TOKYO, December 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Global businesses that don't invest in improving their
employees' English skills are missing out on major savings in
productivity according to learning company Pearson.
New research from Pearson shows that English skills are
considered key for learners, no matter where in the world they are
applying for a job. Around a third of learners in global markets
such as Asia, Europe and South
America, are learning English to apply for a job in their
own country and about the same amount of people said they were
learning the language to work overseas.[1]
However, Pearson's research suggests that global businesses
could do more to develop their employees' English skills. While 92%
of global employees report that English is important for their
career progression, only 7% of non-native English speakers in
global companies believe they can communicate effectively at
work.[2]
As a result, businesses are missing out on crucial benefits to
the bottom line: Pearson found that improved English skills can
boost a business' productivity. On average, companies gained one
working week per year, per employee.[3] For a
multinational business this means thousands of weeks per year.
To help businesses reap the benefits of investing in employees'
professional English skills, Pearson is launching a suite of
tailored learning objectives. These objectives are part of the
Global Scale of English (GSE), a granular scale from 10-90
that provides a far more precise measurement of a learner's
abilities across each of the four language skills - reading,
listening, speaking and writing - in comparison to other methods
which tend to categorise proficiency in broad bands.
The GSE helps employers understand the individual English
capabilities of their employees and identifies the specific skills
they need to perform their role successfully. The GSE learning
objectives are rooted in practical everyday business English. For
professionals who wish to develop their English, the GSE learning
objectives are a tool that can be readily used to plan a path to
greater English proficiency. For example,
- a Chief Executive who faces complex discussions and problems,
may want to strive for a GSE score of 75 in speaking to be
persuasive and convince others
- a lawyer who fulfils key responsibilities such as questioning
witnesses during trials, would be advised to aim for a score of 68
in speaking to ensure questions are asked politely in sensitive
situations
- a mechanical engineer who takes readings and follows
instructions, may want to aim for a reading score of 62 in order to
interpret messages from diagrams and visual information
Tas Viglatzis, Managing Director, Pearson English, said: "It's in
everyone's interest to ensure that learning a language isn't seen
as just a 'training opportunity', but a solid investment in
personal growth and career development. Now more than ever, English
is the common language of multinational businesses and candidates
compete in a global talent market. Having a global scale will not
only help them to be more efficient, it will also give learners
direction on the specific English skills they need to develop in
order to perform their role successfully."
How can I find out more?
Visit http://www.english.com for more information on the GSE or
http://www.linkedin.com/company/pearson-english.
About Pearson:
Pearson is the world's leading learning company, with 40,000
employees in more than 80 countries working to help people of all
ages to make measurable progress in their lives through
learning.
Pearson English is a division of
Pearson and millions of teachers and students use our English
language learning resources and tools each year. We offer
dynamic and effective learning solutions to individuals,
institutions and corporations in over 150 countries.
About GSE:
The Global Scale of English (GSE) is a standardised, granular
scale which measures English language proficiency. Unlike some
other frameworks which describe attainment in broad bands, the GSE
identifies what a learner can do at each point on the scale across
speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
The scale is designed to motivate learners by accurately
demonstrating step-by-step progress. Teachers can match a student
to the right course materials to suit their exact level and
learning goals.
The GSE serves as a standard against which English language
courses and assessments worldwide can be benchmarked, offering a
truly global and shared understanding of proficiency levels.
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1. Wall Street English, Wall Street English Research, 2015
2. Pearson English Business Solutions and CEB, Measuring the
continuing impact - Business English as a prerequisite for global
business, 2015
3. Pearson English Business Solutions and CEB, Measuring the
continuing impact - Business English as a prerequisite for global
business, 2015
For more information please contact:
Sayaka
Toshikiyo
Marketing Manager
Pearson Japan K.K.
E: sayaka.toshikiyo@pearson.com
D: +81-3-5549-8631