How remote workplace language classes boost team spirit 

While working from home certainly has its benefits for a lot of tech workers, there’s something about the vitality of a workplace that isn’t easy to replicate. A language course is a great way to create interaction and positive dynamics at work.  It’s social by its very nature, for one thing. But it’s also challenging – and when this is taught in the right way, it can be an incredibly energising lift to workplace camaraderie. Here’s how learning a language can help boost your workplace’s team spirit:

It fosters workplace community through ‘non-work’ socialisation

A sense of community is often forged in moments that actually have nothing to do with work: a chat while making a cup of tea in the staffroom; or catching someone heading out the door. Over a Zoom meeting, not so much.

These organic interactions are essential to workplace culture. They nurture a sense of belonging to something greater than just yourself. A group language course is an opportunity for coworkers to socialise in an informal, ‘non-work’ setting, while still maintaining some structure for it to work effectively over video call. (As anyone who has attended a Zoom birthday party can attest to, structure is important).

Its challenging nature creates a unique bonding experience

The key to an effective team bonding experience is to make it just the right level of challenging that people feel united in a shared experience. This doesn’t require an expensive retreat, it just requires getting creative with the environment we’re working with.

When a language course is taught in an engaging way, it provides that same stimulating challenge where different parts of the brain get fired up and forge new pathways. A group of employees thrown into the challenge of grasping a new concept come together, united in a common goal.

We often see the ‘aha moment’, when groups realise they’ve made a breakthrough with language. Regardless of how small it is, it not only creates a bond, but also a lasting memory that all of those group members have with one another.

It creates psychological safety and offsets isolation

Particularly for people living in a country they are not from, doing a language course at work can help create a sense of family and belonging in a time when this is crucial for mental health.

Just like great managers create team meetings that feel inclusive and safe, non-judgemental group language classes are a safe space where employees can be themselves, free of the pressure to perform at work.

Learning a language also means learning about a place. As employees are able to interact more with the city around them, whether that’s watching the local news, reading a billboard, or paying an electricity bill, they naturally assimilate more and feel isolated less.

It lowers the challenge of remote onboarding

Tech workers all across Germany are finding themselves in situations where they have never met their coworkers. A veritable nightmare for Human Resource teams.

Luckily, group language courses are the ultimate icebreakers. If they’re taught in an accepting way, they create a unique environment for a workplace – one where employees feel totally ok to not be great at something.

For someone brand new to a company, there’s nothing more relaxing and safe than being in a social situation where they can open up and bond with their coworkers without having to prove their professional worth.

It’s a serious confidence boost

Study after study is showing that the emotional rollercoaster of this pandemic has taken a toll on the confidence of employees. It really helps to have a special sauce that puts some pep in the stride of employees and gives them that expansive motivation that we all need a bit of right now.

Learning a new language can be a transformative experience that builds new levels of self-assurance. Just the sheer courage that goes into successfully navigating bureaucracy in a new language is enough to dine out on for the rest of this pandemic.

We also see people grow their self-confidence through the social aspect of learning a language. Everyone learns in a different way and has different challenges. It’s always heartening to see how an inclusive space for language learning can foster this. Where talking, learning, and figuring out are done collectively.

Make language courses part of your company’s offering

By incorporating group language courses into your company, your employees will take strides far beyond their language learnings. Your company will be able to provide them with a family-style atmosphere where they have a sense of belonging. Where they can feel open to be themselves, collectively tackle a new challenge, and have fun along the way.

Ultimately, this not only attracts great talent to the company, it also takes some of the pressure of Human Resource and management teams to create a dynamic, interactive workplace in a situation where it is seriously difficult to achieve this.

Chat with us about how we can help give your colleagues a much-needed boost with group language learning specifically tailored for businesses.