English language guidelines for foreign-born professionals
Penn State Health has developed guidelines aimed at enhancing communication for members of the workforce who are foreign-born professionals with English as a second language. This resource reinforces the health system’s commitment to cultural diversity and effective intercultural communication, which lead to improved patient-centered communication, increased provider confidence and a higher level of patient care.
Everyone has an accent, including those who have lived their entire lives in the United States. An accent’s source includes influences such as native language, regional dialect, educational level and social class. Foreign-born professionals and those who have learned English as a second language may still struggle with pronunciation even though they are literate in English and speak English fluently.
English is a complex language, with 26 letters yet 44 different sounds, depending on how letters are combined. With so many variants, English may present a challenge for foreign-born professionals who need to learn the nuances of enunciation, accentuation and pronunciation, and who speak with the accent from their first language.
Programs like “Powerful Pronunciation,” “Improve English Pronunciation” and “Accent Reduction” can help foreign-born professionals learn English language rules and practice clear pronunciation.
For examples of common phrases and their different rules and applications, click here.
To improve intercultural communication between health care professionals, here are some tips to better interact with native and non-native speakers:
Communication tips for non-native English speakers who wish to improve their English-speaking skills
If you are a foreign-born professional, you can use these basic guidelines to enhance your communication skills when interacting with native English speakers:
- Avoid focusing on reducing your accent. Be willing to learn how to incorporate your accent and adapt to the common norm or rules to enhance your communication with others.
- Learn to pronounce common health care terms and practice them often.
- Become familiar with enunciation, intonation and emphasis on common words and phrases.
- Focus on listening as others speak to help with understanding and learning the language.
- Accept and embrace your accent and enhance your communication abilities so others also want to listen.
- Be yourself.
- Recognize your strengths linguistically, professionally and educationally.
Here are some practical suggestions you may wish to try to improve your English-speaking skills:
- Identify the words that are hard for others to hear or understand. Practice pronouncing these words and using them in a sentence.
- Record yourself speaking to pick up on pronunciation or other things that you may not have noticed before.
- Find someone to practice with who can provide immediate feedback on grammar or pronunciation.
- Speak more slowly, use pauses and say your words as clearly as possible.
- Use plain English terms and avoid complicated or hard-to-pronounce words. Stay away from jargon and expressions that may involve different meanings or interpretations.
- Explore guidelines, journals, books, podcasts and other resources for non-native speakers. Join an organization, social media group or club like Toastmasters International to increase your vocabulary and speaking skills.
- Use visual speaking tools, like a smartboard or computer-generated slides.
Communication tips for native English speakers in communicating with non-native speakers
- Appreciate native speakers’ desire and efforts to learn English.
- Understand and accept other accents as a way to enhance inclusive practices in the workplace.
- Strive to learn, understand and accept global accents.
- Kindly and respectfully ask a non-native English speaker to repeat or rephrase what they said if you don’t understand. Ask them to speak slowly and louder and thank them for their effort.
- Respect the person you are interacting with by trying to not only see the person but also visualize their culture, personality and history.
- Speak more slowly, use pauses and say your words as clearly as possible.
- Use plain English terms.
- Avoid slang, jargon, acronyms, colloquialisms or idioms (phrases that are understood by native speakers but not by non-native speakers).
Resources
Communication Tips for Non-Native English Speakers | Rutgers School of Graduate Studies
The Basics of English Pronunciation | English Phonetics
Mayo Clinic Assists At-Home Patients with Voice-Powered Chat | NGPX Next Generation Patient Experience
6 tips for speaking English to non-native speakers | LinkedIn
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