Do I Really Need ESL

Do I really need English as a second language? That is a question I had to ask myself shortly before I left work today. Why? Well, right before I was to go home for the day I got an e-mail from our Human Resources Department. It actually wasn’t just sent to me, it was sent companywide. I wasn’t sure if I should be offended or flattered to be honest. I had to read the entire thing twice to fully gather what was being said. Where it all pisses me off quite a bit is because, out of my own pocket, I took courses in both Spanish and Portuguese, both to help me be able to communicate both verbally and in writing with my fellow employees. When I went to turn in my receipts as well as my credits reimbursement was formally declined. I chocked it up as it was money well spent on my part. Plus, a person has to try to recoup money knowing the only reason I took the courses was because 75% of this company speaks Spanish and and the rest pretty much speak languages of a Latin decent. Granted, we have the Germans, the French, and the odd Russian as well. I am but one of a handful of people here born in the United States and have English as my native tongue. Anyway, blah, blah, blah, below is the very frustrating email that I was told I will need to comply with, there are no exceptions. Tell me that isn’t pretty stupid, especially to be done on my own time.

 

Provided for all employees beginning next semester at HCC will be two semesters of ESL, English as a Second Language. This course is being provided at no cost to the employee and there are schedules to fit almost every need. Please see the information provided below. Department managers will provide a printed copy to all employees without e-mail access.

 

English is the language most commonly spoken in many countries in Europe and in the United States. It is also the most desirable second language throughout many parts of the world. In fact it is the prominent second language spoken in most global locations. Since we are an international company and English is the preferred international business language, being proficient in speaking English is of great benefit to our company and the business world.

 

Learning to speak English as a second language has it’s advantages for most people regardless of where they are from. When you are bilingual you become more employable in most countries and if you speak English plus your language of origin, you are very valuable to employers. Many positions are open for bilingual employees and knowing English as a second language will put you a step ahead of your competition.

 

English as a second language, also referred to as ESL, is not as hard to learn as you may think. Since the English language is based on an alphabet and is phonetically spoken, it is much easier to learn then some other languages such as Chinese. You will be surprised at how quickly you will grasp the basics. You will be able to effectively communicate in English sooner then you would think.

 

We suggest that you work with a tutor who is is skilled in teaching ESL while taking this course. It is beneficial to have their support and encouragement as you are learning English. The help of a good tutor will ensure that you will be able to speak English well and will enjoy the learning process as you move forward towards becoming bilingual. In order for you to take advantage to also learn at home, included will be the DVD courses available that will get you on your way to speaking English. Whichever learning situation works best for you, is the type of environment to select for you.

 

Once you have completed your ESL course you will be able to communicate with people all over the world that also speak English as their language regardless of their nationality. Another benefit is that your earning potential will have increased once you complete the ESL course. Don’t hesitate to move forward with your ESL classes, you will be glad you did. The more marketable skills you have, the greater your earning potential will be, and the greater benefit you will be to our company.

 

Regards,
Human Resources