How to expand your business vocabulary?
The biggest challenge when learning a new language is not the grammar, nor the spelling (even if in English the spelling doesn’t make sense). We can easily look up the rules and spellcheck will help us with our letter-based woes. The hardest part is acquiring and remembering vocabulary.
Most language learners have a developed a basic vocabulary that helps them through common conversations. What we don’t have in our arsenal once we’re on our own in a new multi-lingual business environment, is the specific vocabulary that we need to hold our own on the work floor.
Here are some tips and tricks you can start applying today to not only expand your knowledge, but to start using those new words during your next meeting.
1. Finding the vocabulary
This is the easy part. When it comes to exposing yourself to new vocabulary, there are hundreds of methods. The world is full of words. What is challenging is finding the words that you need, as no job (or even company) uses the exact same vocabulary.
Here are some recommendations to find vocabulary that is specific to you:
From inside the company
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First, let’s take a look at the company as a whole. What vocabulary or jargon is your company using? If you’re in a multilingual company that operates in several languages, you might have only read your company’s website in your language.
Change the language to your target language on the company website, and you immediately have a good grasp on the vocabulary that the company uses to present itself to the public. These are the words that describe your company’s identity, values, and ambitions. -
Secondly, take the opportunity to learn from your coworkers. Find their emails in your inbox that you usually skim or put into a translator, and highlight the words that are unfamiliar to you. Take notes during meetings (if you’re confident enough in your ability: volunteer to take minutes) and presentations.
Take all of the words you can find and put them in one list that you can read and refer back to often. Better yet, put the list into a tool like Quizlet or Anki to make learning fun and easy.
Sector specific external sources
Find some online publications that publish sector-related news, discussions, or anything else that might spark your interest. The only important thing is that the publication is in the target language.
Don’t feel like reading? I’m sure there’s a podcast out there created by and for people in your sector or job. Head to google and grab the first thing on the list, and make sure you’ve got something handy to make notes as you listen so you can gain from the host’s knowledge.
2. Using vocabulary
Now that you’ve made your list of new words, how do you start using them? You can’t have the list open in front of you during a meeting or a presentation, and we all remember that memorizing is maybe not the most efficient way.
Select a few key words at a time
When you take a look at your collected vocabulary, make a shortlist (not more than five words or phrases) of the items you want to prioritize. These are phrases that you feel will be most useful, and that you’ll have the opportunity to use soon.
Write those down on a post-it note and keep it next to you on your desk. Try to use them in an email, check example sentences online for context, and use them during your next meeting or presentation. Especially during virtual meetings, no one will notice you have a cheat sheet next to you.
As soon as you feel comfortable with your selected five words/phrases, move on to the next selection.
Do writing exercises
Some words are simple and straightforward, and have a direct translation in our native language. Others require a specific context which might not always be clear.
Identify those words and get to writing: write fictional emails, write dialogues of often-repeated discussions during meetings, prepare slides for a fictional presentation, etc. Anything that will help you activate those specific words especially if you’re not sure you’re going to use it correctly in a real setting. Have a native-speaker friend or colleague check your work, or ask your language coach!
Acquiring new words comes down to two things: find them, and actively use them. Turn the tips above into a daily habit, and you’ll have a more expansive vocabulary in no time.
Do you need help to expand your business vocabulary?
Then you can consult one of our language coaches at Squidll. Together you can broaden your vocabulary and practise till you actively use them.
Sign up on Squidll, find a business language coach who fits your needs and start today on Squidll.
Do you want more tips on boosting your business skills in English? Find out all our tips on our blog.