10 critical questions

10 critical questions to ask your language training supplier

critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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Prove it!

Are they a market leader?

Does your potential partner have offices all over the world, thousands of teachers on staff and hundreds of developers constantly making improvements, or are they a just second year start-up? Companies with more people on the ground are in a better position to support you in every way you need it – smaller startups just can’t provide the same level of service and local support.

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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Name and date of birth, please.

How long have they been around?

Flashy marketing campaigns can make it seem like a company knows its stuff, but it can’t make up for decades of experience in the industry. The more time a supplier has spent working with companies and individuals, the more knowledge they have to bring to the table.

IDENTITY CARD ENGLISH MR. NOVICE DoB: 26-11-13 EXPIRY DATE: 26-11-14

SIGNATURE ISSUE: 858FSDFHAG23R5

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DIPLOMA IN

Real Olde English Jane Doh

So what are you made of?

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Do they have a solid academic foundation?

The success of any language learning program hinges on solid academics. A great way to check is to see if your supplier works with leading academic institutions to constantly improve its academic approach. Teacher qualifications are also important; ask the provider what the minimum requirements are for the teachers they hire and what training they receive on the job.

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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EBIT

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Did you get that?

Does the provider have an understanding of your industry, terminology and communication needs?

Business English is useful for executives, but other job roles such as pilots or military personnel use pretty specialized vocabulary. Check that your partner knows your lingo, otherwise the training won’t make an impact on your business.

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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What do you know about us?

Does the supplier understand your business?

No one wants to waste money. Language training needs to make an impact on your bottom line, or you wouldn’t bother. Your supplier should make it a point to know about your business goals in order to make sure that the training delivers the right impact in the right places – and you get the highest return on your investment.

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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... It’s a little loose.

Can the provider tailor the program to your company’s specific needs or does it have a “one-size-fits-all” approach?

These days, one size does not fit all. Your chosen provider should be able to offer you a variety of customizable options so you can deliver the right kind of training to the right people, avoiding over and under learning and keeping on budget.

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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What time do you open?

Can the provider offer a 24/7 learning environment?

For a global business, there is no such thing as “non business hours�. Somewhere in the world, employees are working and training needs to be available to fit into their busy schedules whenever they need it. You need to make sure that your provider is able to deliver training 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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Is this thing on?

Can the provider offer a multi-media learning experience on modern devices such as tablets and smartphones?

Textbooks are out, tablets are in. People learn better when the learning is engaging and convenient, so today’s online learning platforms offer a rich, multimedia environment in an increasingly mobile way. Make sure that the language training company you choose is up with the latest in technology and that they use it in a way that actually facilitates learning.

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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Status report!

Will the provider monitor key performance indicators to give an overview on results and return on investment?

Being able to measure progress is key to showing ROI. If you can’t tell whether anyone is actually learning anything then you might as well throw your money away. Make sure to ask your language training provider about how they track and measure progress; then ask what they do if your students aren’t improving and how they’ll fix it.

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critical questions to ask your language training supplier

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CONTRACT

You promise?

Does your provider offer any guarantees?

If a language training company truly believes that they can teach your employees English, then they’ll guarantee it. If a provider is ready to put their money where their mouth is, then you can be sure that they know they’ve got a solution that works. Look for a supplier that is ready to guarantee learner progress.

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About EF EF Corporate Language Learning Solutions delivers online, cloud-based learning experiences with the Efekta™ school and runs Executive Language Institutes in Boston, USA and Cambridge, UK. Our EF Method™ is the fastest way to improve English proficiency and our Learning Logistics™ approach maximizes the return on your investment in English learning.

Further Reading The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Competing Across Borders: How cultural and communication barriers affect business. An independent, global survey into how language skills impact the competitiveness of multinational companies.

The EF EfektaTM Cloud School Discover our powerful online learning experience.

EF Executive Language Institutes Learn about our immersive residential programs.

The EF MethodTM Learn about our unique approach to English language learning.

Get our Brochure All you need to know about EF Corporate Language Learning Solutions. www.ef.com/corporate

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