LANGUAGE coaches from Kenilworth are helping overseas businesses understand English slang.
Melodie Williams and Nicky Cooper run a company which works with clients such as BMW and Hewlett Packard.
And now the duo are looking to expand their client base, but plan to teach more than just basic English.
They coach people to use English to conduct business and to understand slang and business phrases.
Melodie said: “People may have a good technical understanding of English but that doesn’t always mean they understand the culture or the nuance of language. As a nation, we don’t always say what we mean.
“For example, someone may say in a meeting ‘that’s interesting’ but what they actually mean is ‘let’s move on’ or, when discussing tasks, your boss says ‘you could do that’ but they don’t actually mean ‘you should do that’.
“If you are a native English speaker, you will very often understand the subtlety and the culture of your working environment but if you are not you can take things very literally.
“Companies recognise this can be an issue and support their staff with this kind of coaching, they are in a stronger position than their competitors.”
The pair have been given support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, with business advisor Helena Bassett offering advice on improving their website and marketing.
Helena said: “With a huge skills gap, more and more companies are tapping into the overseas market when it comes to recruitment.
“Having English on your CV is one thing, but actually being able to cope with all the different slang and subtle phrases is very different and that’s where Williams and Cooper comes in.
“We are delighted to have supported them and wish them every success for their future growth.”
