Case Studies
The Multinational Company
The Situation
Several department managers were asked to give monthly PowerPoint presentations in English to their international Managing Director. Although their English was reasonably good, their presentations lacked impact and fluency.
A Tailored Proposal
The participants already knew the technical language they needed and could communicate well, so the priority was not more technical vocabulary or grammar. They needed to manage and structure their presentations more effectively. We designed a programme around the company's presentation format, focusing on:
The final assessment was a complete presentation.
The Outcome
After some time, participants reported a substantial improvement in presentation fluency as their confidence grew. They also began recognising signposting techniques in other people's presentations, helping them continue learning independently.
The Hotel
The Situation
A large luxury hotel wanted to use the quieter months before Christmas to improve the English of 20 staff members, helping them speak more fluently and confidently with overseas guests. Training had to be practical and directly relevant to the hotel's facilities. The group included receptionists, secretaries, waiting staff and department supervisors. How could one course meet such varied needs?
A Tailored Proposal
Our detailed needs analysis identified a shared set of language tasks despite the participants' different roles. We developed a course to practise situations in which they needed to:
The group attended three 90-minute classes per week for seven weeks. We listened to and discussed dialogues and practised role-plays. Grammar was reviewed when questions arose, alongside new vocabulary and expressions.
The Outcome
Participants soon felt more comfortable with guests and stopped avoiding longer conversations. Interaction with native speakers creates more opportunities to practise and progress. They were on the right track.
The Marble Exporter
The Situation
A growing Portuguese company was doing more business abroad, creating communication challenges with customers and suppliers. To improve its communications and professional image, it invested in English training for several employees.
A Tailored Proposal
We began by analysing the language tasks shared by the employees, then designed a course covering:
The Outcome
After three or four weeks, participants said they felt less embarrassed about speaking English. Although pronunciation and grammar mistakes remained, they no longer felt intimidated by customer contact. Dinner with American guests became an enjoyable experience rather than an ordeal. Greater confidence led to more opportunities to practise and improve.