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At Slang, we are constantly conducting research on the best practices in language teaching and the e-learning industry to bring you the most efficient and engaging learning experience. This means we need to update our methodology and curriculum accordingly from time to time.&nbsp;



Our goal was to ensure that each of our courses remained a meaningful credential for you as a professional English learner, representing a significant amount of English knowledge of which you can be rightfully proud! However, we also wanted our courses to be succinct enough that they could be completed in a reasonable timeframe by a busy working professional. 



After analyzing our course data in comparison to these industry standards and best practices, we realized that achieving those two goals would require us to adapt our offering to be more modular and focused on specific topics&nbsp;



Now, instead of one giant course covering a large number of topics (for example: Accounting), we will offer a group of related courses covering the main topics in each field in a focused and structured way (for example: Accounting Fundamentals, Managerial Accounting, Financial Accounting). Each of these smaller courses will take about 30 to 50 hours to complete, depending on the individual learner. We believe this new course structure will make your learning process faster and more efficient.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0_JbrqqKQqzyA4p62HcedbQWd2gJov96HhepDp07t3c001MDDl4JpVqkX03IFzExDw4rQWe1CL0Th6zNhPw9ly9zjXFi0ltwF1MvuVqX9zSWkH010CiY4KGg7xwskA3vnx_PLgfu" alt=""/><figcaption>Image: New, more specific Accounting courses</figcaption></figure>



These course changes can be divided up into the following categories: 



 Category 1: Content updates



We continually review our course material to make sure that is both high-quality for learning and up-to-date with changes in the professional field. As new technologies and practices are introduced, we want to make sure that you can learn about them in our app! Or on the flip side, it might be the case that certain tasks which used to be relevant within a certain career field are now more commonly carried out by a different job function. We decided to take the opportunity of the course restructuring to introduce these types of small updates into a number of courses (list below), to make sure you’re learning efficiently with real-world content from your field.



<ul><li>Travel</li><li>Hiring</li><li>Applying for Jobs</li><li>Aerospace Engineering</li><li>Automotive Engineering</li><li>Mechanical Engineering</li><li>Industrial Engineering</li><li>Logistics</li><li>Supply Chain</li><li>Negotiation</li><li>Investment Banking</li><li>Sales</li><li>Medical Tourism</li><li>Computer Science</li><li>Nursing</li><li>Medical</li><li>Manufacturing</li><li>Operations&nbsp;</li><li>English for Students&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2>Category 2: Name Changes</h2>



In a small number of cases, we felt that the course name wasn’t providing the most accurate reflection of the content contained within the course. We changed the names to something else which we believe is clearer for learners. If you were studying the old course, you can simply continue studying it with the new name.



<ul><li>Politics -&gt; Political Science</li><li>Computer Engineering -&gt; Computer Engineering Fundamentals</li></ul>



<h2>Category 3: Significant Restructuring</h2>



This category contains the courses with the most extensive changes. These courses were primarily targeted for restructuring because they were quite extensive in scope and took a correspondingly long time to complete. In each case, we’ve introduced a new set of more modular courses covering all the same content that was in the original course. The old courses will be retired so that you can no longer study them, but all your progress in Slang will automatically be transferred to the new replacement courses so you don’t have to backtrack or repeat anything you’ve learned. You can read more about our progress system &#8211; <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/index.php/en/2021/06/02/general-english-for-professionals-our-methodology-2/" data-type="post" data-id="736" target="_blank">here.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>If you had been studying&#8230;</td><td>You’ll now be assigned&#8230;</td></tr><tr><td>Human Resources</td><td>Employment Policies Training and Development Recruiting</td></tr><tr><td>Finance</td><td>Corporate Finance</td></tr><tr><td>Project Management&nbsp;</td><td>Project Initiation and Planning Project Execution and Management</td></tr><tr><td>Engineering Fundamentals</td><td>Engineering Foundations Engineering Math</td></tr><tr><td>Accounting</td><td>Accounting Fundamentals Financial Accounting Managerial Accounting</td></tr><tr><td>Psychology</td><td>Introductory Psychology Applied Psychology Psychological Research</td></tr><tr><td>Data Science</td><td>Data Science Foundations Data Management and Visualization</td></tr><tr><td>Computer Science</td><td>Computer Science Fundamentals Scientific Computing Artificial Intelligence</td></tr><tr><td>Software Engineering</td><td>Software Engineering Fundamentals Software Development</td></tr><tr><td>Business English</td><td>Professional Slang Terms Business Communications</td></tr><tr><td>Management</td><td>Corporate Finance Marketing Performance Management</td></tr><tr><td>Entrepreneurship</td><td>Entrepreneurship Fundamental sSaaS Startup Management</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Category 4&nbsp;</h2>



We’ve also taken the opportunity to introduce a few new courses that complement our existing offering. These new topics help to round out the selection of material for the Human Resources and Engineering/Technology industries.&nbsp;



<ul><li>Employee Inclusion and Wellbeing</li><li>Chemistry</li><li>Business Analytics</li></ul>



<h2>Category 4</h2>



We’ve also introduced a new levelled system for achieving conversational fluency in English alongside your studies of technical and career-specific English. You can read more about this General English system in a separate <a href="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/index.php/en/2021/05/20/general-english-for-professionals-our-methodology/" data-type="post" data-id="582">post</a>.



What this means for you



When you log into the app following the restructuring, you’ll see a few new features that will make it much easier to track the courses you’re studying. For example, we’ve introduced a handy new dropdown to switch between the courses you’ve been assigned by your organization, and a progress page where you can see how much time you’ve spent studying each of those courses.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/doE2BhfUoCqPGWCia0flPWCv5itqPbmj6TKsT_5947YCrQy3H91POQeS5ckrJcxctGren2zcgI8RmwYdrzGp2dQFsKtCNLNT3_-Ydl7LUOqERcqcrrzdth0XER6RbQhnQVHz4_jA" alt=""/></figure>



Image: Switching between assigned courses



&nbsp;Most importantly of all, the course reassignments will take place automatically. For example, in the case of Accounting mentioned earlier, if you had been assigned to study the Accounting course previously, you will see that you’re now assigned to study Accounting Fundamentals, Managerial Accounting, and Financial Accounting. 



You’ll also see that you have made some progress in each of those new courses according to the specific content you had studied previously. You can pick up right where you left off, just in a more structured way. 



Check out&nbsp; the <a href="https://slangapp.com/courses/categories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new courses</a> and let us know what you think!

English

With our restructuring of courses, it is now easier to set your goals. Come understand how it is!

With our course restructuring, goal-setting is even easier

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With our course restructuring, goal-setting is even easier.

<h2>The challenge</h2>



When we talk about learning English, we often picture a traditional classroom, with a teacher in front of a board and students of various ages sitting with their books open while listening to instructions. At first glance, this may seem like a good way to learn the language, but the reality is that this method of teaching has become outdated. As the course moves further along, the inconveniences associated with sit-down classes can snowball into a more serious problem. Today’s students are busier than ever, often having to work long hours. And finding time to study and attend class can be a major challenge.



This is exactly what happened at Dräger. The company, which is a leader in medical and safety technology and operates in countries such as Germany and the United States, tried on-site classes first. But before long, they were facing issues just like those mentioned above. Many of the employees in attendance were unable to find success in the classroom, largely because the relatively narrow selection of in-person classes did not align with the schedules of every team. As a result, Dräger decided to look for a more efficient and flexible alternative to better suit their needs, a solution that would allow them to study English anytime, anywhere. And that&#8217;s how they met Slang! We were the perfect solution to help them empower their professionals.



<h2>The Solution</h2>



Slang was chosen to take on this challenge primarily because of our innovative technology that makes learning more efficient. Another attraction was the availability of our platform 24/7, which meant that it could even be used by professionals outside the office. But not only that, our unrivaled selection of professional English courses covered all different areas of Dräger’s professional activity, including sales, supply chain, marketing, and administration. With our help, they were able to develop the technical and specialized English they needed.



The success of this implementation was based on the following courses:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="356" src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Drager-courses-EN-1024x356.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2531"/></figure>



<h2>Testimonials</h2>



In order to fully appreciate the success of this program, we invite you to read first-hand experiences of people who had the opportunity to take our courses. You can read their comments below:&nbsp;



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I have always been a person very dedicated to achieving my goals. For me, Slang is a bridge that makes it possible to get trained and become certified in my company. Despite the heavy workload, I have managed to organize myself so that I can achieve my goal, which is to build my confidence so that I can more easily develop my understanding of the English language, in addition to confronting my personal challenges.” Noe Bautista Ortega Key Account Manager “With what I learned in the app, I have improved my effectiveness in communicating with teams from other countries. Now, the requests I make in English are more complete, which reduces the response time due to the fact that I can express myself better in my emails. This is important since, today, many people are not able to communicate all of their ideas due to a poor command of the language.” Joel Agustín Alvarado Public Accounts Manager “The need for [good English skills] arises from the importance of communicating with my commercial area in Germany, easily understanding global communications, and taking part in company trainings developed in English—and I have noticed that Slang’s top performers also happen to be the ones who continually participate in these events. My motivation is to strengthen my English so that I can become fluent in the language, both in my professional and personal life.” Eduardo Hernández Hernández MD Service Manager “In my role as a business development manager, my contact with teams from Germany and the United States occurs in English, for the most part. In addition to negotiations, I also have conversations with foreign clients. Within Slang, I have learned professional English related to my field. Once during a training given by the German team, I was able to fully understand a technical question that they asked me, which I was able to answer thanks to what I had learned weeks before on Slang’s platform.” Jesús Rivera Hernández GDS Business Development Manager</blockquote>



Follow Dräger’s example and partner with Slang so that you can empower your employees with professional English designed for every area of your company. You can reach us <a href="https://slangapp.com/request-demo/businesses?redirect=//learn.slangapp.com/courses/categories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

How Dräger was successful in empowering their team with professional English

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<h2>The challenge</h2>



With technological advancements and the increasingly frantic pace of daily life, finding time for traditional English classes—in a classroom at a fixed time and duration—can be a difficult task. Fortunately, online study alternatives exist to better suit your busy schedule.



Taking English classes online has many advantages. Timing is flexible, the student has access to the learning materials at all times, processes are more personalized, and courses are faster and cheaper. However, there are some downsides, such as a lack of interaction and face-to-face supervision, at-home distractions, and technological issues.&nbsp;



In order to take advantage of both types of learning, Grupo Educativo Siglo XXI, a private Mexican educational institute that offers high school programs, decided to keep its in-person English classes and complement them with Slang&#8217;s online courses to try to reduce dropout rates among their students.



<h2>The solution</h2>



Two main draws of partnering with Slang were the affordable prices and the platform’s ability to make dynamic difficulty adjustments to suit each user. In addition, the high quality of our professional content and the wide variety of topics we cover match the range of specializations offered by the university.&nbsp;



The choice to implement a blended teaching strategy allowed students to continue to have the advantages of face-to-face classes with English teachers, while also studying technical content in an engaging and personalized way.&nbsp;



The program started with a group of 500 undergraduate students enrolled in a variety of majors. After just two months, the program was yielding such positive results that another 250 students from the Psychology and Nutrition departments were also enrolled.&nbsp;



By the end of 2019, over 700 students were studying with Slang. Achieving a learner base of this size facilitated the success of Grupo Educativo Siglo XXI&#8217;s program through community interaction and improved student retention.



In 2020, the university expanded the program again. This new cohort of 250 includes students enrolled in either the postgraduate course at Unipre or the medical course offered in partnership with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM &#8211; the National Autonomous University of Mexico). An important factor in the success of the program was the hands-on training that Slang provided on the benefits and best practices of a blended learning environment.&nbsp;



Further contributing to the program’s success was Slang’s Learning Management System (LMS), a tool that allows teachers to easily track study time, learning activities submitted, and overall student progress on the platform. Insights like these can be used to assess student progress, as well as to customize each student&#8217;s learning experience. Our academic advisors worked closely with teachers to adapt classroom methodologies and efficiently integrate Slang content into lesson plans. For example, some teachers used a flipped classroom model in which students could share and practice what they learned on the platform to make in-person classes more interactive.&nbsp;



Grupo Educativo Siglo XXI has successfully transitioned to a completely hybrid English teaching model. This success story demonstrates how feasible it is to implement genuinely personalized English training across departments and specializations in a short amount of time, provided the right guidance and tools.&nbsp;



The success of this implementation was based on the results of students studying the following courses:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="356" src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Siglo-XXI-courses-EN-1024x356.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2821"/></figure>



<h2>The results</h2>



At the end of the program, these were the results obtained by Siglo XXI’s students:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="258" src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Data-EN-1024x258.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2822"/></figure>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“The Slang platform has a wide variety of topics available. That enhances processes and allows students to explore many aspects of the English language, not only allowing for deeper learning in class but also during individual study.&#8221; Andrés Carbajal Bourgeois Language Coordinator</blockquote>



Like Grupo Educativo Siglo XXI, you can count on Slang&#8217;s help to equip your students with the English they need for their professional future. <a href="https://slangapp.com/request-demo/businesses?redirect=%2F%2Flearn.slangapp.com%2Fcourses%2Fcategories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Start the conversation with us here</a>.

How Grupo Educativo Siglo XXI improved student retention through blended learning

<h2>The challenge</h2>



The time when English proficiency was just a plus is long gone. Nowadays, it’s a must for nearly every field. According to the recruiting firm Randstad, fluently speaking English improves your chances of landing a good job by 44%. Currently, more and more companies are becoming globalized as they expand their headquarters and gain international clients. That’s why having good working knowledge of English is a prerequisite for new hires.



Not speaking English with fluency was an issue faced by the students at the Technological Institute of Tláhuac (ITT), a federal higher education institution in Mexico. The students needed English proficiency to enter the labor market with ease, but they found themselves without it.&nbsp;



In 2017, ITT decided to intervene. The success of their students and alumni would reflect directly on the institution and its prestige as an academic entity, so they knew they had to do something about this issue. After careful consideration, they decided to include English certification as a requirement for graduation.



However, the problem persisted and even became worse after this new policy went into effect. Despite completing the coursework for their degree, a high number of students couldn’t graduate because they didn’t meet the English proficiency requirements.



To solve this problem once and for all, ITT needed a solution that would meet a few different conditions. Since students had no time for additional in-person classes, they needed a flexible alternative that would allow them to study English anywhere at any time. In addition, some students were having trouble understanding documents and texts in field-specific English that they needed to read for some of their core courses. Thus, it was important to find a solution that would not only contribute to the development of professionals proficient in general English, but also offer students an additional advantage in the job market by training them in professional and specialized English.



That’s when ITT learned about Slang!



<h2>The solution</h2>



Slang was the perfect solution to this challenge for many reasons. Among them were the use of cutting-edge technology to make the learning process more efficient and the robust offering of professional English courses aligned with the institution’s programs. These features would enable students to develop the technical and specialized English needed to get jobs and internships.



The first cohort of students started working with Slang in August of 2017. Since then, ITT has continued with new implementation cycles, each lasting six months, with new cohorts of students nearing graduation.



Currently, students start the program with a placement test that shows their initial English level—aligned with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)—in order to monitor their progress towards the language requirement for graduation. In addition, students receive useful recommendations for which professional English courses to pursue, based on their specific areas of study and needs.&nbsp;



But Slang doesn’t just train ITT students. A group of teachers also uses our platform as part of a training program that aims to strengthen the general and professional English skills of the institute’s faculty and staff. This is fundamental to maintaining ITT’s academic competitiveness in a world where global knowledge is encoded mainly in professional English.



For students and teachers alike, platform administrators can check users’ progress in real time through the Learning Management System (LMS). This facilitates the process of mentoring and accompanying users, especially students, as they work towards the goal of improving their English.



The successful implementation of the program was possible thanks to the following courses:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="356" src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ITT-courses-1024x356.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2753"/></figure>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">&#8220;The app has been especially useful since it is always available. The tests allow us to know the level of students with regard to the Common European Framework, and the Learning Management System (LMS) has helped closely monitor the dedication of students. We are pleased with the way Slang has developed its service in the same direction as our needs.&#8221; Professor Jorge Olayo Deputy Director of Planning and Institutional Relations, ITT</blockquote>



<h2>The results</h2>



The most important result that Slang helped ITT achieve was an increase in its graduation rate, as the percentage of students who couldn&#8217;t graduate due to a lack of English proficiency was a major area of concern.



Undoubtedly, Slang has helped develop and improve a considerable number of ITT students’ professional English. Now students can thrive, both in the academic environment—due to their ability to better understand specialized content within their fields—and in the labor market, as their improved skills have made them more competitive as job candidates.



The benefits don’t stop there. One of the advantages of Slang that students have repeatedly highlighted is that, by studying through the mobile app, they can organize their study time in a way that fits their schedule and learn from anywhere, making the most of the platform and its portability.



Check out the numbers we’ve hit.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="298" src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ITT-EN-1024x298.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2754"/></figure>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">&#8220;With Slang, I strengthened and broadened my knowledge of English. The platform has numerous courses that adapt to your professional needs, which allows you to develop in other areas of study and to put into practice the knowledge learned. I think the tool is perfect for learning professional English.&#8221; Francisco Javier Del Prado Engineering student, ITT</blockquote>



Follow ITT’s example and guarantee your students competitive positions within the job market. We are the perfect tool to learn the English you need for your career—<a href="https://slangapp.com/request-demo/businesses?redirect=//learn.slangapp.com/courses/categories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get to know Slang today!</a>

How ITT prepared its students for the job market

<h2>The challenge</h2>



English is the language of business, which means that a multinational in which a majority of employees don’t speak the language can be a problem. Building relationships with clients around the world, working with teams in other countries, having a solid brand… all of these factors can be affected by the lack of English language, which is the common denominator when one thinks about communication between people who don’t share the same native language.



This was the case at <a href="https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/Home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston Scientific</a>. The company, a world leader in medical technology for over 40 years, had a large majority (60%) of personnel with a fairly basic level of English (Pre-A1 or A1, on the Common European Framework of Reference scale). With these numbers in mind, they knew that English training needed to be a priority within the company.



In order to ensure that they improved English proficiency across the organization, the company needed a training platform that would scale to match the needs of a large and diverse employee population — from the lowest levels to to the highest — with the particular objective of providing opportunities for professional English development to people who normally don’t have access to them.



Beyond that, with the pandemic reaching a peak, Boston Scientific’s team realized that, in order to accomplish the learning and development goals they’d set for the organization, they needed to adapt their training strategies for digital channels, and they concluded that Slang was the ideal tool.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“It’s been an excellent experience. It’s helped me grow my vocabulary and express myself better.”  Miriam Rodríguez  Production Trainer</blockquote>



<h2>The solution</h2>



With the objective of ensuring that workers from diverse areas and levels would be able to learn English, the development plan needed to be adapted to cover the job function of every employee using the service in the best way possible.



This is where Slang came in. We brought an integrated, 100% digital professional development solution focused on English for workers, based on a strategy that offered the opportunity to boost the necessary skills for the industry and for the specific roles and job titles that the company had through our offering&nbsp;— the world’s largest — of professional English courses.



The success of the implementation rested on the following key characteristics and decisions:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="547" src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/LP-EN-1024x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2394"/></figure>



<h3>Development plans tied to learning</h3>



By meeting their learning goals in terms of points earned and time studied, employees were granted promotion opportunities and access to new training.



<h3>Practice sessions with the Learner Experience team</h3>



We put together learning spaces and paired people up to practice together, with the goal of putting the content they’d studied into use within a professional environment.



<h3>User follow-up</h3>



Beyond motivation campaigns, we also did regular follow-up on study frequency and usage patterns, focusing especially on those who weren’t very consistent.



<h3>Culture of responsibility</h3>



The promotion of a culture committed to the benefits of learning contributed enormously to employees’ continued use of the platform, even during a pandemic and the accompanying high workload.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">&#8220;Slang’s been very useful. My English knowledge has gone up now that I’ve been using the app consistently for a while.&#8221;  Karol Gonzalez  Production Lead</blockquote>



<h2>The results</h2>



During the peak of the pandemic in LATAM (March to September 2020), average use of Slang was affected by various factors: remote work, internet connectivity, and family responsibilities, among others, but despite all these challenges, employees at Boston Scientific showed usage levels well above average and distinguished themselves by being ahead of the curve.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="452" src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Graphics-EN-1024x452.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2395"/></figure>



At the end of the program, these were the results:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="237" src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Data-EN-1024x237.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2396"/></figure>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">&#8220;It really helps in building a foundation for learning the language. Slang’s become a good tool, quick and practical, for studying English.&#8221;  Luis Zuñiga &amp; Alejandra Marín Language Specialist &#8211; Learning &amp; Development, HR</blockquote>



The numbers speak for themselves. With the help of our hyper-customized methodology, getting your employees to a higher level of English proficiency will be a piece of cake.



After seeing these results, what are you waiting for? Partner with Slang today <a href="https://slangapp.com/solutions/businesses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Register here, talk with our sales team, and learn more.</a>

How Boston Scientific improved employees’ English by partnering with Slang

With the globalized world we currently live in, English knowledge is a must. Even if you plan on only getting jobs inside of your own country, being good at a second language can help you land the position. Bilingualism boosts your résumé, makes you better at decision-making, and helps you with your memory in the long run.&nbsp;



But, even if it sounds really nice on paper, learning a language is not easy at all. It demands time, perseverance and determination.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/XJqUUqNL6PuUP89pb3g7imwZrRKZkcm5jhk5D2HSQN0JDZW55L5bGyu-eTZvDWniNJMI0VuQFdnVIPqvDlIUg-0iZCa2vCOcJezeyloFBocRCv0Odpy4xzySDOJN1EOkCDKDCc06=s0" alt=""/><figcaption>With the way our courses were created, Slang helps you stay focused and motivated to learn English.</figcaption></figure>



That’s why, at Slang, we’re constantly seeking ways to improve our content and methodology to make it easier for you to learn English. Our users’ expectations, needs, learning styles, and goals have inspired us to create an adaptive learning flow based on the latest in machine-learning technology! That way, your experience with English learning can be as effortless as possible.



 People learn best in different ways, at different paces, and with different input. That’s why Slang is the only software on the market that creates a truly optimized learning flow for each individual. As a result, we offer the most efficient path to English fluency for each learner out there.&nbsp;



Any learning process requires a clear structure to achieve successful results.&nbsp; That’s why our English courses include a solid set of scaffolded activities. You’ll go through organized learning stages that will allow you to understand when and how to use English, as you build on your skills over time.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/idezUWNFHCeVfL-uUxgeQEXiW9En5vdK9pXAl5_WlWWyZEydZIxy2DGxP9eEYpAbYGsYBnpGWdstmVi2Xu_3R_v92XFHo980WXdjaNZk9dpnxtSPHOJypI9kJ1k4bzonqO3xQutH=s0" alt=""/><figcaption>Slang can help your English communication skills.</figcaption></figure>



We currently have more than 120 professional courses in our app, and each has been carefully designed to teach the grammar, vocabulary, and communicative skills needed in that specific career.&nbsp;



But, not only do we offer Professional English courses, we also have Slang’s General English courses (SGE). And we’ve recently updated the curriculum! Whether you need to master technical language for your job, or you need to take your general English to the next level, our app is ready to provide you with precisely what you need.



We’re so excited to share these new improvements with you.&nbsp; Come with us to understand it better.



<h2>How do the SGE courses work?&nbsp;</h2>



Slang’s General English levels are designed to build on each other, so that you will learn to carry out more and more advanced communication goals and tasks relating to that same topic in later levels. For example:&nbsp;



<ul><li>If you’re studying the very first level, Beginner 1, you will learn to identify common food and drinks eaten at different meals.</li><li>Later in the Elementary 1 level, you will be able to use your knowledge in a real-world context by making a restaurant reservation. This is an example of a communicative task that builds on the vocabulary you’ve already learned!</li><li>Then, in Elementary 3, you will learn how to deal with more complex siutations in a restaurant context. For example, you’ll practice ordering specific dishes and handling problems with your food order with the waitstaff.</li></ul>



You see? You’re continually building on what you already know! Everything you’ve learned will continue to be practiced as you move forward through our levels. This system of scaffolded repetition helps to move things into your long-term memory so you can remember it when you need it!&nbsp;



To explain it more thoroughly, our SGE methodology takes users through a structured process. First, learners will access information that they might be exposed to on a daily basis when dealing with the topic or job function they are studying. Then, they will demonstrate their understanding in context and use that content to communicate in real-world situations. We believe learners need to develop multiple linguistic skills in combination (including reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar), instead of studying only one aspect of language in isolation.



These are the courses we currently offer in Slang’s General English system:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZNw7QvR6uaL1CNrpP0Fhb-HGI_r7owlscX11PHVH46_urqskFixKkoJLO7UBmKo1wyI8x_y5_2L1rQ24c-unZDDkZCz3SW-ZbSHbUGDkG6V4mxj6Va8N4wPQACCh7rZlfAgfo2Nu=s0" alt=""/></figure>



We know that a lot of organizations would like to align their English teaching with the international CEFR framework, so we offer the following table of correspondences to make it easy for you to convert:



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Slang General English Level</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Approximate CEFR Level</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Beginner 1 Beginner 2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">A1</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Elementary 1 Elementary 2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">A2</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Elementary 3 Intermediate 1</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">B1</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Intermediate 3 Advanced Intermediate 1 Advanced Intermediate 2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">B2</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Now that the Slang General English system is available, we are slowly phasing out our older General English courses. We want to make sure all our learners are studying with the most effective materials we offer.



Now that you’ve learned about the benefits of learning with SGE, <a href="https://slangapp.com/courses/categories/general-english" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">why don’t you check out our courses</a>? We hope they help you to take your English communication skills to the next level. And as always, we’d love to hear what you think!&nbsp;

What’s new about our General English courses?

Many clients ask us about how Slang’s professional and General English courses align with The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). In developing our proprietary methodology, we’ve consulted the research behind the CEFR system and expanded further upon it. We have decided to draw on some concepts that we believe are valuable for measuring communication, and have adapted them for our audience of adult professional learners. The end goal of all this research is helping your organization improve their English in the fastest, most straightforward manner possible!&nbsp;



<h2>Strengths and limitations of the CEFR system:</h2>



CEFR is the standard language certification system used in the European Union, and has been adopted by many other countries. The CEFR system spans six levels: A1 &amp; A2 (beginner), B1 &amp; B2 (intermediate), and C1 &amp; C2 (advanced). It is based on “can-do statements” which define the real-world situations a user should be able to navigate at each level of linguistic proficiency. At the time it was created, there were many different proficiency systems in use for different foreign languages in different countries. This created problems of standardization. By design, CEFR provides a single flexible framework that can be applied to measure and compare proficiency in any foreign language. On the flip side, it is not designed to specify detailed testing standards for any given language.



This is both the core strength and the core weakness of CEFR. On the one hand, the CEFR framework emphasizes communicative competencies instead of memorizing specific grammar rules or vocabulary items, which aligns well with Slang’s personalized approach to English-learning. On the other hand, because the CEFR system is not specific to English, each curriculum or test designer (including Slang) needs to interpret the can-do statements for themselves. Pedagogical decisions must be made about which specific material to teach in order to help the learner achieve the communicative goals spelled out in CEFR. This sometimes can cause frustration for learners and teachers when they realize that not all “CEFR-based” curricula teach exactly the same topics or content in the same sequence.



Another challenge of implementing the CEFR system in practice is that there are only six officially defined levels. On the positive side, this makes it simpler for curriculum designers and teachers to understand and apply the language proficiency levels. However, especially at the higher levels, it can take even a very dedicated learner a long time to reach the next proficiency level. Imagine this situation: you&#8217;ve studied English for a whole year and then you&#8217;re told “Well, you’re still B2!”. How frustrating!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/QkWQm6jCT-ANXHAak85qrRBnO751V9MTlYWsSey2RFoKNTc3zwEqz_HzJuiINh-oeFFr72YXBQlGYkWjOSLSYtxJQIHW9pzn_onluCsrXofLxX6TD_XBGyfICD8NyXyLN-5lMb-o=s0" alt=""/></figure>



We don&#8217;t want that for our students! In order to stay motivated, we believe the learners we work with need a more granular way to measure their progress within a single CEFR level.



<h2>How Slang builds on CEFR:</h2>



Like CEFR, Slang is fundamentally based on a communicative approach. Within each of our General English courses, the learner will study the vocabulary and structures they need to navigate specific situations of daily life (for example: introducing yourself). Similarly, our professional courses are likewise organized around communicating about specific topics. The only difference is that the communicative “can-dos” the user is mastering are related to scenarios encountered in their profession (for example: running a meeting).



In fact, the CEFR framework actually accounts for the fact that learners might need different language skills for different professions. ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe), who have published some suggestions for adapting the CEFR guidelines for English, recommend a number of can-do statements that relate to the learner’s field of work or study. For example, one measure of reading proficiency at the B2 level states: “CAN understand most factual product literature within own work area.” Obviously, reaching this goal requires the learner to be familiar with the terminology used in his or her specific work area, which is not the same for every person.



Unfortunately, most other curricula on the market cannot help learners reach this type of personalized English communication goal. This is because the majority of textbooks, language schools, and online solutions that advertise themselves as being aligned with CEFR expect everyone to study one-size-fits-all General English, or perhaps at best some generic “Business English” courses. Slang’s personalized approach, which also incorporates professional English according to the specific needs of one’s field, is the one method that can truly achieve the goals of CEFR. At least for adult learners, professional and specialized English is a necessary part of reaching communicative fluency!



Slang’s General English system also addresses the challenge of motivation caused by the extensive duration of each CEFR level. The beginner to advanced intermediate proficiency range is represented by only 4 CEFR levels, but 10 courses in Slang’s system. Our learners feel a concrete sense of progress much faster as they complete each course. Furthermore, Slang’s system doesn’t merely assign someone to their overall level. We give a much more granular assessment of English ability on a points system. This means that we can measure where a learner falls within each level and how much progress that person has made so far, even if they haven’t completed a full course yet.



<h2>We make level conversions easy for you!</h2>



If your organization currently uses the CEFR system for course placement or proficiency measurement purposes, you can easily integrate Slang’s General English courses into your existing framework. The following table shows the approximate CEFR level a user will have achieved after completing each course within Slang’s General English system.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Slang General English Level</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Approximate CEFR Level</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Beginner 1 Beginner 2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">A1</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Elementary 1 Elementary 2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">A2</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Elementary 3 Intermediate 1 Intermediate 2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">B1</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Intermediate 3 Advanced Intermediate 1 Advanced Intermediate 2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">B2</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">We recommend that advanced users take our professional courses.</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">C1+</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Our catalogue of over 120 different courses includes not only General English but also a huge range of technical and specialized English courses. No matter what profession or industry you’re in, Slang offers exactly the English your employees need on a daily basis for their careers. <a href="https://slangapp.com/courses/categories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Check our website and get to know all of our courses</a>!

How does Slang’s General English system relate to CEFR? 

At Slang, we believe that mastering the English needed for your career is much more than simply memorizing a list of technical vocabulary. Learners also need strong communication skills to navigate situations like making small talk with colleagues or taking a business trip. Unfortunately, many general English programs on the market today are too general, covering a wide range of topics that will not be relevant to everyone.



Slang’s General English system bridges this gap by helping users improve their overall English fluency in contexts that are relevant for professionals. We are often asked why we don’t offer advanced General English courses. We strongly believe that users who can communicate fluently in English should have the opportunity to learn in context from materials relevant to their profession. For this reason, we strongly recommend that advanced users choose from our wide range of specialized English courses. With over 120 topics, we have something for everyone’s career needs!



At Slang, we believe that learners at lower levels of English ability can also begin benefitting from professional content. However, we’ve found that many elementary and intermediate users feel hesitant about jumping straight into a technical course. Therefore, taking General English alongside professional topics allows these users to feel more confident and to progress in these broader communicative skills and professional English at the same time! As you can see, with Slang, it’s easy to create a custom study pathway that meets each learner right where they are currently at and helps them build on their existing skills.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xrw32hMyWPQiRZqkU7hcH-4SMM7UOgCJh18fKkJEGiRgrJBNNgnOsbsn9g05dP2QEL92QDUme8o04TFXDEO3BwLxLSaII35s6ipdfYO0L3R2me9wE4NQWKGZzaqTYbnqb7dcxng=s0" alt=""/></figure>



<h2>Slang’s General English course levels</h2>



More specifically, Slang offers a series of General English courses that cover the proficiency range from beginner to advanced intermediate. Each of these courses focuses on a few specific situations encountered in daily life, such as ordering at a restaurant or booking a hotel. Learners will master the vocabulary and structures needed to communicate in increasingly complex and sophisticated ways in these scenarios.



Our General English system comprises the following 10 levels:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PFEvb7poOxuWkEDMIM8qNUOcQyYQ_3sWNMGpazNWL62z0bMFeSmhtpmDfNHZuP-tkwBX3-oS3P-KiUO9nKai1uwAYjmm-hCCETUaIAKlhvod5JrPg_SloRt_NYpFSD0jRaFw8fTD=s0" alt=""/></figure>



<h2>Integrating Slang’s General English test with the General English courses</h2>



Slang’s General English test covers the same proficiency levels as our course system. Many organizations choose to use the General English test for initial placement when they first begin their organizational bilingual program, or when they add new learners to the program. This allows them to determine the starting English level of each participant. Furthermore, the initial score tells each learner which General English course is most appropriate for them to start with. Once a learner completes one course, they can simply continue to the next course in the sequence.&nbsp;



Some organizations ask program participants to retake the test at fixed intervals, for example after six months of studying. This will tell you how much each person has progressed during the implementation period. Alternatively, learners can retake the General English test after completing each course in the General English system to verify that they have in fact mastered all the material.



For more information about the benefits of regular English assessment for your employees, <a href="https://blog.slangapp.com/blog/en/what-are-the-benefits-of-measuring-your-employees-english-levels-with-slangs-general-english-test" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">you can check out our other article</a>.

 How does Slang’s integrated General English system work?

Language is an extremely complex phenomenon. It takes much more than just memorizing vocabulary or grammar structures to be able to understand the unspoken intention behind a persuasive speech, or to respond politely to a frustrated client. In other words, we believe that proficiency in a language is best measured by the learner’s ability to communicate with others. Slang’s General English test tries to capture at least some of this linguistic complexity by measuring a learner’s ability to use language skills in communicative contexts.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/E7o9doS4t81W6CkIsfg6mAqDall6JIiZJb_UKDiGOQMyQMQs4o5wgUDQbaIoMHDPW13jgsbYLSc20OHqVaVvef9EY_PJ1QK6VCzARY2C7ecQ79rbXTkWLQtS8HMVjgprpvx4vXXW=s0" alt=""/></figure>



Our General English test is designed for adult professional English learners with an overall proficiency level between beginner and advanced intermediate. (If you are interested in measuring technical English ability within a specific field, Slang also offers professional English tests for this purpose.) In order to provide a comprehensive picture of each learner’s language skills, the General English test covers four different sections: reading, grammar, listening, and speaking.



Given that the test measures multiple skills, it is important to mention that it is not realistic to expect someone to perform equally well in all four skills. It is completely normal for learners to have certain strengths and weaknesses in English, due to their previous English study or to their own innate abilities. This is why an adaptive curriculum is vital for the most efficient learning methodology. If there are two learners who are placed into the same overall course, but one is better at speaking and the other is better at reading, Slang can detect their relative abilities based on their performance and customize their study lessons accordingly. So, organizations can encourage their learners not to worry too much about being defined by their test results. The General English test is not about passing or failing, it is about customizing your study plan for the greatest learning success!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vGSbT3mVh7Z8_aJN2zLvLpw8JNLhksUjJaXXSPnhpc7zUesJcadZ3rp8A6uIZ-12WDXkKFclOl8KL5YcHN-_tUC4KJUfCTtVhFr7-by80kvM5w5NmNYMMPLGF7JRrO2Gz3esrYG9=s0" alt=""/></figure>



For the test to function effectively, it is essential that users be presented with content of an appropriate difficulty for their level. We ask users to provide a very general self-assessment of their English abilities before beginning the test in order to make the test more adaptive. The content and activities shown to the user will vary depending on the level of difficulty. However, all the activities of the test are designed to measure the user’s ability to apply the specific skill being tested in real-world communicative situations. Here are some examples of the more specific linguistic skills measured by the various activities in Slang’s General English test.&nbsp;



<h2>Reading section:</h2>



<ul><li>Test-takers are asked to match a written word with a corresponding photo. This activity (shown to beginners) measures their ability to recall English terms by associating them with the concept rather than falling back on mental translation.</li><li>Test-takers are asked about the implied meaning of a sentence. This assesses their ability to understand not only the literal meaning of words, but also the speaker’s intention.</li><li>Test-takers are asked to choose the correct words that fit in a paragraph. The test has users drawn on context clues in order to identify the appropriateness of a specific word in a given context.</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/TZgMNAxytVcMTEY7CAwUQLYTCoBLVjb8Jv94BUpixGxaCYb1-KOlSAnBh-W_vYhvhY-Gs_ZSRPAHb7qzVBZE-f2IBwAPNcE166GpRtbfqf0z2C64DfnmWJqPwo0UFZ8ogHVRlu1H=s0" alt=""/></figure>



<h2>Grammar section:</h2>



<ul><li>Test-takers are asked to choose the phrase which best completes a sentence fragment. This activity requires the learner to integrate both structural knowledge and vocabulary knowledge in order to pick the option which both sounds correct and creates a logical situation.</li><li>Test-takers are asked to choose the grammatical form of a word which fits best within a sentence. This activity reflects the fact that grammatical forms are not arbitrary rules to memorize but actually impact the meaning of the sentence &#8211; often changing the grammar produces an illogical sentence!&nbsp;</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9zV5qSRszzMYTyUIkaNs9l6v97IhRyicI77KRHkynSN-7HeZrRefcedhxIX58754kvDnC-RN_StlCQ7PEO7sQ9aC7sYKTE4_AXiowUgE4GnBVrEusTKy3ewH7GU-vLE-IEegK7Jk=s0" alt=""/></figure>



<h2>Listening section:</h2>



<ul><li>Test-takers are asked to write down a sentence that they heard. This dictation skill is highly relevant for many work contexts, such as taking client orders over the phone or taking notes in a meeting!</li><li>Test-takers are asked comprehension questions about a conversation. This assesses their ability to listen for meaning and focus on key points and takeaways.</li><li>Test-takers are asked to answer questions about implicit information in a conversation or monologue. Making inferences is a high-order thinking skill needed in every professional career!&nbsp;</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UckcBTvecqBUXNjbRjTvDZTGen4VCsqgF9x51MnMKN7yhjgxYYZnMBAAwqBMtb2wM_j9IzG51CGs3Lc1g4fXdFz_kwjYF7AoCfvsn4AjkqAMWxifmGGOeXp3-XDkDlYfqPI0pf7f=s0" alt=""/></figure>



<h2>Speaking section:</h2>



<ul><li>Test-takers’ ability to pronounce the sounds of English correctly is assessed. Slang is one of the only tools on the market that can offer phoneme-level pronunciation assessment and coaching to help your employees with accent reduction!</li><li>Test-takers are asked to respond appropriately to a comment or question, measuring their ability to understand the context and implication of a given situation and engage in conversation.</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pUpQlt_7xDgHjHD8SFM6NVsdhGWEKhx644pJ-JWMlueTNIsEDUwnHPSj8odVd2wDwiBuBO57Nr2Ukxgx5OTiOfB3Kqd8mt7AhWhMNyhx6VoRHY0M-dvwAbHgPbn9RZvVFi6dPPow=s0" alt=""/></figure>



As you can see, it’s not the case that a person is either good at English, or they aren’t. Learning a new language involves a wide range of complex and at times subtle skills to enable you to communicate in all the scenarios you’ll encounter at work. Fortunately, with Slang’s General English test, you’ll get better insight into each of your employees’ strengths and weaknesses in order to help them progress rapidly towards becoming bilingual professionals.



Also, not only do we offer your organization Slang’s General English test, but we have professional and General English courses as well. So, if your employee didn’t do an amazing job on the test, maybe it’s time to go beyond basic with&nbsp; our professional English courses. Slang has over 120 of those, allowing us to&nbsp; create a personalized career path that helps your employees learn the language in the best way for their profession.&nbsp;



Learn <a href="https://slangapp.com/pricing/businesses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more about it here</a>. Join Slang today!

What does Slang’s General English test measure?

Did you know&nbsp; that organizations that test their employees’ English ability tend to show better employee engagement in their bilingual programs? Slang’s dedicated team of customer success consultants have discovered this best practice in the process of coaching a number of organizations in implementing bilingual programs. In fact, we’ve found that periodic assessment of employees’ English proficiency, if done properly, can help to motivate your employees to study hard and continue improving their level.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/179tln2lQzPSSultb_1XI6mUCnslqagat4HdBs_OiqE1A12PMuyBmVxUPUOaiknpP9iVSIHDGTu0rPRvVdQx4AM56_fBmkLBAamV3Adt5zCuE7A8nxUfbxjVHOsZ2otaLbONyb6t=s0" alt=""/><figcaption>At Slang, your employees&nbsp;learn English that is specific to their profession.</figcaption></figure></div>



Along with that, our customer success team also recommends a number of other best practices that can help make your program a success! Here are a few:



<h2>Combatting test-taking anxiety</h2>



First of all, it’s important to recognize that many people suffer from what is called “foreign language anxiety” — a belief that they are simply bad language learners and cannot learn English. This results in significant stress for the learner and actually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that prevents them from learning effectively. Especially if you are implementing an English program for the first time, employees may feel worried about getting poor results. Employers can reassure their employees that taking the General English test is not about passing or failing, it is about customizing each person’s study plan for the greatest learning success! At the end of the day, you want your employees to view learning English as a valuable benefit provided by your organization and as a positive experience that benefits them in their careers, isn’t that right? After all, positive attitudes towards language learning have a huge impact on learning outcomes!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QV2c5T0Fz0ZUmuFpUOYqpdRWNJi5BFkaG3RjDMrXJth6qQ0yR-wK6y-vELf9vE5BLfvBKqwyCR1LATWcMAiAWyuhQ2Zdl-YCbTuR7piCplIoOmLSZ_PzCKl1f2I3t__ms85Y7Gd7=s0" alt=""/></figure>



<h2>Implementation recommendations</h2>



So, how can you implement Slang’s General English test in a way that reduces anxiety and improves the learning experience? Thankfully you don’t have to be an English-teaching expert to do this! In this article, we’ll cover some common implementations that typically work for our clients, but your dedicated customer success consultant is also here to advise you on a plan that is customized for your organization&#8217;s needs.



We typically recommend that organizations take the Slang General English test at the beginning of their implementation, or whenever new employees join the program. Learners can retake the test later on to measure how much they’ve progressed. It often works well to administer the test at 6-month intervals, as this allows enough time for the learner to have made significant progress and feel a sense of accomplishment and motivation when they see how much their score has gone up.



<h2>Specific benefits of periodic testing</h2>



Here are some of the specific benefits to employers of utilizing Slang’s General English test to measure their employee’s overall proficiency level:



<h3>1. Motivation</h3>



Employees feel excited when they see the improvement in their score, and this can motivate them to continue with the program and take additional courses. Additionally, knowing that they will have a post-test after a certain amount of time encourages learners to stick with their study plan and meet their goals.



<h3>2. Placement</h3>



It can be very frustrating to take a class that is too difficult for you, or one that covers a lot of material you already know. The results of Slang’s General English test can be converted into placement recommendations to identify the best course for each person to start with, to make sure they are challenged appropriately and don’t waste any time.



<h3>3. Organizational progress tracking</h3>



Many organizations have team or departmental goals relating to bilingualism and English proficiency. Managers can use our Learning Management System (LMS) to easily assign tests and stay on top of their employee’s progress towards these goals. This data can also be used to promote a culture of language-learning within the organization. For example, you might consider encouraging employees to collaborate with each other in forming good study habits by offering prizes to the team with the most study hours logged in a quarter.&nbsp;



<h3>4. Return on investment</h3>



The team in charge of bilingualism initiatives at your company can easily track KPIs relating to English proficiency. Test results can be used to measure employee’s learning outcomes and assess the success of the program. Your customer success consultant will also periodically review these results with you to discuss any improvements to the program that you might like to make in order to better engage specific groups of employees.



<h3>5. Human resources planning</h3>



Human resources teams can assess the overall English abilities of the organization against strategic needs on a department-by-department basis. For example, depending on the results, you might consider asking employees of a specific department to set aside English study time during the workday, or even investing in hiring more bilingual personnel within a certain functional area. Planning effective retention, hiring, and training and development programs starts with getting good data!



We created Slang’s General English test to improve your organization’s bilingualism initiatives and to help your employees be the best they can be. If you implement testing effectively by following the tips we’ve gathered, we know your English learning&nbsp; program will be a success!&nbsp;



If you want more information on the Slang’s General English test you can contact our support team by email: support@slangapp.com.

What are the benefits of measuring your employees’ English levels with Slang’s General English test?

You’ll also need strong communication skills to navigate situations like making small talk with colleagues or taking a business trip. 



At the same time, however, many general English programs on the market today are too general, covering a wide range of topics that will not be relevant to everyone. If you’ve ever opened an English textbook to the chapter on zoo animals and wondered, “But how will this help me interact with my clients?”, you know what we’re talking about!&nbsp;



Slang’s General English system is designed to bridge this gap by helping you improve your overall English fluency in contexts that are relevant for professionals. Each of our levels centers around useful topics from daily life, with a focus on things that are likely to come up in the workplace. Examples of these topics include things like making small talk or giving a presentation. 



With this thematic focus, it’s easy to take what you’re learning and apply it right away as soon as you’re in that situation! 



After all, Application of language skills in real-world settings is essential to cement what you’re learning. What’s more, you can also study our General English courses in conjunction with any of our specialized English courses, allowing you to progress in these broader communicative skills and technical English at the same time!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qyJPACPosClHOjw8OrN-kC1HxaHJ2rdFjU415JjdmTph9cB2QY5X4PAN6_yXa1nZBxwG3j-VLo4IhDss0_ScNmXgrqK-2Kqweb6DcS13xquvO1Z595dYkAoR0bxVNk8uWkyhYIDY" alt=""/></figure>



Image: Some of Slang’s General English course levels



Slang’s dynamic curricula are optimized for each user in real time based on individual needs and linguistic data from our lexicon. As a result, users study only what they don’t know or need to reinforce, and can thus reach their learning goals faster. And unlike traditional textbooks, if you’ve already seen something in one course, we’ll never waste your time by teaching it to you again! 



Do you really need to study the word “manager” in the context of Performance Management, and then again in the context of Recruiting, and then again in the context of Business Communications? No, we don’t think so, either! 



With Slang, user knowledge and progress is centralized and synced across all our courses. This means users can transition seamlessly between our general English and professional English offerings at any time, depending on their career needs, without any backtracking.



 Another complaint we’ve heard from our learners about traditional General English curricula, for example in school, is that they get assigned to a level with other students who have very different English skills. This causes them to spend a lot of time reviewing things that they know but other students don’t know from that level. 



Slang solves this problem with dynamic curriculum optimization algorithms. Our technology selects appropriate content for each user based on their prior knowledge of English and their development in the four communicative skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). 



This personalized approach recognizes that learners, even at the same level, differ widely in English background and proficiency and that individual learners often have varying ability levels across the four skills. 



Thus, a diverse group of students may all reach the same level goal, but with different learning pathways uniquely optimized for their needs. Isn’t that what busy professionals need &#8211; an efficient and personalized way to level up their English without wasting time on things they already know?



Slang’s General English Level System



Our General English system focuses on teaching common words and expressions that are necessary for the everyday life of professionals. The activities in which this content appears are designed to build the four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Within each level, students will study a small cluster of different topics. 



These topics were selected according to the approach described previously to provide a balance of structure and variety within each level. The table below summarizes what learners will master as they move up within our framework. A complete list of topics covered at each level can be found <a href="http://slangapp.com/courses/categories/general-english" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on our website</a>.&nbsp;



The levels are designed to build on each other, so that learners will encounter more advanced content about the same topic in a later level. For example, learners in our very first level, Beginner 1, will learn to identify common food and drinks eaten at different meals. Later on level Elementary 1, they will be able to use this knowledge in a communicative context by making a restaurant reservation. 



They will continue to build on this knowledge in level Elementary 3 by practicing how to order specific dishes and handle problems with their food order with waitstaff. This approach not only enables users to continually build on their communicative skills in progressively more complex situations but also motivates them to continue improving as they see how their knowledge will serve them in real-world contexts!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PysyG6OjxZqyNJN1RqP3gjtFzS0dounM8LcWcoqdrJa8JheRWHMuzBcPaMbPSP0WsiThK8MJewTv1QajC4HxWtGVgTltM3ItEl9YLtZd6BK5M39a1Wguke_VV8Qlug8MLXIf2Np0" alt=""/></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Pc4DbYqcGFo8-PcfviY9EkO79XhX9TLrIsLokHY1et2VgzFZBVWIBYqgA0ri0KZJY8S3QFSYXjw_SlwmEKsEoES3ZOIhWJNJQuJtZJ8yrjjIVEMNGwT2eOcbhbFhL7Fc4ZwMH_Y7" alt=""/></figure>



Images: Food-related chapters from Beginner 1 (top) and Elementary 3 (bottom)



We are sometimes asked why we don’t offer “Advanced” level courses in our General English system. This is because of our strong belief in personalized learning. Once users have reached the level of conversational fluency (in other words, once they have completed all of the General English levels), we believe they are much better served by taking professional courses that align with their unique career interests. 



This will allow them to continue building their communication skills in the contexts where they most need them for work or school. Of course, because our professional courses adapt to your proficiency, you don’t necessarily need to wait to complete the entire General English system before starting to learn specialized English. 



Unlike in traditional fixed curricula, with Slang, your knowledge is automatically transferred between all your courses, so the choice is yours where you’d like to focus your attention!



Each of Slang’s levels is designed to take approximately 30-50 hours to complete. The exact study time needed depends on a number of factors including student dedication and amount of prior progress in other courses within the Slang platform. Having levels of comparable size makes it easy to implement Slang at organizations with students from a variety of different proficiency levels, as is often the case with ESL schools or universities. 



You can simply assign students to improve their ability by a specified number of levels within a specified time frame, depending on the intensity of the study program. For example, learners might be asked to complete one level per semester. Keep in mind that our academic consultants are experts on goal-setting and benchmarking with Slang’s General English levels, and we would be happy to assist you in designing a personalized program for your institution.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Level</td><td>Description</td></tr><tr><td>Beginner 1</td><td>Start paving your way to proficiency! Learn the days of the week, colors, hobbies, and other topics to kick-start your conversations in English.</td></tr><tr><td>Beginner 2</td><td>Take the next step! Describe your house and its furniture, talk about places around town and how to get there, and start planning a trip abroad!</td></tr><tr><td>Elementary 1</td><td>Ready to move up? From boarding a flight to establishing a routine to telling new friends about your family back home, learn the language required to survive in a different country.&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Elementary 2</td><td>Get comfortable using English in a variety of situations, from banking essentials like using an ATM and opening an account, to preparing for presentations at school or work!</td></tr><tr><td>Elementary 3</td><td>Improve your cultural competence! Acquire the knowledge necessary to avoid misunderstandings in any setting, whether you’re out to eat or making plans with friends.&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Intermediate 1</td><td>Keep expanding your English proficiency in a variety of settings. Express your opinions about music, movies, and books, and gain the language skills to manage your personal finances.</td></tr><tr><td>Intermediate 2</td><td>Nervous about using English at work? Build your confidence in professional settings as you learn expressions that will help you excel in interviews and on the job!&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Intermediate 3</td><td>Increase your fluency as you incorporate more idioms into your conversations, whether you’re narrating an anecdote or talking about the weather.</td></tr><tr><td>Advanced Intermediate 1</td><td>Take your English and financial literacy to the next level as you manage your income, make smart investments, and stay up to date on economic news.&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Advanced Intermediate 2</td><td>You’re making excellent progress on the path to proficiency! Delve deeper into topics related to politics, ethics, work, and academics, and get ready to think and speak critically!</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Alignment with External Testing Systems



Many of our clients rely on Slang for learner benchmarking. Slang proficiency scores can be used for a variety of diverse purposes, ranging from hiring decisions for roles that require professional English to graduation requirements for university students. 



As an international company, we recognize that there are a variety of different English proficiency systems used for testing, placement, and certification in the countries where our users live. A key goal in the development of our General English level system was to create a system that could be easily and accurately aligned with any such benchmarking system, rather than limiting ourselves to a single third-party framework.



Currently, the most popular alignment system used by our clients is the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The CEFR framework is the standard language certification system used in the European Union as well as many other countries. This system spans six levels: A1 &amp; A2 (beginner), B1 &amp; B2 (intermediate), and C1 &amp; C2 (advanced). It is based on “can-do statements” which define the real-world situations a user should be able to navigate at each level of linguistic proficiency. 



There is no single, static definition of specific wordlists or grammar rules that a learner must memorize for a given level; instead, curriculum developers must select the content which they believe will best support the learner’s development in the four language skills in order to master the can-do statements. We believe that the CEFR system’s emphasis on communicative competencies aligns well with Slang’s personalized approach.&nbsp;



If your organization currently uses the CEFR system for course placement or proficiency measurement purposes, you can easily integrate Slang’s General English courses into your existing framework. The table below shows the approximate CEFR level a user will have achieved after completing each course within Slang’s General English system. These correspondences were based on extensive curriculum research into different implementations of the CEFR framework, with an emphasis on the topics needed by our core audiences of professional learners.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://blogslg-devrocky.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Captura-de-Tela-2021-06-08-às-16.53.14-1.png" alt=""/></figure>



We’re always seeking to develop the best courses on the market, with the content you most want to see. If you’re interested in courses that are a bit more specialized and aligned with your career, check out our full course offering <a href="https://slangapp.com/courses/categories">here</a>.

Mastering the English you need for your career is much more than simply memorizing a list of technical words. You will also need to exercise communication skills to interact in certain situations, such as talking with colleagues or going on a business trip. 

General English for professionals: our methodology

General English for Professionals: Our Methodology

Understanding this new structure will enable you to track your learning progress within the app in much greater detail.&nbsp;



Each course is divided up into a number of chapters. Every chapter focuses on a specific topic, which is reflected in the chapter name. In this way, you know exactly what subject matter you’re focusing on and how the vocabulary you’re learning relates to the sub-areas of your field.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5nRkobypU_54IRxDYaRWlfGIcHm7566_M9RKDUnKPL-EG6daW69DZImRqU70GZkwz4LPJGLfIwesyslXEpqG-xyR44LIBM-ciqVEmGJVYxm1jUuhzLxpY5NFfAVPjEkqZi2v5EBT" alt=""/><figcaption>Image: A selection of chapters from the Marketing course</figcaption></figure>



Smaller topics might consist of just one chapter, while complex topics will be broken down into multiple chapters so that they are more manageable. For example, you might see chapters called something like “Annual Reviews, Part 1” and “Annual Reviews, Part 2” within the Performance Management course. In such cases, you know that both chapters deal with the same topic. Once you’ve finished all the chapters, you’ve finished your course!



Within a chapter, you will see multiple lessons, typically up to 10 (with the exact number depending on the complexity of the topic). A lesson is a short series of study activities that users can complete in about 5 minutes. The specific activities you’ll see within a lesson are personalized according to your knowledge of English and your performance during the lesson. Keep working through all the lessons in order to complete the chapter. This system allows you to make steady progress by completing a few short lessons a day, whenever you have time.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/kurrke4iTJ4265pSVJYr-vqsGjK2RZuTJezR_T4Laejd8SUwM3wkaykQF0BkwCNQTzZAXxlCN6tK0lgZgrGNg-O4K1MId0nFrv5Jj4xPMVPmzkpyfW80tXOiBfUtfiXhiwBNkRZz" alt=""/><figcaption>Image: The topic “Analyzing Data in Excel” within the Data Management and Visualization course is large enough to have multiple parts. This user has completed 2 out of 10 lessons in part 1.</figcaption></figure>



Within each course, you can have several chapters in progress at the same time. Once you finish all the lessons in one of your active chapters, you’ll unlock a new chapter to work on. This system will help you progress through the topics in a logical and structured way to promote more effective learning, instead of just skipping around through the entire course. At the same time, it allows you some flexibility to select the topic you want to study within your set of currently active chapters: you can complete a lesson in one chapter, and then switch to another chapter and do a few lessons there, then switch back, and so on.



Why did we implement this change?



Slang’s previous progress system was based on levels within each course. We received feedback from learners and managers that this system was not very intuitive for progress tracking. Some of the specific concerns included:



<ul><li>The levels were quite large and took a long time to complete, so people lacked a feeling of motivation and progress.&nbsp;</li><li>Earlier levels were easier and shorter than later levels, so people had a hard time estimating how long each level would take.</li><li>The percentage of learner progress was based on the total knowledge in the course, but there was not a transparent way to quantify this knowledge.</li><li>Learners wanted more visibility into their progress so they could set goals and make sure they were on track with their studying.</li></ul>



We’ve taken all this feedback into consideration with the design of our new lessons and chapters system.



Measuring learners’ progress according to the lessons they’ve completed is a much more intuitive, accurate, and motivating way to set learning goals. You can see exactly how many lessons you’ve already studied out of the total number of lessons in the course, and which chapters those lessons were part of. The lessons and chapters are also a great way to set short-term or medium-term goals for yourself. For example, you might decide to complete 5 lessons a day, or aim to do 3 chapters per week. With this system, it will be much easier to estimate how much study time you need to complete a chapter or even a full course and make a personal study plan accordingly.



How to track your progress in the app



Of course, it wouldn’t make sense to create study goals without a good tool to track your progress! And that’s why we’ve added new progress tracking pages to the Slang platform. There are several different places where you can see how much you’ve studied: your progress within each course, your progress within each lesson, and your overall English progress in the app.



Within each course, we’ve added an overview page showing all the chapters contained in that course. You can easily see the sequence of chapters, including the ones you’ve already completed, the ones you’re actively studying, and the ones you have left to finish. In this example from the Industrial Engineering course, you can see by the green checkmark that this learner has already finished two chapters: Production Facilities, Part 1 and Demand Planning, Part 1. There are three additional chapters currently in progress, and the learner could choose to do another lesson in any of those three. And finally, there are some chapters which the user hasn’t started yet down at the bottom, represented by the lock symbol to the right.



To the right of the chapters list, you can see the progress calculation for this specific course. The number of lessons completed divided by the number of total lessons gives the progress percentage.



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/s_wElzSUS12dcmFNOEzVXwVYPVmVUdhpV03UjbCcUyRJMt77BBlDGDDvneqpOUR7sDBWp4rzwyasI4sDre1yoIfVdN884kpQdHSa4Ac7AjRLsjdTIAmsIrR-6C-otrEVleP2kygY" alt="" width="310" height="365"/><figcaption>Image: Progress calculation for the Industrial Engineering example above.</figcaption></figure>



As you’re working through a lesson, you will see a progress bar at the top, located above your study activities. Sometimes, when you’re just starting a lesson, you’ll see that you already have some progress (marked in dark green).&nbsp;



This is because Slang tracks your overall knowledge of English across the entire platform. Obviously, there are many general English concepts that every speaker of the language needs to know. Even between professional fields, there are many terms that are used in multiple related professions. Unlike traditional textbooks and curricula, we don’t want to waste your time by making you study the term “financial statement” once in a course about Accounting, and then again in a course about Finance, and then again… We track what you already know to save you time!



Of course, you’ll still need to study whatever material in the lesson you don’t already know. The progress bar will continue to fill up as you get activities correct. This progress that you’ve earned by active studying within the lesson will be marked in light green. Fill the entire bar to complete the lesson!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wIH7_ZZ1gm8pbvi1ZLa9fqmtKOYsUf_Uiiq4vsalESLfGYLyyblgoWyDfnw7AqLrdq2Eo77Ln37bYXMqJZyl9JEElFzjJ4z6ll4lR_DFKFB1zHXpyc5Q4rPeJGAmPo4tmaqqI_ek" alt=""/><figcaption>Image: progress bar for a partially completed lesson with some transferred knowledge.</figcaption></figure>



Finally, you can go to the Progress page via the menu at the top of your screen in order to see your overall progress in Slang. This page offers a lot of useful tools for measuring your overall progress. For example, you can see how much you’ve studied per week or per month. You can also see how long you’ve spent studying specific courses. If your organization sets specific learning goals, such as studying for a certain number of hours or completing certain courses, you’ll be able to use this page to make sure you are meeting those requirements.



We are always looking for new ways to enhance your experience with our app and help you learn more efficiently. You’ll always find these sorts of updates on our blog — keep yourself up to date on the latest features by reading O<a href="https://blog.slangapp.com/categoria/en/our-product" data-type="page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ur Product Section</a>!

With our course restructuring, goal-setting is even easier.

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