How can I speak better English at work? A great strategy is to learn from mistakes. That’s why I’ve selected 8 of the most common English errors I heard as a manager of an international team, and included them here. Let’s start the challenge and work on how to learn English for work!
ROUND 1: ELIMNATE ONE WORD
For each sentence to be correct in English, you need to eliminate a word. Do you know which one?
English error 1: We were discussing about the project.
English error 2: The report is too much long.
English error 3: I want to grow up in this company.
If you aren’t sure, don’t worry! Remember, correcting mistakes a big part of how to learn English for work.
Here are the corrections:
Correction 1: We were discussing about the project.
In English, you discuss something. Simple as that.
Correction 2: The report is too much long.
In English, “too much” is for things. For example:
- I have too much work to do today.
- It’s too much pressure.
But when you’re describing something, just use “too” (without “much”).
- The day is too long.
- I am too busy.
Correction 3: I want to grow up in this company.
This English error appears a lot in CVs and job interviews, even when people have really advanced English. It’s confusing because “grow up” is definitely a correct phrase in English…but it means to transform from being a child to adult. That’s why you ask someone “Where did you grow up?”.
When you refer to achieving a higher level position in a company, you just say “grow”. Without the “up”.
“The mistake might not always be clear at first, that’s completely normal!”
ROUND 2: CHANGE WORDS
In this round, change one or two words to make the sentence correct.
English error 4: I haven’t a meeting today .
English error 5: My journey is always busy.
English Error 6: I need to focus in the task.
Let’s check! This type of exercise will help you speak better English at work.
Correction 4: I don’t have a meeting today.
“Hasn’t” or “Haven’t” exist in English, but that’s for a particular tense of English, like “I still haven’t met the director”. In this case, just think about positive and negative.
- Positive: I have a meeting.
- Negative: I don’t have a meeting.
Correction 5: My day at work is always busy.
Remember, “journey” is related to travelling, not work.
Correction 6: I need to focus on the task.
The English words in, on, at are easy to mix up, but this small difference will help you speak better at English.
ROUND 3: ADD NEW WORDS
To improve your English at work, add new words to these sentences.
English error 7: He explained me the plan.
English Error 8: The most important is clear communication.
The mistake might not always be clear at first, that’s completely normal! Remember, this approach of how to learn English for work involves close reflection. Let’s keep going!
Correction 7: He explained the plan to me.
Tip: in English, you explain something to something. “He explained me” is not correct.
Correction 8: The most important thing is clear communication.
Tip: after you say “the most important”, you need something e.g. thing, part, reason.
Fixing mistakes is part of the strategy to improve your English and sound professional and confident. Congratulations for taking this step to help you speak better English at work!
Want to go further?
