English as a second language, or ESL, training is vital for companies that need the best trained, most qualified people to do a job, whether they are from the same city or a city on the other side of the world. English language training information can be found from a variety of sources, and all you have to do is choose the right training course for your company's specific needs.

English second language training courses are available through online courses, CD ROM programs, or face-to-face training programs with a qualified instructor. Choose a program that will develop the language skills of your employees in order to help them:

1. Learn English for everyday use.

2. Participate in conversations and business meetings.

3. Know specific business jargon in English.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Save money with an English language training program online

There are many downloadable and online programs available to help people learn English as a second language. Programs available in this manner would be perfect for those employees who need to learn English phrases quickly, or employees who are self-motivated to learn on their own.

I recommend: AmEnglish.com and English Vistas International are two resources where you can access English training courses to learn general English, as well as business English.

Find an English language training provider that offers traditional courses

Some people may not be able to learn English on their own from an online course, book, or audio guide. Instead, they will need to take a traditional course given in a classroom. It is a good idea to offer these courses to employees occasionally so that they can learn faster and build upon the knowledge that they already have of the language.

I recommend: The English Language Center and ELT are two companies that offer traditional courses for people who want to learn English. They also offer online courses in their English language training directory.

Choose English language programs meet specific needs

Programs in English are available for many specific purposes. You can offer employees English training courses in general English, conversational English or business English. The courses you provide will depend on the type of people and business situations you expect your employees to handle. If they will work with customers, for example, they will probably need to know conversational English more than business English.

I recommend: The English Edge USA and the Colorado School of English are both companies that provide courses in English for a variety of different situations, including conversational and business English.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find English language training programs that work with the strengths of your employees. If they are self-motivated, they can easily learn from an online or CD ROM course. But for those who are struggle with self-motivation or need to have a more visual training program, ESL training courses with an instructor would be best.