Business Builder: English lessons for Assistants

Alex, Assistant to Heads of Finance:

“I live in Germany and work for a large pharmaceutical company. My role is an Assistant to the Heads of Finance. That means I am extremely busy all of the time. It also means that I talk to people all over the world every day. That is why English is so important to me, and why I am so glad I had Lana as my teacher.

Before I had English lessons with Lana, I used to look at the phone when it rang and have a real feeling of panic if it was an international number. I was OK with emails because I had time to think, and translate, but talking on the phone was really stressful for me. Even emails sometimes caused confusion because I would choose an unusual word, and I would be anxious to correct the mistake quickly.

Lana and I worked on my fluency a lot in my English lessons. We always had a really fun time speaking in English together, but Lana made sure we always used phrases and vocabulary that I need for my work. Now I pick up the phone many times a day and I don’t mind if it’s an English call or a German one. All my attention now is on what the caller needs. Now I don’t worry much at all about speaking and that means I am much more focussed on my daily tasks. Emails are easy, and I even prepare huge annual meetings in English without needing any help from Google or Lana!

What’s really great is that we still keep in touch! Sometimes I want a second opinion on a sentence, or I ask her to look at a very important email to make sure everything is OK. She always gets back to me and helps. I also know that if I ever need to refresh my speaking skills, grammar, or anything I can always book some lessons in with her and make sure my skills are up to date! My Business English lessons were a great investment for my career, and they have helped me relax a lot more at work. She is highly recommended!”