Customized English in education: 'You want to speak to parents well'

A receptionist at Parmant Scholen wanted to improve her English. Several other employees had the same request. Therefore, the organization contacted Summa for a customized program. "Once the ball started rolling, it was quickly arranged."

Schools in the Brainport region are increasingly encountering English-speaking parents. This is also true for the six secondary schools in Parmant. Educational support staff often have the first contact with these parents, either by phone or at the front desk. "Several colleagues indicated they were nervous about speaking English," says HR consultant Lonneke Janssen. "Especially because it involves not only everyday language, but also school jargon like registration, first year, or exams. We believe it's important to properly integrate non-native speakers into our culture and our education system."

To prevent employees from having to make do with broken English, such as With what can I help you?, Parmant Scholen started looking for a suitable training program. "Through colleagues with experience in Dutch as a Second Language (NT2) education, we found Summa," says Lonneke. "It was actually arranged very quickly. Summa had already provided similar training at other educational institutions and healthcare organizations. We tailored that process to the needs of our employees."

Starting in early January, participants will attend four afternoons of customized training. "They'll practice with situations from their own work," says Lonneke. "That makes it practical and relatable. Moreover, the level is tailored to the participants themselves. That lowers the barrier to entry. As a result, interest was greater than we expected. We even had to disappoint colleagues."

Lonneke is positive about the collaboration with Summa. "Barely three months after our initial contact, the program began. That speaks volumes about Summa's collaboration approach: fast and engaged. I enjoyed seeing how enthusiastic and dedicated the teaching staff are. It's also great that the costs fall within the budget our staff receive for professional development." She doesn't yet know whether there will be a second program. "We'll evaluate at the end and then assess the needs. But I know one thing for sure: if we have another specific training need, we'll know where to find Summa."

Would you also like to train your employees in English to effectively communicate with non-native speakers? Or do you need other training? Contact one of our our specialists and discover the possibilities