Reconnect with your English after the summer
As the summer draws to a close, many professionals begin thinking about work again.
Perhaps you're already back in the office. Perhaps you're enjoying the last days of your holiday while your calendar for September is slowly filling up.
Either way, one colleague will soon become part of your working day again:
Your English.
Before long, there will be meetings to join, emails to write, presentations to prepare and conversations with international colleagues or clients.
And yet, sometimes it seems that your English is already back at work while you are still trying to find your motivation to use it again.
Instead of looking forward to using it again, you might notice thoughts like:
I need to get back to studying.
I've probably forgotten so much.
I should have practised more over the summer.
These thoughts are understandable, but they also send your attention in the wrong direction. They focus on what you might have lost instead of what you wanted to gain.
Rather than asking, "How can I motivate myself to work on my English again?", try asking a different question:
“Why did I want better English in the first place?”
The answer is rarely "to learn more grammar" or "to memorise more vocabulary."
Perhaps you wanted was to
contribute more confidently in meetings
explain your ideas more clearly
enjoy conversations with international colleagues
stop worrying every time English appeared in your calendar
Those reasons are still there. But sometimes they are hidden under busy schedules, summer breaks and the pressure to "catch up".
So, instead of searching for motivation, start by reconnecting with your reason.
Once you remember what your English helps you achieve at work, taking the next step often feels much easier.
Your English has always been part of your team
Think about a colleague you enjoy working with.
They're knowledgeable, reliable and supportive. You don't notice their value every day because they're simply part of how work gets done. They help you solve problems, contribute ideas and move projects forward.
Your English plays a similar role.
It helps you explain your expertise, ask questions, build relationships and collaborate with people across countries and cultures. It enables you to participate in conversations that might otherwise remain out of reach.
During the summer, that colleague may have had less to do. There were fewer meetings, fewer emails and perhaps no international projects at all.
Now your working relationship is about to begin again.
Instead of thinking about everything you need to learn, think about everything your English already helps you do:
the meeting where you explained a complex idea
the video call where you found the words, even if they weren't perfect
the interaction with a client that ended well because you continued the conversation instead of giving up.
Your English has already supported you through moments like these.
When you remember the role your English already plays in your professional life, it's much easier to see why it's worth spending time with it again.
Start with a conversation, not a checklist
Imagine you've just returned to work after a few weeks away.
You wouldn't begin by asking a colleague to solve your biggest challenge or help you with your most demanding project. You'd probably start with a conversation. You'd catch up, share what you've been doing and ease back into working together.
Your English deserves the same approach.
Many learners return from the summer with an ambitious plan. They want to
revise grammar
learn new vocabulary
improve their pronunciation
read more
listen more
finally become fluent
This is an impressive list! But it can also be overwhelming. When every task seems urgent, getting started becomes more difficult.
Instead, begin with a simple conversation.
Talk about your summer: recommend a restaurant, describe an interesting activity or tell an anecdote.
Describe a project you'll be working on: how you feel about it, who will be involved, what you need to make it successful
Speak about a personal or professional goal you have for the coming months, and the motivation behind it.
If you don't have anyone to speak to, record yourself on your phone or speak out loud while you're making a coffee or going for a walk.
If speaking doesn't feel right yet, start with writing.
A few short paragraphs are enough. You could write about:
Three things you enjoyed most about your holiday.
Two things you're looking forward to this month.
One goal you'd like to achieve over the next three months, and the first step you'll take.
Don't worry about finding the perfect words.
Notice what comes naturally. See what you can already express. If you don't know a particular word, explain your idea in a different way and keep going.
Each conversation and each paragraph reminds you that your English is still there and helps you to become familiar with it again.
And that's often enough to help your motivation return.
Welcome your English back
Your English hasn't disappeared over the summer.
It's simply been waiting for the next project, the next meeting and the next conversation.
You don't need to rebuild everything from the beginning. You only need to reconnect.
This autumn, welcome your English back as the trusted colleague it's always been.
If you're ready to welcome your English back this autumn, my Trust Your Speaking programme is designed to help you rebuild trust, strengthen your communication and feel more at ease using English at work.