What brings you here?
I know English, but I avoid it at work because of how I feel when I use it.
I can manage in English, but I can’t be as convincing—or as myself.
My child has English lessons, but still avoids speaking.
My team works with international clients and colleagues. I want to help them communicate more effectively in English.
You know you can speak English. But when you’re worried about how you’ll sound or what people will think, even familiar words can become hard to find.
What worries you most in those moments?
Sounding less capable than I actually am.
You want people to hear your ideas, not judge your English. We’d work on expressing what you know without feeling you have to prove yourself with every sentence.
Making a mistake and being judged for it.
When every mistake feels like it might change someone’s opinion of you, speaking takes enormous effort. We’d practise making room for imperfect English while still saying what matters.
Not finding my words when everyone is listening.
The words come easily afterwards. We’d work with those moments of pressure, so a pause or a missing word doesn’t have to derail the whole conversation.
Something else.
When does this happen most for you?
In meetings, when everyone is listening.
With clients or people more senior than me.
When I’m asked something unexpectedly.
Even in everyday conversations in English.
What do people get from you in your own language that they miss when you speak English?
I sound sure of myself. In English, I sound like I’m asking.
You know what you mean, but it comes out sounding less certain than you feel. We’d work on making your point, giving your reasons and standing behind them—even when someone pushes back.
My personality. I become very formal and careful.
So much attention goes into getting the English right that there’s less room for you. We’d work on bringing your humour, warmth and way of speaking into English, so you can take part without rehearsing every sentence.
I can explain my thinking properly. In English, I simplify too much.
You end up giving the version you can say quickly, rather than the one you actually mean. We’d work with your own ideas and expertise, so you can explain the detail that matters and help people follow your thinking.
When does your child speak willingly—and when do they start holding back?
They know the answer, but go quiet when someone asks them.
You’ve heard enough to know the English is there. I’d look at what changes when they’re expected to answer, and help them practise speaking with someone who gives them room to find their words.
They speak with their teacher, but hardly anywhere else.
With their teacher, they know the person and what to expect. I’d help them use familiar English with different people and in different situations, so speaking becomes less dependent on that one setting.
They get upset about mistakes or say ‘I can’t’ before trying.
It’s hard to watch them give up before they’ve had a chance. I’d pay attention to where it starts feeling too difficult, then shape the practice so they can try, get something wrong and still want another go.
I’m not sure. I don’t get to see much of their lessons.
Then you shouldn’t have to guess. Through the platform, I’d show you what we worked on, what I noticed and what we’re practising next, with specific moments that help you understand how your child is doing.
Where is communication in English costing your team most: meetings that end without clear decisions, work that needs redoing after misunderstandings, or client conversations where their expertise doesn’t come across?
We spend too long clarifying and following up.
We’d focus on getting decisions made and work moving—with clear requests, clear ownership and fewer rounds of follow-up.
Misunderstandings cause mistakes or repeated work.
We’d identify where misunderstandings enter the process and work on catching them before they cost your team time and repeated work.
Our expertise doesn’t come across clearly to clients.
We’d work on turning your team’s expertise into clear recommendations, convincing explanations and confident responses when clients challenge them.
Can you give me a recent example?
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