Don't treat English like an ordinary school subject

Welcome to Business Fluency - your weekly guide to mastering business English and accelerating your career.

In today’s newsletter:

• Don't treat English like an ordinary school subject

• Quote of the day: Will Durant

• We value your feedback - Your opinion helps us improve

• Word of the day: Flywheel

• Test Your Knowledge - Interactive quiz

• Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you

Don't treat English like an ordinary school subject

Why do many professionals struggle with English after years of lessons?

I enjoyed sport at school and played rugby almost every day. While I certainly was not a top athlete, I was reasonably fit and quite strong. For whatever reason, I did not play sport at university.

And guess what! I lost my fitness and my strength.

In my mid-20s, I started mountain biking to regain my fitness. I am still mountain biking regularly and I walk a few kilometres almost every day. No one expects PE lessons or playing sport at school to maintain their fitness for life.

The same is true for languages - you have to keep using them to reap the benefits.

Why the Traditional Approach Fails

Most professionals approach English the same way they learned history or maths.

They study hard during lessons, complete homework assignments, and focus on passing tests or achieving certificates. But English isn't knowledge you acquire once and store away. Other school subjects are different - you may get a grounding in subjects such as literature or physics, but will only need to build on these subjects if you either want to or need to professionally.

English is a skill that decays without regular use.

English as Lifestyle, Not Subject

Like fitness, English should be incorporated into your lifestyle.

I have noticed with my students that the more they study, the easier and more pleasurable study becomes. In my experience, the big hurdle is around the transition from B1 to B2. B2 and above students are more likely to embrace the subject and find ways to use English outside lessons.

The more they do it, the more pleasurable learning and using English becomes - it's a flywheel.

It's Never Been Easier to Incorporate English into Your Everyday Life

These days, we have an abundance of content available at our fingertips.

Mindless cat videos may be entertaining but are unlikely to improve your life and career prospects. Devoting a small amount of time every day to reading, watching or listening to content in English will. You should find it easy to discover a podcast on a subject you like and listen to it while commuting, walking, training in the gym or simply relaxing.

Why not start producing your own content in English too?

Combining Learning Methods

Formal study combined with informal language learning will multiply your results.

In last week's newsletter we talked about combining degree-level knowledge for extra benefits. The same principle applies to learning English. When you mix structured lessons with lifestyle integration, you create the compound effect that separates successful learners from those who plateau.

This is how you break through to the next level.

What's Your Next Move?

What ways can you find to boost your English today?

Pick one daily habit this week - your morning news, your commute podcast, or your evening entertainment. Make it English. Your future self will thank you for treating English like the lifestyle choice it needs to be, not just another subject to study.

Next week, I'll share what happens when you make this shift seriously.

Quote of the Day: Will Durant

I love this quote because it's reflected in my students' Cambridge exam results. The best results are not necessarily achieved by the most intelligent students, but by the ones that stick at it over time.

Excellence in English comes from daily habits, not occasional bursts of intensive study.

We Value Your Feedback!

Your opinion helps us improve and lets you suggest topics or ask Business English questions for future issues.

Word of the day: Flywheel

Flywheel - noun - a heavy revolving wheel in a machine that helps maintain steady motion; in business, a self-reinforcing cycle where each action builds momentum for the next

Literal Meaning: A flywheel is a mechanical device - a heavy wheel that stores rotational energy and helps smooth out fluctuations in a machine's power. Once it gets spinning, it maintains momentum and makes the entire system run more efficiently.

Business English Context: In professional settings, "flywheel" describes business processes or strategies that create self-reinforcing positive cycles. Unlike linear growth, a flywheel effect means each success makes the next success easier and more likely. It's become popular in business strategy discussions and personal development contexts.

Common Business Collocations:

• Flywheel effect - self-reinforcing cycle of success

• Flywheel strategy - a business approach focused on self-reinforcing growth

• Flywheel approach - a methodology based on building momentum

Professional Applications:

• Business strategy: "Our customer satisfaction creates a flywheel effect - happy customers refer others, which improves our reputation" (= self-reinforcing business growth)

• Personal development: "Learning English becomes a flywheel - success builds confidence, which motivates more practice" (= positive learning cycle)

• Team management: "Recognition creates a flywheel - appreciated employees work harder, which improves results" (= positive workplace momentum)

Business English: Test Your Knowledge

Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you:

We provide Business English lessons and Cambridge and IELTS preparation courses.

You can book a free 20-minute consultation with Iain over Zoom here:

Why not subscribe to our sister Financial Fluency newsletter for English students interested in learning about the financial markets and investing?

Disclaimer:

This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The information contained herein is generic and does not take into account your individual financial circumstances. You should always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions.

Additionally, the authors and/or publishers of this newsletter may hold investments in securities or other financial instruments mentioned herein. These are included for illustrative purposes only and should not be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell such securities or financial instruments.