Struggling to Be Understood by Learners of English?

Practical communication training for professionals who need to be clearly understood first time.

You explain something carefully. You repeat it. You simplify it again.

The person in front of you is nodding, but your gut tells you they don’t really understand.

When someone’s English is limited, conversations can feel one-sided, stressful and uncertain. You may leave wondering whether they truly understood.

This workshop teaches you a different way of speaking – one that reduces confusion without sounding patronising.

There is a knack to slowing down in a way that gets understood

Without training it’s easy to get this wrong. It’s common for professionals to-

Simplify their message too much, or not at all
Say it again but louder
Talk without really being heard
Use jargon that even an interpreter may not understand

Learning to simplify workplace conversations takes years of trial and error. We offer a short-cut.

"I have been really struck by the difference this training has made in my communication with clients. When speaking to people face to face I have noticed a real sense of relief and relaxation in them."

Alice Tichborne, Immigration Solicitor, Tower Hamlets Law Centre

How to Speak to Learners of English

This practical workshop gives you tools you can use immediately in real world settings.

It is designed for busy professionals who want conversations to feel clearer, calmer and more effective.

I spent 25 years teaching English

My students came from all over the world, and many were beginners. Over the years I learned how to speak so they could understand me. In just two hours I’ll share these insights with you and transform the way that you speak to clients and colleagues from around the world.

After This Training, You Will:

Feel more confident communicating across language differences
Reduce repetition and misunderstanding
Slow down without sounding unnatural
Check understanding without asking ‘Do you understand?’
Adapt your communication under pressure

Feedback shows that participants find that conversations become more interactive, less stressful and more productive.

Participants who were already good at this tell us they are surprised how much they learned.

"I have taught English in Morocco, but there were tips here that I've never come across in my ESOL training."

Hannah Barnes, West End Refugee Service

What will you learn?

You will learn:

What English sounds like to a beginner, through a short foreign-language listening exercise
See how your speech looks on a soundwave recorder. Are you leaving enough gaps?
The seven communication mistakes that can seem patronising, and how to avoid them.
The everyday words and phrases which cause confusion for learners of English.
How to be understood by beginners
How to speak quickly but clearly for those with better English.
How to explain something complex from your field of work.

Small changes. Significant impact.

Who This Is For

This workshop is for professionals who regularly work with people whose first language is not English, including:

Healthcare staff
International business executives
Local authority teams
Small business owners
Housing and support workers
VCSE organisations
Employability teams
Reception and frontline staff

If you’re looking for a way to simplify your speech without dumbing down your message, this workshop is for you.

Practical Details

2 hour interactive workshop
Face to face or online
Up to 20 participants
Real world scenarios and practical exercises
Tickets for shared sessions available

Why This Matters

Clear communication reduces stress for you and increases dignity for the person in front of you.

In some settings, it also protects safety.

Small adjustments in how you speak can make a measurable difference.

Ready to Communicate with Greater Clarity?

Book a workshop for your team or get in touch to discuss your setting.

Can you tell?

How skilled is your interpreter, can you tell? And how can you make their job go smoothly? Interpreters are an invaluable resource and they can do a better job if you learn how to work with them.

Are you sure?

Are you sure you know what you’re saying when you use machine translation? Google Translate does amazing things IF you learn to use it with the caution it deserves.