英语有效交际的21种方法.doc

英语有效交际的21种方法英语作为第2语言21WaystoCommunicateEffectivelyifEnglishisYourSecondLanguage-ByPhilipWhitfordInadifficultemploymentclimate,itisalwaysassumedthatESLspeakerswillbethelasttogetjobs.Yettherearealwayssomewhogetjobs,nomatterwhattheirlanguagelevel.Howdotheydoit?Hereareafewstrategiesthatmayworkforyou.IfyouhavepoorEnglish,youareautomaticallyatadisadvantagewhentheemployercomparesyoutootherjobapplicants.Evenwiththemosttolerant,patient,andforgivingattitude,theemployercanmakeadecisionbasedonlyuponwhatheorshecanunderstandaboutthepotentialemployee.Yetallknowpersonally,orknowstoriesofjob-seekerswithbadEnglishwhohavebeenhired.Whataretheirsecrets?Theirsecretsarebuiltaroundtheideaofcompleteandeffectivecommunication,asopposedtotheideaofattainingcompleteandaccentlessfluencyinEnglish.Complete,ofcoursereferstotheuseofdifferentavenuesandmediaofcommunication;andeffectivemeanstomakeachangeintheemployersknowledgeorattitude.ThefollowingstrategiesarebuiltaroundexpandingthenumberoftoolstheESLjob-seekerhastocommunicatetheirvaluetotheemployer,andtomakingthosetoolsmoreeffective.1.ModelNorthAmericanBodyLanguageNonverballanguageisveryimportant,andwhenyourabilitiesinspokenEnglisharelow,itbecomesevenmoresignificant.IfyoudonthavethewordsandphrasesinEnglishtocommunicateyourfriendliness,desireforthejob,self-confidence,considerationfortheemployer,andsoon,yourbodymustdothework.ThismeansexaminingthehabitualbodylanguageofyourhomecultureandcomparingittoNorthAmericanexpectations.Doyouhabituallystandtooclose,ortoofarawayfromNorthAmericans?Areyourhandandbodygesturestoolargeortoosmall?Areyourfacialexpressionsmisinterpreted?DoyoushakehandsintheNorthAmericanway?Doyoumovetooquicklyortooslowly?Sincetheseareallcomparativequestionswhoseanswersaredifferent,dependinguponyourhomeculture,youmustrole-playwithnative-bornCanadiansandgetclearfeedback.Thisismoredifficultthanyoumightthink,becausethenative-bornwillwanttohelpyouwithyourspokenEnglish,andyouwilllikelyhavetobringtheirattentionbackagainandagaintotheirreactionstohowyoustand,walk,andsit.HINTS:Handshakesaregenerallywithonehand,firmlyplacedintotheotherpersonspalm,withastrong,notcrushinggrip,andnomorethanoneortwoshakes.Generally,NorthAmericansarecomfortablewithaspaceofone-and-a-halfarmslengthbetweenthetwoofyouwhened,andaboutanarmslengthorabitlesswhenstanding.Thepersonconductingtheinterviewsetstherules.2.ChangetheToneofYourVoiceSomestudieshaveshownthatuptoeightypercentofcommunicationisthroughthetoneofvoice,notthewordsused.Regardlessofyouraccentandyourvocabulary,youcanmakeyourvocaltonepleasant,firm,interested,excited,warm,andfriendly(arentthosewonderfulgoodemployedcharacteristics?-andallthroughvocaltonealone!).Alongwithtonegovolumeandspeed.Ideally,youshouldvaryyourvolumeabitMileyoutalk,toshowdifferentdegreesofinterestanddesire;bidifthatisdifficultforyou,itisbesttospeakconsistentlyjustabitlouderthannormalconversation.Thisisassertiveandpositive,andhelpsthelistenerpastthebarrieryouraccentmaypresent.Speakingjustabitmoreslowlyaidscommunicationbecauseitfocusestheemployeesattentiononyourwords,andpresentsageneralairofconfidence.Italsoallowsyoutothinkoutyouranswerscarefully.HINTS:Taperecordyourselfsoyouknowwhatyousoundlike.Copyfriendswhohavegoodspeakingvoices,orcopyprofessionalactorsontelevision.OftenMenyoucreateawarmandfriendlytoneinyourvoice,yourbodylanguagenaturallychangesforthebetter.3.AppropriatePersonalDressandPresentationAtthebeginningoftheinterviewtheemployerhearsyousayhello,feelsyourhandshake-andofcourseseesandsmellsyou.Yourclothingneednotbeexpensive,biditmustfitthreecriteria.First,itmustbeclean,clean,clean.Second,itmustbeappropriatefortheworkplace-suitsfortheoffice,morecasualclothesforlaboringjobs.Third,yourclothesmustbe,ifnotWishorcurrent,notstrange.Strangemightapplytobadlyout-of-datestyles,suchasbell-bottompantsandfollyshirtsformen,anditmightalsoapplytooddcolorcombinations.Andfinally,itappliestooddorout-of-placefashionaccessories,suchasneck-scarvesformen,orheavymensshoesforwomen.Finally,beawareoftheeffectofyoursmell.Idonotmeanbodyodour,foritisagiventhatyougotoajobinterviewfreshlybathedandwithyourclothesrecentlylaundered.1refertoperfumes,colognes,scentedsoaps,aftershave,andotheraromaticmake-upyoumightuse.Inasmallspacelikeanoffice,asensitivepersoncanliterallybecomenauseatedfromastrongcombinationofscentedaftershave,cologne,aromaticshampoo,andperfumedbodypowder.TheobjectiveatthispointistomakeyourselfasUNobtrusiveaspossible.HINTS:Puttogetheracoupleofinterviewoutfitsandshowthemtosomenative-bornandgettheiremotionalreactions.Askforhonesty;manypeopledontwanttoembarrassyou,andsomaynottellyouthetruthaboutyourclothingunlessyouinsist.Gothroughthetoiletriesyoucommonlyuse,andsmelleachoneofthemindividually.Ifyoulikesmelling,chooseoneonlytobeyourmainscent,andusethatoneonlybeforeinterviews.Nowthatyouhavewalkedinthedoor,shakenhands,saidhellonicely,andsatdowninyourgoodinterviewclothesattherightdistance.youhavetospeakthatdamnEnglish!4.MemorizeJargoninYourFieldEmployersdontneedforyoutospeakandreadenoughEnglishtotalkaboutcurrentevents;theyneedyoutohavetheEnglishthatisusedintheparticularjobtheyarehiringfor.ConcentrateyourEnglishbeamingonthosetechnicalwordsandphraseswhichareusedmostofteninthejobyouwant.Memorizethepropernamesofthemachines,tools,software,books,andproceduresyouwilluse.Knowthenamesoftheproductsorservicesyouwillbeselling;ifyouareatechnician,knowtheappropriatetechnicallanguage.Yourmasteryofthejargoninyourfielddemonstratesyourbasiccompetenceandskillstotheemployer,despiteotherdifficultiesyoumaybehavingwithEnglish.HINTS:Gotothelibrary,ortoacollegeandstudyatextbookinyourparticularfield.Arrangeaninformationinterviewwithanative-bornCanadianinthefield,andgooverthesespecialwordsandphrases,untilyoucanmakeyourselfunderstood.Ifyoucansayhello,good-bye,andhisPChasaPentium11-300Mhzmotherboardwiththenewbustechnology,64MBRAMandan8-GigHardDrive,foronly$2,100.,youvealmostgotthejob.Bringalongatechnicalbookormanualtotheinterview,andreadfromitorasktheemployertoaskyouaquestionfromit.5.DependUponPersonalReferencesIfyoucannotspeakwellforyourself,othersmustspeakforyou.MakesurethatyouhaveacompletesetofreferenceswhocanspeakEnglishfluentlyenoughtomakeagoodcaseforyoutotheemployer.Native-bornEnglishspeakersoftendosoveilintheinterviewthattheemployerdoesnotneedtocallreferences.Sinceyoucannotdothat,youmustdependonyourreferencesmuchmore.Youmustmakesurethattheymakepointsaboutyouthatyouhavedifficultymaking.Practicewithyourreferencesthegoodthingsthattheywillsay:theyareyourvoice.HINTS:IfyourbestfriendorformeremployercannotspeakEnglishwell,youmayhavetogetanotherfriendorco-workerwithbetterEnglishtospeakforthem.Youcanalsogetthemtohavetheircommentstranslatedandwrittendown,intheformofrecommendationletters.Theseareverygoodtobringalongtotheinterview.6.IdentifyWords,Phrases,ParticularIdiomsWhichCauseYouTroubleEveryoneofushaswords,orphrases,orevenparticularsoundswhichcauseustroubletospeakortounderstand.Theonlywaytogetbetteristopractice.Muchinthesamewaythatyouputyourenergiesintobeamingthejargonofyourworkplace,itisbettertoworkonyourchronicproblemsinEnglishthantogetjustalittlebetteroverall.Thisisbecauseitisnaturalfortheemployertonoticeandtorememberwhenyouhaveaproblemwithaparticularwordorphrase.Makesureyouknowtheappropriate,orproperuseofawordorphrase,particularlyifitisacolloquialism.Fifteenminutesofagoodinterviewcanbelostwhenyousuddenlycannotpronouncethewordtherapeutic,orifyouusethephraseDonthaveacow,man.HINTS:Useataperecordertorecordthewordsandphrasesyouhavedifficultywith,thentaperecordanative-bornspeakingthem.Practiceoverandover.RecordyourselfonceeachweekandcomparethatwiththerecordingofgoodEnglish,soyoucanhearhowyouareimproving.7.PracticeYourWeakAreaswithaJobCoachorPartnerYouonlygetbetterwhenyoulearnfromsomeonewhospeaksbetterthanyou.GetanativeEnglish-speakertobecomeamemberofyourjob-searchteam;theironlyrolewillbetolistentoyouandcriticizeyouaccuratelyandruthlessly.HINTS.CommunityCollegeshaveHomeTutorprograms.IfyouareonSocialAssistance,youmayqualifyforfreehelp.CommunityCentresandnon-profitservicegroupsoftenhaveEnglishconversationgroupswhereyoucanmeetnative-speakerswhoarewillingtohelpyou.8.AlwaysAskforanExplanation,Simplification,orExpansionOneoftheworstmistakesESLjob-seekersmakeininterviewsistopretendtheyunderstandtheemployerwhentheydonot.Iftheemployerspeakstooquickly,slursthewords,oruseslanguageyoudonotunderstand,youmustinterrupttheinterview(nottheemployer-alwayswaitforthemtofinishspeaking!)andaskfortheinterviewertoclarify.Thereareseveralkindsofclarificationyoumayaskfor;simplytorepeatthestatementabitmoreslowly;ortousesimplerwordsandphrases(Englishcanbegrammaticallycomplex-askingtheemployertouseasimplersentenceisokay);ortodefinenewwordsandphrases,thatis,toexpandonwhattheemployerjustsaid.Theemployermayindeedbeslightlyirritatedwithyouforhavingtorepeatorchangetheirstatementorquestion,bidtheywillalsobepleasedwithyourhonesty,andwillbereassuredthatyouwillnottakeanyactiononthejobwithoutunderstandingfullytheordersorinformationyoursupervisorgivesyou.Andbesides,youwilllikelylearnsomething.HINTS.Bepolitewhenyouasktheemployertorepeatsomething,andbeclearonexactlywhatkindofrepetitionorexpansionyouwant.Iftheemployeraskssharplywhetherornotyoucananswer,simplyrespondwiththetruth:thatyourEnglishisabitshakyonthisonepoint,andthatyouwishtogivethebestandmostaccurateanswer.Iftheemployergivesalongandcomplicatedexplanationorexpansion,orgivesyoumanynewwords,askpermissiontotakenotes,thendoso.Thisshowsyourdesireandabilitytolearn.9.DefineYourEffectivenessintheFourSkillsofEnglishFluencyinEnglishisactuallycomposedoffourskills:speaking,understanding,reading,andwriting.Manyofusdoonebetterthantheothers.Itisagreathelptotheemployerwhenyoupointoutexactlyhowwellyoudoeachofthesethings,fortheemployerusuallyassumesthatyouunderstand,read,andwriteEnglishonlyaswellasyouspeakit.Thisisoftenuntrue,asmanyimmigrantprofessionalsreadandwriteEnglishquitewell,thoughtheyhavenotusedoralEnglishverymuch.HINTS.IfyoureadEnglishwell,pointoutthatyoucanlearnfrommanualsandreadsafetyinstructions.IfyouunderstandEnglishwell,emphasizethatyoucantakeandrespondtoordersquickly.IfyouwriteEnglish,emphasizeyourabilitytomakeaccuratenotesandwrittenreportstoyouremployer.AndifyouspeakEnglishwell,butdontreadorwritesowell,describehowwellyoucaninteractwithotheremployeesinthewoprkplace.10.BringYourEnglishorOtherAssessmentwithYouEmployersaresometimesjustifiablyskepticalabouthowgoodyousayyourEnglishis.IfyouhavetakenanyoralorwrittenassessmentsofyourEnglish,bringthemwithyou.Thisisuseful,especiallyifyougetnervousduringtheinterviewandyouarehavingsomedifficultyspeaking.YoushouldalsobringassessmentsandCanadianevaluationsofyourworkskills.Manyemployersdesperatelywanttohireyou,butcannot,unlessyoucanprovidesomekindofproofofyourskills.Proofwouldincludeavideotapeofyoudoingajob,oranevaluationfromaCanadianexpertinthefield.HINTS.Bringtheseoutonlyifyouarehavingrealtrouble,oriftheemployerisextremelydubiousaboutyourclaimsoffluencyandyourclaimsofskill.11.VolunteertoTakeanEnglishTest(formalorinformal)Iftheemployerisvisiblyhesitant,suggestatestofyourEnglishskills.Askwhatworkplacesituationwouldbeappropriatetotest.Volunteertotakeawalkthroughtheworkplace,talktosomeofhisemployees,perhapsworkforhalf-a-dayforfree.Offertotakeatimedtest.HINTS:Showyourconfidencebyhelpingtheemployerdeviseatestforyou.Thelongeryouspendintheemployespresence,showingyourconfidence,desire,andoverallcharacter,thecloseryouaretobeinghired.12.ExplainYourEducationand/orTraininginDetail1Employersaredubiousaboutyourskillsbecausetheydontknowyoureducation.Youshouldbeabletodescribeyoureducationortrainingindetail;youshouldbeabletodescribethetoolsandmachinesyouused,andtheprojectsyoucompleted.Thesefactsareverypowerful,andhelpdemonstratethatyourlackofEnglishdoesnotmeanalackofskills.HINTS:Dontspendmuchtimedescribinghowgoodyourschoolortraininginstitutionwas,orgivingitsnameorcity;justgivetheemployerthenamesofthecoursesyoutookanddescribeindetailwhatyoulearned.13.DemonstrateYourKnowledgeofCanadianWorkplacePracticeSometimesemployerstakeanignoranceofEnglishtomeananignoranceofCanadianworkplaceexpectations.InCanada,workersafetyisusuallyparamount,andtheabilitytogetalongwithotheremployeesoftentakesprecedenceoverhighskilllevel.Besureyouhaveagoodideabeforeyougointotheinterviewwhatkindofworkplacetheemployerisoffering.Istheworkplacehotorcold,crowded,ordoeseveryoneworkalone?Isthepaceveryfast,orslowandcareful?HINTS.Getinformationinterviewswithemployersorworkersinthefieldyouareapplyingto,soyoucanaskaboutworkingconditions.ReadtheB.C.EmploymentStandardsAct,sothatyouknowyourrights.14.AvoidShowingBitternessorSharingProblemsBeyondacknowledging,Yes,Ihavehadsomeproblems,yourdifficultiesarenttheemployeesbusiness.WhenyoutalkabouttheobstaclesyouhaverunintooveryourEnglish,youusuallyhurtyourchances.First,youintroduceanegativefeelingtotheinterview.Second,youaretalkingaboutyourweaknesses,notyourstrengths.Third,youareweakeningyourcasetotheemployer,byshowinghimthatotherCanadianemployerswillnothireyou.Fourth,youareshowingtotheemployerthatyoucaremoreaboutyourproblemsthanabouthis.Fifth,youareshowingthatyouhaveanegativeattitude,andthatyoufocusonproblems,ratherthansolutions.HINTS:Remembertospeakaboutyourstrengths,andalwaysshowapositiveface.Iftheemployerinsistsuponknowingyourdifficultieswithgettinghired,dontgetspecific;remaingeneral,andbringupyourstrengthsagain.15.ShareYourVisionoftheFutureDotelltheemployerwhereyouexpecttobeworking3or5yearsinthefuture.TellhimorherhowmuchyouexpecttoimproveyourEnglish,yourincome,andyoursocialstanding.Share,ifyoucan,successstoriesofotherimmigrantswhoworkedtheirwaytosuccess.HINTS:EmphasizehowmuchyouexpecttoimproveyourEnglishonceyouareworkingregularly.16.AcknowledgeyourNeedforImprovementorDemonstrateYourCurrentEffectivenessinEnglishDontpretendtobebetterinEnglishthanyouare.Ifyouneedtoimprove,acknowledgethis,butbespecific.Iknowmyaccentisprettystrong,but1amworkingonthat.1speakwell,and1amworkingonincreasingmyvocabulary,particularlyinthisfield.Oncemyspeakingisasgoodasmyreading,1knowIllbedoingreallyAndifyouknowyourEnglish;.sgoodenoughforyoutobeproductive,donotacceptanyput-downsfromtheemployer.IftheemployerinsiststhatyourEnglishisinadequatefortheposition,allowhimorhertochallengeyouvathaprojectoratest.HINTS:Dontapologizeforyournot-perfectEnglishifyouknowyoucandothejobwell.17.RequestanEvaluationofYourEnglishSkillsAsktheemployerhowgoodyourEnglishis.Askwhereyouneedtoimproveinthefourskills(Speaking,Understanding,Reading,Writing).HINTS:Appealtotheemployershumanside:pointoutthats/heistheexpertonexactlywhatlevelofEnglishisrequiredinher/hisworkplace.18.ShareYourPlansandActivitiestoImproveYourEnglishAswellasavisionofyourgeneralworkfuture,youmusttelltheemployerexactlyhowandwhenyouareimprovingyourEnglish.DoyouhaveaHometujtor?AreyoupreparingfortheTOEFLexam?HowmanyhoursaweekdoyouspendstudyingEnglish?HINTS:Mentionsomeofficiallyrecognizedprogramoreducationinstitution,andgiveadefinitetimelineforimprovingyourEnglish.19.ConfronttheIssueIfyoufeelunsureabouttheemployeesattitudetowardsyourEnglish,ask.ismylevelofEnglishgoingtocausesomedifficultyinyourworkplace?GettheemployertoIouttheproblem.Usually,itissomethingsmallandspecific,suchasnotbeingabletoreadsafetyregulations,ornotbeingabletounderstandcustomersoverthetelephone.HINTS:Asktheemployertobeveryclearaboutthedifficultys/heanticipates.Ifyoucan,bringitdowntoonesingleworksituation;thenyoucanworkonconvincingtheemployerthatyoucanhandlethesituation.Youmightdoarole-play,oryoumightvolunteeradayortm.20.ShowPreviousOccasionsYouHaveWorkedEffectivelyinaSecondlanguageManyimmigrantshaveexperienceinmultiplelanguages.Ifyoucandescribefortheemployerotherworkplacesituationswhereyouhadtouseanewandunfamiliarlanguage,thatcanconvincetheemployeryouwillbeabletohandletheEnglish-languageworkplace.ItisalsoeffectivetodescribehowyouhavehandledotherEnglish-languageworkplaces,eveniftheywerenotinyourfield-say,yourfirstcoupleofjobsinCanada.HINTS:Telltheemployerthespecifictacticsyouusedtocopewithanunfamiliarlanguage.Didyouusesignlanguage?Notes?Didyougetsomeonetotranslateforyou?Didyousimplylearnquickly?21.Follow-uptheInterviewOncetheinterviewisover,youareveryrelieved,andyoudontwanttothinkaboutit,ortoreturn-exc