Adult English Courses: differentiators and examples

Learn what sets an English course for adult learners apart from the rest and see examples of career-aligned training programs.

English proficiency is one of the most important skills for the job market—that is precisely why companies invest so much in corporate English training.

Nevertheless, the methodology employed to create an English course for adult learners needs to be different from what’s used with other students in order to ensure an effective and engaging training program that drives faster results.

Singularities of Adult English Courses

Adults learn differently from children and teenagers, so an English course for adult learners needs to be specifically tailored to this audience.

For instance, to ensure an efficient learning process, the course needs to adapt to the reality of adult learners, taking into account their busy personal and professional life and using a curriculum that covers relevant topics in order to spark their interest and engagement. 

Andragogy: An Approach for Adult Learners

The concept of andragogy refers to a set of techniques and practices which are optimized to boost the effectiveness of the adult teaching process by adapting to the way this audience learns.

T&D professionals in search of English training programs for their teams should always pay attention to andragogy-based options in order to ensure content effectiveness, increase engagement and drive faster, more meaningful results.

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How Long Does an Adult English Course Last?

English courses for adult learners can differ in duration depending on the student’s and company’s goals and the chosen format for the program.

Also, the speed with which each learner sees proficiency gains will vary based on individual characteristics. So, the same way the curriculum needs to be unique to each learner, their progress must also be considered individually.

When it comes to choosing an English course, it’s important to check how relevant its content is for your learners, as this is one of the most important factors for accelerating the learning process and driving its effectiveness.

Focus on Relevant Content

In order for content to be relevant, it must be in line with learners’ routines and the topics they see in the real world. This type of content will stand out in the learning process and be more appealing to students, in addition to being useful for their day-to-day life

If a learner is taking a corporate English course, for example, it will need to employ the appropriate language for the business environment and cover topics which are specific to their career path.

When learners study using content that isn’t tailored to their learning style and goals, it’s only natural that they eventually forget what they’ve learned, as exemplified by Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve.

That’s why content customization is so important for optimizing the results of an adult English course, especially by focusing on their professional needs.

How to Choose the Best English Course for Adult Learners

There are several things HR and T&D professionals need to consider when choosing an English course for their organization. Let’s have a look at some of the most important aspects.

Flexibility to Fit the Work Schedule

The most important thing to bear in mind is that the course you choose shouldn’t get in the way of learners’ professional activities. This makes online courses an excellent option, as they enable learners to study whenever and wherever works best for them.

With this in mind, Voxy employs microlearning—a strategy that delivers content in smaller, easier-to-digest formats, allowing students to fully focus their attention on what they’re studying while boosting learning effectiveness.

Focus on the Four Proficiency Skills

Proficiency is measured through the mastery of four core skills: speaking, reading, writing and listening comprehension. 

The ability to assess employees’ proficiency level throughout an English course means HR departments can measure the effectiveness of the corporate training program.

Additionally, measuring how each student is learning and evolving is essential for providing these individuals with visibility over their own progress so they know how to better direct their study efforts.

Using Learning Technology

Technology is a valuable tool in the learning process. When choosing an English program for adult learners, prioritizing a course that’s in line with the digital transformation offers several advantages.

Voxy’s LXP platform leverages artificial intelligence to assess each student’s learning needs in order to create a training program that favors individualized and personalized learning.

Our online English courses also provide access anytime anywhere, career-aligned courses, live classes, individual lessons and activities, and many other benefits.

English Upskilling

Combining English upskilling with professional development—as is the case with Voxy’s courses—is a strategy that helps drive the company’s return on investment in their language program. 

The reason is that employees get the opportunity to take a “2-in-1” course, where they work on their English proficiency while developing both hard and soft skills in order to enhance their professional performance.

Self-Study and Live Classes

In addition to providing learners with the option of completing short, individual activities at any time depending on their self-study availability and schedule, an adult English course must also offer live classes with certified teachers.

This ensures learners have all the support they need throughout the learning process to guide their study efforts and achieve real results in the shortest amount of time.

Examples of Adult English Courses

English courses for adult learners can have different formats, from more general approaches to programs targeted at specific skills, such as speaking. There are also career-aligned courses available for specific industries and job types. Read on to see a few examples.

English for Software Engineering

One example of a career-aligned program is the English for Software Engineering course

This course focuses on industry-specific needs and prepares workers for everyday situations by using content from sources such as Google, GitHub and Microsoft.

English for Executive Leadership

Another professional profile that benefits from an English training program with a targeted approach are business executives from all market segments.

An English for Executive Leadership course helps develop key aspects of executive leadership, including creating a company vision, giving effective feedback and managing an efficient team.

Learners also get access to content on leadership qualities and skills from experienced business leaders around the world.

Academic English for MBA Students

Many professionals understand the importance of continuing their education even after joining the workforce, and a popular path to achieving this are MBA programs.

For professionals pursuing an MBA course abroad, an Academic English for MBA Students course is a great way to prepare for graduate education as it can feature case study analyses, articles from textbooks and group presentations on individual study areas.

Providing training opportunities such as these within your organization is a great way of encouraging employee development and investing in your company’s future, as you will have an increasingly more qualified workforce.

General English

Finally, General English Courses are a great option for training professionals from different areas that need to communicate about several topics in a variety of contexts.

With the technology and methodologies used by Voxy, even the most overarching courses are designed based on the adult learner’s needs and customized according to each student’s proficiency level.

Conclusion

Voxy’s English training programs are comprehensive, innovative and up to date with the learning needs of tomorrow’s workforce.

We have already served more than 4 million learners across 150 countries, helping them achieve astonishing results. On average, our students reach an advanced English level three times faster than with traditional training programs.

To find out how to provide your professional team with high-level qualification, contact our specialists.

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