Courses for Adult English Learners

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Summary

I developed various customised courses for adult learners. In this example, I will describe business English program created for Anna, a Polish/German marketing professional preparing for a senior role. I focused on creating a flexible learning path that would fit her busy schedule while meeting her professional communication goals.

Responsibilities: Instructional Design, content creation (use cases, videos, visuals), assessment
Target audience: adult language learners
Tools used: Articulate Rise, Canva, Doodly
Instructional design method: ADDIE
Client: various

The Problem

Anna, a marketing specialist at an international technology company, reached out to me with a specific challenge. Despite her advanced English level (B2), she struggled with high-stakes business communications required for her upcoming senior role. Through our initial consultation, I discovered she needed targeted support in leading international meetings, delivering executive presentations, and managing complex stakeholder communications. Traditional language courses weren't addressing her unique professional context and time constraints as a busy marketing professional.

The Solution

I developed a personalised, project-based learning program that mirrored Anna's actual work responsibilities. Instead of following a standard business English curriculum, each module centred around a real project from her workplace. The program allowed her to develop advanced language skills while working on authentic marketing tasks she faced in her role.

The Process

Analysis
Started with a thorough needs analysis. During our initial meeting, I:

  • Conducted an in-depth interview to understand Anna's goals
  • Administered a placement test to assess her current level
  • Discussed her time availability
  • Reviewed samples of her current business writing
  • Identified specific workplace situations she needed to master

Design
Based on my analysis, I:

  • Created learning objectives matching her career goals
  • Developed a flexible schedule around her 5 weekly available hours
  • Selected real-world business scenarios for practice
  • Planned assessment methods to track her progress

Development
I created customised materials including:

  • Interactive business case studies
  • Email writing templates
  • Presentation frameworks
  • Self-study resources (using grammar and vocabulary books)

Implementation
Throughout the 5-week sessions, I:

  • Delivered weekly one-on-one sessions (online and on-sight)
  • Provided detailed feedback on assignments
  • Adjusted content based on her progress

Evaluation
To measure success, I:

  • Conducted regular progress assessments
  • Gathered feedback after each lesson
  • Documented improvements in her communication
  • Compared final results with initial objectives
  • Created a plan for continued learning

Results and Takeaways

Working with Anna on her personalised Business English journey was a new experience in understanding how to create truly learner-centred programs. The project challenged me to move beyond traditional language teaching approaches I was used to and create a learning experience that seamlessly integrated with a professional's daily work life.

Key personal learnings:

  • I discovered the power of using real workplace projects as learning vehicles, seeing how this approach accelerated both language acquisition and professional development
  • The process taught me valuable lessons about balancing structured learning with flexibility, especially when working with busy professionals
  • I gained deeper insights into how cultural nuances impact business communication, leading me to develop more culturally sensitive learning materials

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