Blog de Martin Alirol

It is quite difficult to keep a good level of English when you're not able to practice it. An increasing number of job offers ask for good skills in oral comprehension, expression, as well as in writing and reading. Furthermore, the international context pushes companies to be active in the whole world, and recruiters strat to be interested in international profiles, even if the job is located in France. This issue becomes essentially visible when you already have 2 years experience, at the middle management level, once you've had your first professional experience without using any foreign languages. So, are your ready to subscribe to an English institute, or would you prefer starting a long term investment in your career by using your spare time to work on languages? Do you really need to enroll in an intensive and expensive English course? Probably not...

Poor French people. English has always been neglected in our country. Remember at school during the English lesson? Weren't you chatting with your classmates instead of following the course? Northern countries such as Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, are doing much better than us! Why? Is it because we don't fell the need to go abroad? I don't know... But if you don't want to miss a job because an applicant from an other country is more fluent than you, or if you want to get rid of your awful French accent, you should maybe read carefully what's coming next.

Here are a few tricks to practice your English even if you are not involved in an appropriate environment.

The first advice I would give is to speak as much as you can. It can be funny, when you're chatting with friends, to use a few sentences in English. Okay, I know it doesn't sound really professional, but I swear, it helps. You can even speak alone, or think in English. There are many situations in which you can practice. Are you fond of the last trendy music (I am definitely not taking about Tokyo Hotel...)? Then why not learning lyrics and starting to sing when you hear your favorite song on the radio. Reading, chatting on the internet, watching movies, are also a good ways to improve your English.

Second advice: there are many websites on the internet which allow you to practice without paying anything. For example this one : http://www.english-test.net. I found it quite good because you have many exercises, similar to those used for the TOEIC and also the TOEFL. Try some tests, from the easiest level until the hardest, I'm sure you'll learn some words and how to use grammar.

Thirdly, concerning again the internet: are you an Ipod owner? If yes, you're really lucky because you'll be able to download podcasts coming from various websites. Monster UK offers good stuff if you're seeking career advices. Topics include salary negotiation, how to prepare an interview, networking, etc, and it is totally free!!! I personally use to practise my English this way.

I also enjoy travelling, and a good level of English is without question an advantage if you want to meet people coming from abroad or simply survive!!! I am also currently leaving in a place which welcomes many many many many many tourists. If I want to order a drink in a bar, in my city... I have to speak in English otherwise the waitress won't understand me...

I had one professional experience abroad in 2004. I spent 2 months in Singapore for an internship and I realized how important it is to speak English. But actually, as I said, it's difficult to keep it up. Today, I'm starting to lose my skills and I don't want to. I am really looking for a professionnal opportunity  that would enable me to use them, but what about you? Are your ready to start practicing?

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