Introduction

In this changing times, businesses are increasingly being conducted across borders with English
often being used as an international language of communication. Learning how to speak and understand
English allows you to communicate with international clients resulting to establishment of strong and
good relationship with them. The ability to communicate using the English language in the workplace is
a very valuable skill that contributes to the success of a business. The necessity to use English language
in the workplace increases the demand to learn the language for academic and professional purposes.
That is the main reason why English for Specific Purposes is being taught as a subject to students in
tertiary level. English for Specific Purposes or ESP is a learner-centered approach to teaching English as
an addotional language, which focuses on developing competencies in a specific discipline such as
academics, accounting, business and engineering. In ESP, needs analysis is important to determine which
language skills are most needed by the students. With the help of ESP, students are expected to
communicate using the English language on their chosen field of profession. After taking ESL,
practitioners are expecting that the learners have acquired and developed skills that allow them to be
globally competitive.

The purpose of this study is to highlight worker’s perceptions, problems and experiences of speaking
English in the workplace. It is aimed to obtain knowledge about the importance of English in fast food
industry which finally cater to the need of employability.

The practice of spoken English is quite essential. Learning English in a country where it is not a native
language opens a number of opportunities for the individual. Therefore, this paper will provide valuable
insights about the communicative situations of a service crew using English at workplace. Moreover, the
study be beneficial for the interviewers to be prepared in facing the problems, will have sufficient
knowledge, and become an effective, competent and knowledgeable professionals in the future.

Artlyn Joy Martinez is a 20-year old working student from Brgy. Pansol, Calamba City. She's working in
Chowking at City Mall for more than one year. Currently, she is pursuing her dream to become a
businessperson by taking Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Laguna State Polytechnic
University. In her Senior High School she took Accountancy, Business and Management strand in STI,
Calamba and finished her Junior High School in Baretto National High School. Artlyn Joy was born in
Tabongan, Iloilo City on August 17, 1999 and her religion is Roman Catholic.
Interviewer: Good day po. Can you tell us something about yourself?

Interviewee: My name is Artlyn Joy Martinez. My age is 20 years old. I'm a working student. Uhm. My
school is in Laguna State Polytechnic University. 2nd year college.

Interviewer: Ah. For how many years have you been working as a service crew?

Interviewee: More than one year.

Interviewer: What are your duties and responsibilities as a service crew?

Iterviewee: My duty is in the front liner crew, uhm... a cashier. Duty namin is to serve food, take order of
the customer, be humble and respectful. Kasi yun talaga yung duty talaga namin.

Interviewer: What language do you usually use in your workplace?

Interviewee: English and Tagalog.

Interviewer: Did you encounter difficulties in learning the english language?

Interviewee: Everyone of us have difficulties in learning English. Lahat naman siguro... lahat yon. Kasi...
we usually speak Tagalog even though we are taking orders to the customers. Sometimes, we use
English, if the customer is a foreigner, an American, it's the only time we use English. So it's the
difficulties to learn English.

Interviewer: Ah. How often do you use English language in your workplace?
Interviewee: Sometimes, if a customer is a foreigner, an American.

Interviewer: What are the advantages of using the English language in your workplace?

Interviewee: Advantages? I can say the grammar. Because it's so hard to... to correct our grammar even
though we are good in English. Because sometimes... mauutal ka. Mawawala yung... yung dapat mong
sabihin. Kaya feeling ko talaga mahirap gamitin sa workplace. Kasi hindi naman lahat kami ay... nag aral
ng college, meron din mga undergrad, yung iba high school lang.

Interviewer: Have you experienced having miscommunication with your customer? If yes, what is/are
the reason/s?

Interviewee: Miscommunication? Oo, malimit. Kasi yung mga customer minsan... uhm... siguro ano yan
e. Sa listening siguro. Kasi kailangan sa both side, customer and a... and a cashier, frontline. Kailangan
may good hearing ka, tsaka magaling ka makipag communicate sa... customer mo. Kasi once na hindi mo
sya marinig or maintindihan yung sinabi nya, magkakaroon kayo ng miscommunication. Usually yan sa
mga Americans, kapag gumamit ka ng English kasi... none of... hindi lahat sila... uhm... tuwid mag English.
So as a Filipino, hindi naman talaga natin mother tongue ang English kaya mahihirapan talaga mag take
ng orders sa kanila, may miscommunication talagang mangyayari.

Interviewer: For the last question, in your own opinion, why is it important to know that you speak
English language in your workplace?

Interviewee: I think it is important to use English in our... in our workplace because it shows
professionalism, right? Kasi naman diba kapag... pag you speak in English, it looks like you have a degree.
Uhm... Parang ang taas taas ng tingin nila sayo kahit na ganon yung trabaho mo, kahit... ahh... crew ka
lang. Kasi ibig sabihin non na may time ka pa rin na aralin yung language na hindi ka naman talaga
familiar. Pwede rin naman kasi yun na... na hindi lang Tagalog yung inaral mo kasi hindi naman sa lahat
ng oras is Filipino lang magiging... maeencounter mong customer sa buong maghapon, may mga tao rin
kasi na lumaki na ang mother tongue talaga nila is English. May mga Filipino rin talaga na pinalaki na
English sinasalita. Kaya para sakin maganda talaga na marunong ka magsalita ng English kahit na hindi ka
nagtatrabaho sa industry na katulad nila.
Interviewer: Thank you po.

SUMMARY

•English being not the mothertongue of most Filipinos is still essential especially in the workplace.

•Difficulties in English Language in fastfood chains arises when a foreign customer has an accent in
speaking , that sometimes leads to misscommunication.

•Using English langguage as part of their duties , makes them be more aware about it, like how they
used their grammar and the way they speak and deliver it.

•Professionalism is one of attribute of english speakers.

Daus

The importance in English is cannot be overstated in an increasingly interconnected and globalized

world. It is the most commonly used language among foreign language speakers. Throughout the world,
when people with different languages come together, they commonly use English to communicate.
Knowledge of

English is much sought after in the corporate world. Proper English does not mean only the

ability to make grammatically correct sentences. It means other related skills for effective
communication like presentation skills, convincing and negotiation skills and interpersonal

skills using that language.

Reflection: (lizaso)

It is indeed hard to work in an environment who faces different people with different cultures and
nationalities everyday. Having a common language like the English language makes it easier to
communicate and express ourselves that can also prevent miscommunication between the service crews
and the customers. Being service crews require a lot of skills especially the communication skills to
attend to the inquiries, complaints and needs of the customers.

Melanie

Using english language to communicate with others is really difficult especially if you are not a native
speaker. Also, you should always be careful in choosing the words you will use, proper grammar and
pronunciation. But after conducting an interview that focuses on the importance of english language in
the workplace, I realized that despite of the difficulties of learning the language, it has numerous
benefits once you mastered it. In this era, where globalization is a worldwide phenomenon, using english
would be a great advantage in so many aspects and ESP subject that the academe offers is really an
opportunity for all the students to improve their speaking skills using the english language and to excell
on their chosen profession

Rago

English speaking is difficult to learn for the people who don't usually use the language.
Miscommunication occurs when the customer and the crew can't hear each other and when the crew
uses words that isn't familiar with the customer. Also, when a customer is a foreigner and the crew can't
understand what the foreigner's order because of its accent.

From the interview, we conclude that using English language in a person's daily routine will help a person
to improve its communication skills using the English language. Just like what the interviewee's
experience, she uses the language in her workplace and for doing it in a daily basis for more than one
year she became used to it.
Mary Rose A. Belarmino - This paper just makes me more realized the power of english language. This
language becomes a lifestyle and a standard. And this realization must not forget because it can also
dictate our future self.

English language helped different people to communicate and understand each other. By means of
communicating, we can build relationships with people, we can learn from them, their knowledge,
perspective, and culture. After the interview, I've learned that English language is significant in one's
profession. It helped the workers to improve their communication skills as it is important when talking to
the customers. Having knowledge in English can be an advantage in the workplace. As what the
interviewee said, it is important to know how to use and speak the English language because it shows
professionalism.

Conclusion:

The ability to use English language in tje workplace is a good asset for every company. As service crews,
work, engage and face different people with different cultures and nationalities it is a must to use and
communicate through a language which can be understand by everyone.

A good knowledge about the Englsig language allow the service crews to communicate effectively
especially with international customers, it is also easier to attend to the customer's needs, complaints
and questions if they are using a common language.

Miscommunication also arise when they attend to foreigners with heavy accent as almost all the service
crews only have basic knowledge about the Englsih language as most of them are only highschool or
vocational graduates. In order to be understand well, they focus more on the structures of their
sentences. It is indeed beneficial for a service crew to communicate using the English language to
improve and build strong relationship with different people which also develops awareness about each
other's cultural differences.