The Right Stuff: Critical English Communication Skills for JapaneseBusiness Professionals Working in the Global Marketplace

Yoshiko Aiba
Corporate Officer and Principal Lecturer, Q-Leap Inc.

Communication: A Core Competency in the Global Workplace
6 Core Competencies for All Level of the Organization
1. Adaptability
2. Communication
3. Decision Making
4. Driving for Results
5. Innovation
6. Teamwork

Communication Skills• Good verbal communicator• Good writer• Good listener• Good public speaker• Makes good presentations• Reports always accurate, punctual• Shares information with team

What Impact Do They Want to Have by Communicating Effectively?
• Gain the respect and cooperation of colleagues• Develop trust with internal partners and external customers• Build a network of strategic business relationships• Help themselves and others embrace change• Resolve interpersonal conflicts• Provide feedback that helps people achieve higher levels ofperformance• Turn difficult customer situations into positive interactions

Analysis of Japanese Business Professionals’ English Proficiency• Interviewees: 25 Japanese business people working in the US• Period: Nov. 2013 – Aug. 2014
• Industries: Finance, Trading, Health, Oil & Gas, Medical, Education,Fashion, IT, Consulting, Coaching, Media, Coaching, Art• Responsibilities: Sales, M&A Consulting, Marking, Management, Phys.
Dentist, Licensing, Artist, Wedding planner, Geologist, Trader

Ages When They First Came to America to Work8

Most people camein their 20s – 30s

7early 30s
6early 20s

late 20s

5Interviewees’ Average
TOEIC® Score: 880

43

mid 20s
early 40s

*2013 data from ETS10

mid 30slate 30s

mid 40slate 40s

1

Major Uses of English at Work
Others6%

Reports8%
Socializing
11%
Phone calls
12%

Email38%Meeting20%

All 4 skills are needed• Reading• Writing• Listening• Speaking

Most Challenging Situations When Communicating in English■ Listening■ Speaking■ Culture

RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012www.PosterPresentations.com• Business–Focused Language Input & Output
Business meetings, tele-conferences, presentations, negotiation, Q&A,meeting facilitation etc.

• Pragmatics skills (Socio-Cultural Appropriateness)
Inter-culture & inter-language pragmatics skills including speech acts
strategies. e.g. requests, refusals, complaints, apologies etc.
PragmaticsBusinessFocused Input& OutputRole-plays, rehearsals,
and instructor’s
corrective feedbacks
help those learners

TOEIC 880~

Sample Lesson
Goal: “How to Effectively Enhance Self-Esteem”
Enhancing self-esteem means telling your colleagues or clients that theirinsights and input make a difference. When people succeed at somethingor make a valuable contribution, you can enhance their esteem byacknowledging their efforts. This can motivate and energize them as they
will know that what they do is valued and appreciated.
Key Strategies:• Be specific and sincere• Use the person’s name to make a more personal connection• Recognize accomplishments and efforts• Acknowledge good thinking and ideas* S-Social Status• Use context-appropriate language depending on SDI*
D-Distance
I-Intensity
Sample expressions:“Thanks so much for finding such a nice venue for our PR event, Maki.
I’m sure our guests will be very happy. You’re the best!”“Thank you for pointing out this issue, Mr. Sato.
I appreciate your taking the time to tell me there was a problem.”

Email & Meeting accountfor more than 50%Presentations
5%• English Proficiency Prerequisite:
TOEIC® 880 / TOEIC SW 340 / TOEFL iBT 95 / IELTS 6.5 / Eiken Pre-1
These scores prove the learners’ English proficiency including
vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.

(Japanese total: 512*)

2

teen

Teaching Strategies for JP Learners Who Pursue a Global Career

When speakers speak very fast or with strong accentsTele-conferences (when sound quality is not good)
Discussion, Negotiation
Meeting facilitation
Making complaints & Handling complaints
Q&A at presentations
Cross-cultural differences
Sense of humor, Small talk

“Grace, you’re really good at creating high-impact presentations,so thanks for offering to make our proposal.
It definitely will attract our potential customers.”

Role play: Tell your colleague Jack that you appreciate his effort to keep
track of everyone’s requests to submit an accurate list to management .
→ Teacher to give corrective feedback to the speech.

References• Ishihara, N. & Cohen, A. D.(2010) “Teaching and learning pragmatics: Where
language and culture meet.” Harlow, Essex, England: Longman/Pearson Education.
• Maxwell, J.C. (2010)“Everyone communicates, few connect: What the mosteffective people do differently.” Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson• “Communicating with Impact”, Development Dimensions International, Inc, MMX

Contact Information
Ms. Yoshiko Aiba
yoshikoaiba@q-leap.co.jp
http://q-leap.co.jp/