How to Teach Chinese Employees to Speak English

Working with others who do not speak the same language as you can be frustrating. If you work with Chinese employees and you are interested in effectively communicating with them, teaching them English may be worth the effort. Although it is assumed that Chinese employees working in the United States have some basic form of English knowledge, it is best to start teaching them English as if they were beginners.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Encourage your Chinese-speaking co-workers to speak only in English. This is the only way they will improve their English. Furthermore, be firm when you ask them to speak to each other in English as well. When there is a group of Chinese workers speaking in Mandarin or Cantonese at all times, it will not improve their knowledge of the language.

2. Speak to them in English, and if you feel that they are not understanding, feel free to have them look up words or sayings in the dictionary. Encourage them to make conversation with you, and try not to ask them too many one-word answers. Ask questions like "What did you like about the movie?" instead of "Did you like the movie?" If questions are approached in this manner, it will open up the door for the Chinese-speaking employee to communicate with you in English.

3. Direct them to an English-learning manual or CDs that help people learn different languages. This way, they will be immersed in the English language and be able to listen to the CDs in the car, or they can even put it in their MP3 players to listen when they are not at work.

4. Be patient with them. Try to put yourself in their situation and be sympathetic. Learning a second language is not easy, and you should try to be compassionate when engaging them in conversation.