Setting Students up for Success in the Workplace – with Leo Wu

Setting Students up for Success in the Workplace – with Leo Wu

Author: TESOL Pop September 17, 2024 Duration: 13:07

English language trainer Leo Wu shares insights into tasks he uses in his classes to support his Business English learners in developing essential soft skills for the workplace. In this episode, Leo explains why communication, rather than just language proficiency, is key to success in the business world.


Watch this episode with closed captions here.


KEY TALKING POINTS


Misconceptions in Business English Education

Leo discusses how many students, especially in Taiwan, see Business English as grammar and vocabulary-focused, rather than as a tool for effective communication in the workplace. Leo goes on to highlight the importance of building soft skills like confidence, teamwork, and interpersonal communication to succeed in real-world business environments.


Classroom Activities

Leo walks through tasks and activities he uses in classes, such as mock business meetings, writing appreciation emails, and icebreaker activities, that foster teamwork and improve students' ability to communicate effectively.


Test Preparation versus Communication Skills

Leo touches on the need to balance test-focused learning with practical language use to help students excel both academically and professionally.


ABOUT

Leo Wu, also known as Wuber on social media, is an ESL English teacher and trainer based in Taiwan. Over the past thirteen years, Leo has worked with learners of all ages in various online and offline settings. Currently, he is focused on teaching business-related content to professionals. He teaches at ILI Language Center(文化大學語言中心), and AMC English school, and also provides my private personalised English training lessons through his social media channels. He believes that everyone is capable of speaking languages beautifully and confidently - something that shines through in all the work he does.


FOLLOW LEO


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CREDITS

Producer Laura Wilkes

Editor Haven Tsang

Thanks to our lovely guest, Leo Wu.


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Ever feel like the best teaching ideas come from a quick chat in the staffroom, but your schedule never allows for it? TESOL Pop captures that spark. Designed for the busy English language teacher, this mini podcast delivers compact, meaningful conversations with TESOL, TEFL, and ESL educators globally. Each episode is a focused interview, kept under fifteen minutes, packed with practical ideas and personal insights that can genuinely shift your approach in the classroom. You’ll hear stories about career pivots, reflections on what actually works with students, and clever uses of technology, all shared in a casual, accessible tone. It’s the audio equivalent of a refreshing coffee break with a colleague who gets it. The podcast understands that profound professional development doesn’t always require a lengthy seminar; sometimes, a single, well-timed insight is enough to reinvigorate your teaching. By tuning in, you join a global conversation that feels both personal and immediately useful, making it easy to integrate new perspectives into your daily routine without overwhelming your calendar.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

TESOL Pop
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