Engineers Need English Proficiency! Why you should improve it, the level you need, and how to learn it.

2024.10.29

  • Advice for Engineers
エンジニアにも英語力が必要!高めるべき理由や必要なレベルと学習法を解説

With the advance of globalization, English proficiency is now required of IT engineers as well. Currently, it is possible to play an active role without English proficiency, but English proficiency will be increasingly required in the future. It would not be surprising if the time comes when it is natural to be able to speak English.
However, many engineers may not have a sense of urgency about what will happen if they do not have English skills. In this issue, we will discuss what happens if you do not have English language skills.

What happens if an IT engineer cannot speak English?


First, let's understand what happens if you are an IT engineer and cannot speak English.

Inability to understand core programming

Many programming languages are created around English. Therefore, if you are not proficient in English, you may not understand how they work. For example, the word “function” tends to be used as a reserved word to define a function, and if you do not understand the meaning of this word, it may hinder your implementation. As an extreme example, programs are often generated based on English, which may not be understood efficiently without a minimum level of English proficiency.
In addition, comments are included in the compilers and other components of programming languages, but most of these are also written in English. Therefore, without English language skills, it becomes difficult to predict functions from the words and to understand them from the comments.

Inability to read and understand foreign documents

Many of the documents required of engineers are written overseas, and English proficiency is necessary to read and understand them. In other words, if you do not have English skills, you will not be able to understand the documents yourself and will have to rely on translation tools. Not only is this time-consuming, but there is also the risk of not being able to recognize when the tool shows an incorrect translation.
Today, there are more and more opportunities to come into contact with foreign documents, such as Web articles from overseas engineers, manuals for overseas products, and imported books. Not being able to read and understand these can be fatal to you as an engineer.

Difficulty working with overseas engineers, such as in offshore development

When working with overseas engineers, such as in offshore development, it is difficult to work if you cannot speak English.
It is difficult to work with overseas engineers if you cannot speak English. You need to communicate through interpreters and translation tools, which you cannot handle on your own. There may be discrepancies in perception, such as not being able to convey detailed nuances.
In addition, since an intermediary is needed, problems can arise that prevent quick communication. For example, if you are not proficient in English, even if you are just writing an e-mail, you have to think of a sentence in Japanese and then translate it into English using a translation tool. This is considered a disadvantage in comparison, because with English language skills, you can write in the same way as in Japanese.

Inability to cope with the case where English becomes the official language within the company

In some IT companies, English is the official language in the company. If English is also adopted in the environment where you work, engineers who do not have English skills will not be able to cope. They will be eliminated from the company.
At present, there are only a limited number of companies where English is the official language within the company. However, it would not be surprising if this number increases in the future due to globalization. English proficiency will make the difference between light and dark in such a situation.
 

Benefits of improving your English language skills as an IT engineer.


Understand the benefits of having IT engineers improve their English language skills.

Easier to work with overseas engineers and clients

English is the most spoken language in the world, and learning it makes it easier to work with overseas clients and engineers. Because of globalization in recent years, it is very important to improve your English skills and be able to work with people including those from overseas. Consider it an advantage in the sense that it is easier to work with many people.
For example, even if a Japanese company has overseas branches, it is necessary to have meetings with overseas personnel. It is also possible that an overseas client may request work in Japan. Other times, you may be working with overseas engineers to promote a large-scale project. In any case, communication will be problematic if you do not have good English skills, but if your English skills are high, you can work without feeling any barriers.

Can understand official documents in English.

Being able to understand official documents of products developed overseas in English is an advantage. There are many products that do not have a Japanese version and only have an English version, so English language skills have a big impact on whether you can understand the content. Needless to say, being able to understand the official documentation on your own will improve your work efficiency.
In addition, in some cases, such as AWS (Amazon Web Service), English documents are equipped with automatic translation (machine translation). Such products allow users to read documents in Japanese, but they often feel uncomfortable with the translated documents. Although functions are now available to support those who do not have good English skills, it is more beneficial to have better English skills.

Expanded career opportunities, such as working overseas

By improving their English skills, IT engineers can expand their careers, such as working overseas. If you can only speak Japanese, you will basically be working in Japan, which makes a big difference.
For example, by improving your English skills, you can go to the U.S. or Europe to work for an overseas vendor. You could also work in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, leading offshore development. By having a high level of English proficiency, you will be able to see a way of working that would not be possible in Japan. You may also be able to find a new career in Japan, such as working for the Japanese branch office of an overseas vendor.

Your English ability is highly valued and your income may increase.

Your English skills will be highly valued, which may lead to an increase in income. Although it is unlikely to be directly reflected in your income, such as by an allowance, there is a good chance that it will create a secondary effect.
For example, being a good English speaker among engineers may enable you to participate in global projects. As a result, you will be able to play a more active role and achieve better results than others, which will lead to a higher evaluation within the company and will be reflected in your income. In addition, your high level of English proficiency may lead you to be dispatched overseas and increase your income through various benefits and rewards.
Of course, what results you achieve depends on the environment in which you are working. However, there is a good chance that you will benefit from improving your English skills.

Advantageous in changing jobs

English proficiency is increasingly required when changing jobs, and at this time, a high level of English proficiency is a plus.
First, having business-level English skills will enable you to apply for positions that require English proficiency. By having more options than those who do not have English proficiency, it is easier to apply for jobs with better conditions.
Also, even for jobs that do not require English, a high level of English proficiency is a major point of appeal. It is an area where you can distinguish yourself from other engineers, and in general, it will give you an advantage in your career change.

English language skills that engineers should have


Specifically, we will explain what level of English proficiency an engineer should wait for.

For TOEIC, 700 points is the minimum.

TOEIC is often used as an indicator of an engineer's English proficiency, and in this case, 700 points should be the minimum goal. For workplaces where English is actively used, a score of 800 or higher is required, but a score of 700 is considered to be a minimum level of understanding of English.
In addition, TOEIC consists of listening and reading, and you should be aware of your reading score first. A minimum reading score of 370 is considered sufficient to communicate in written English. The higher your Reading score, the better you will be able to communicate smoothly by e-mail and chat, so you should be aware of this first.

First, acquire vocabulary and grammar at a middle or high school level.

It may come as a surprise, but when improving your English, you should start over from the middle or high school level. Although business has an image of requiring difficult English, there are only a limited number of situations in which difficult English is necessary. By mastering English at the junior high and high school level and adding the specialized vocabulary required of engineers, you will be able to communicate adequately.
In addition, without middle- or high-school level English proficiency, it is impossible to acquire the more challenging business level English. You cannot improve your level of English without a solid foundation, so in this sense, mastering middle and high school level English is also a good start.

Listening and speaking will be enhanced by following

In Japan, it is often claimed that listening and speaking are important for improving English proficiency. However, if you are in a field where listening and speaking skills are not actually required for engineering, practice reading and writing first. As long as it is not essential for your job, there is no need to worry if you are not good at listening or speaking.
In the world of language acquisition, there is a theory that “you can only learn to listen when you understand grammar and vocabulary. In other words, if you do not understand grammar and vocabulary, you cannot listen. If you skip basic learning and proceed only with listening and speaking, you will waste time. Once you are comfortable with reading and writing, you should also improve your listening and speaking skills.
 

Five ways for engineers to learn to improve their English


Here are some specific ways for engineers to improve their English language skills.

Purchase a vocabulary and grammar book for high school students

First, use a grammar book or vocabulary book for high school students to acquire basic knowledge of English. If you have one from your school days, use it. If you do not have any left, purchase a study reference book for high school students. There are a variety of books on the market, so choose the one that is right for you based on the content and amount of material explained.
The English you learn in high school forms the basis of the English you will use in business. First, use a reference book to carefully relearn it. Also, if there are parts of the English you do not understand in reference books for high school students, you should start over with those for junior high school students.

Translate English media

Once you have mastered basic English, practice translating English media into Japanese. For example, try translating foreign media for engineers such as TechCrunch into Japanese. First, proceed with the translation without using any reference books or vocabulary books, and try to translate any unclear points later. Once you try it on your own, it will be easier for you to understand the words and grammar you understand and those you do not.
Next, it is necessary to confirm that the translated content is correct. If possible, have an English-speaking engineer evaluate your translation and provide feedback. If you cannot find a client, compare the results with the results of translations at “DeepL translation” and so on. If there is a clear discrepancy in the results, either your translation or the AI's translation is in error, so evaluate it while examining it in detail.

Introducing Smartphone Apps

If you want to study English at your ease, we recommend using a smartphone application. In particular, we recommend active use of English vocabulary study, as many apps are now available. By installing an app, you can study English in your spare time, such as during travel time.
When choosing an app, be sure to select one for business English or TOEIC. Duolingo” and ‘iKnow,’ for example, include paid content but offer both business English and TOEIC practice. It is easy to find a course suitable for your level, and you will be able to efficiently improve the vocabulary you are lacking.

Attend a school

If you want to improve your English efficiently in a short time, you should consider attending an English conversation school. While few schools offer courses for engineers, a variety of schools should be able to offer business English courses.
Many schools offer a curriculum that allows you to learn English systematically according to your current level. In addition, you can have your level assessed objectively, so there is no need for unnecessary study. You can improve your grammar, vocabulary, and even speaking skills, so if you are looking for efficiency, consider this.

Watch dramas and movies with subtitles

Once you have achieved a certain level of English as an engineer, you can practice understanding foreign dramas and movies. At first, try to see if you can understand the content without subtitles, and then watch the subtitles as you answer the questions. The advantage of having subtitles available is that you can promptly check whether the content you received is correct or not.
In addition, dramas and movies contain colloquial expressions and slang that are rarely covered in study reference books. Although they are rarely used in business situations, it is advisable to have some exposure to this type of English.
In addition, understanding the video along with the English will make it easier to grasp the situations in which they will be used. Even if you study only in the classroom, you may not be able to use the videos in specific situations. However, when combined with actual video, it becomes easier to visualize these situations and to be able to use them in practice.
 

Summary of phrases that can be used in the field


We have explained how and why English language skills are becoming more and more necessary for engineers. With globalization taking place in many industries, English has become an unavoidable language for engineers as well. English skills are now required not only for communication with clients and vendors, but also for gathering the latest information.
However, the English proficiency required of engineers is not extremely high, and is surprisingly supported by middle and high school level. Therefore, even if you are not confident, you should be able to acquire business-level English even now by learning it again. The vocabulary required differs between students and business, so keep this in mind as you try to improve your English.
United World has many engineering positions where you can make use of your English skills.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to utilize your English skills as an engineer beyond your current environment.
 

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