Mastering language for your professional development

Reading, writing, thinking, speaking

The gains from mastering reading, writing, thinking, and speaking are huge, for any chosen profession.

We should not underestimate how essential these skills are to our professional lives, across many different circumstances.

The development of such practices begins in the first years of life and continues until the very end.

Naturally, questions arise. How can reading, writing, thinking, and speaking be fully harnessed? What are the limits to how far one can develop these skills? What are the personal, professional, and cultural implications of mastering these practices, for our individual lives and for humanity?

Here, I will discuss the implications of mastering English as a discipline for self-development through these four practices.

Of course, what is explored in this article can also be applied similarly to other languages, noting that every language has its own unique cultural, historical, and linguistic matrix. Mastery of reading, writing, thinking, and speaking in any language is extremely useful.

But here the focus is English.

So, why develop better English, even for native speakers?

English is typically a compulsory subject in the primary and secondary school curriculum in predominantly-English-speaking countries. This learning of English is not simply learning a language, but includes the cultural, historical, personal, and professional dimensions that are integral to the language. The reason English is made compulsory in our primary and secondary education systems is because it is extremely useful for the development of informed, capable citizens. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) writes:

It is through the study of English that individuals learn to analyse, understand, communicate and build relationships with others and with the world around them. The study of English plays a key role in the development of reading and literacy skills which help young people develop the knowledge and skills needed for education, training and the workplace. It helps them become ethical, thoughtful, informed and active members of society.¹

But civic value is just the beginning of an education in English.

At the tertiary level, and beyond into careers specialising in professional English, the scope for individual development through the study of English extends to ever greater levels of personal, professional, and cultural mastery. All too often, however, the benefits of higher-level English are not fully understood, so are often overlooked.

English can become a key to self-development.

Language is as a forest in which we wander, knowingly or otherwise.

English—learnt, taught, and practised in an integrous manner—leads to greater personal, professional, and cultural development because it facilitates analytical and creative thinking, excellent written and oral communication skills, an understanding of oneself and others, and a sense of historical and cultural perspective. English provides immensely valuable skills and knowledge for success in the world.

Language is ubiquitous—naturally, it should be mastered.

Mastering English as a professional discipline is an active pursuit that can be applied within a large range of professions.

One way we can divide its practice is into two aspects: creation and criticism.

Creation relates primarily to writing and speaking, which combine the semiotic (meaningful), rhetorical (influential), and aesthetic (experiential) aspects of language with the logical and structural processes of thinking. Together these communicate general or specialised knowledge according to a particular purpose and towards a specific audience.

Criticism involves reading and thinking. The reader analyses and evaluates written or spoken language, closely, precisely, and deeply with an awareness of language devices, content, context, and broader implications, informed by general and specialised knowledge. Thinking is foundational to the practice of English because reading, writing, and speaking require clear-minded insight and thoughtful reflection to be most effective.

Creation and criticism are the foundation for applying well-developed reading, writing, speaking, and thinking.

Because all these practices involve communication, English engages the personal dimension, which can be combined with an individual's knowledge of culture, history, politics, psychology, and other auxiliary fields. To master English requires understanding these closely related fields and skilfully bridging language with the world. This broadens the professional’s comprehension of the fullness and richness of human life while enhancing their skill in reading, writing, thinking, and speaking within a wide variety of contexts.

Mastering English for the professional world

There are many benefits to mastering English.

A person who trains in the discipline of English develops self-awareness and better grasps the world through language. They increase critical analysis and creative thinking in their workplace. They develop the ability to read more clearly, deepen knowledge, and cultivate complex perspectives. They learn to write with precision, eloquence, and influence. They engage language meaningfully while considering both specific contexts and the bigger picture. And English professionals develop their speaking skills, to inspire, persuade, and convey culturally enriched knowledge succinctly.

This development is broader than just language—it encompasses the human world.

Through the four key practices of English—reading, writing, thinking, and speaking—an individual enhances their capacity in fundamentally human skills. They gain the power to articulate complex thought to a variety of audiences. They can feel through language and express those feelings with empathy and cultural awareness. It could even be suggested that intelligence is harnessed and refined by such practices, promoting greater effectiveness in our language-laden world.

These skills are extremely useful.

While teachers, professors, writers, speakers, journalists, or editors may specialise in English, it is equally a generalist discipline that can enhance any professional career by mastering the core practices of reading, writing, thinking, and speaking and applying these to one’s own work.

Pursue the mastery of language—you will not regret it.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

- Will Durant

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References

1. This material from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is attributed as follows:

“© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) 2010 to present, unless otherwise indicated. This material was downloaded from the Australian Curriculum website (www.australiancurriculum.edu.au) (Website) (accessed 4 September 2020) and was not modified. The material is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Version updates are tracked in the ‘Curriculum version history’ section on the 'About the Australian Curriculum' page (http://australiancurriculum.edu.au/about-the-australian-curriculum/) of the Australian Curriculum website.

ACARA does not endorse any product that uses the Australian Curriculum or make any representations as to the quality of such products. Any product that uses material published on this website should not be taken to be affiliated with ACARA or have the sponsorship or approval of ACARA. It is up to each person to make their own assessment of the product, taking into account matters including, but not limited to, the version number and the degree to which the materials align with the content descriptions and achievement standards (where relevant). Where there is a claim of alignment, it is important to check that the materials align with the content descriptions and achievement standards (endorsed by all education Ministers), not the elaborations (examples provided by ACARA).”

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), ‘F-10 curriculum English Rationale,’ www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/english/rationale, accessed 4 September 2020.