The secrets of good international communication

Who are you most likely to speak to in English?

Some of you might rarely or never meet a native speaker of English. You may be far more likely to meet other non-native speakers from different countries. And English is probably the language you’ll use to communicate.

So what happens when two non-native speakers are talking in English and one person doesn’t understand the other?

Imagine this situation. Anna is from Poland and Fatima is from Saudi Arabia. Neither of them speaks the other person’s first language so they’re having a conversation in English.

Now imagine that Fatima says something and Anna doesn't understand what she says.

Two things might happen in Anna’s mind next.

1. She might assume the problem is hers. She might think, “Oh dear. I don’t understand. My listening isn't very good.” Or “I’m not good at understanding different accents. I need to work on that.”

She could be right. Maybe she really does need to practise her listening. But it's also possible that Fatima made a mistake, needs to work on her pronunciation or didn't explain something clearly.

Anna might think the problem is hers when it isn’t.

2. On the other hand, Anna might assume that it's Fatima's English which is the problem. She might think, “Her pronunciation isn’t very good.” Or, “She’s not good at explaining things in English.”

Again, she might be right. But it could also be that she’s blaming the other person when actually she needs to work on her own listening skills.

Anna might think it’s Fatima’s fault when it isn’t.

I saw both of these things happen quite a lot when I worked with international students in a language school. It could also happen in the world of international business if English is used as the main language.

But the first situation is probably more common. Most people are more likely to assume that it’s their own English level which is at fault.

People often lack confidence in their own abilities. They think, “If I don’t understand her, it must be my terrible listening skills.” Or, “If SHE doesn’t understand ME, maybe my grammar is wrong. Or maybe it’s my accent.” 

Of course, most of the time, the truth is that it’s nobody’s fault!

So instead of feeling bad about your English (or blaming the other person), remember that international communication takes time and effort.

For many people, learning how to communicate effectively with people from other countries is an important skill to learn. It’s a very useful skill to have if you want to work in an international company or travel round the world.

The good news is that you can get better at it with practice.

Let me make a few suggestions for better international communication:

💙 Consider how fast you speak. Do you need to slow down?

💙 Simple and clear English is often better than long sentences. Be careful with big words and idioms.

💙 Don’t assume that all communication problems are your fault. Be kind to yourself.

💙 Don’t assume that all communication problems are the other person’s fault either! Be kind and patient with them.

💙 Check that the other person understands. (“Is everything clear? Do you have any questions about anything I’ve said?”)

💙 Check that you’ve understood. (“So you’re saying…, right?)

💙 Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification when you don’t understand something. People won’t think badly of you for doing this.

💙 Practise listening to different accents, native and non-native. Don’t just focus on British or American.

Communication in English isn’t about being perfect. It’s about connection. And connection takes effort from both sides.

Remember that misunderstandings are a normal part of communication, especially in international settings. And it doesn’t mean your English is bad.

The more you practise international communication, the better you’ll be at it and the more confident you’ll feel.

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