant needs help with presentation skills but receives conversation training.
2. The participant is dissatisfied after the training.
3. The participants stop using the training because it isn’t useful.

„Imagine you are to make the most important business presentation of your life. Does your English trainer have the ability to help you get the right messages across successfully?“

Find the right trainer

The training will have more impact, the participants are more satisfied if their training is relevant, and ultimately, you’re getting more for your money. Don’t settle or become complacent with your training provider. Search the market for specialists, compare services. Ask for references. Try different trainers. Work with trainers who evolve as your business evolves.

Qualities of the right business English trainer

• Has a minimum of 3 years experience in business English training and a relevant business background
• Uses a variety of approaches: group training, on-the-job support, coaching sessions, 1 to 1s
• Bases training on participant needs and uses internal documents as a source for training material
• Understands your business

The market is saturated with training providers. Business English training is on offer, along with different levels of flexibility, success and partnership…and the list goes on. A lot of companies are successful at what they do and there are websites full of competent trainers looking for work.

But before you hire anyone, have you considered what the training program should look like?