We talked to Jin “Ray” Jianwei, a project manager at an international electronics company, to hear about his English learning journey and how it has impacted his career and life. Ray shared his experiences using EF English Live and the benefits he's seen from improving his language skills.
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Q: Tell us a bit about your background and how you ended up working in an international role?
Ray: I'm originally from Beijing, China, but these days I split my time between China and Mexico City. I work in the electronics industry, managing projects for products like shavers and electric toothbrushes. It's a global role, so I have to collaborate with colleagues from all over the world - China, Mexico, Europe, you name it.
I started learning English back when I was 12 years old in middle school. Like a lot of people in Asia, my progress was quite slow at first since we focused more on reading, writing, and grammar rather than actual conversation. It wasn't until university that I had my first real conversation in English with a non-Chinese person - a guy from Germany I met at the gym. That was a big confidence boost for me and made me realize I still had a lot to learn about how to use English in the real world.
Q: So what made you decide to continue improving your English after university?
Ray: For my career, mainly. With globalization and so many Chinese companies expanding internationally, I knew strong English skills would be crucial for my career progression. I also wanted to be able to travel more, not just within China but to places like Europe.
When I graduated, I already had about 10 years of English study under my belt, but I still felt I needed to keep improving, especially when it came to more technical business language and being able to communicate effectively in meetings and negotiations. That's when I started using EF English Live.
Q: How has the EF English Live platform helped you develop your business English skills?
Ray: The platform has been really helpful, especially the Hyperclass™ feature. It creates such a realistic, immersive experience - you feel like you're actually in a meeting room or office setting, interacting with colleagues. The teachers do a great job of guiding you through role-play scenarios and providing feedback.
I also find the combination of self-study courses and private classes to be very effective. The courses let me learn vocabulary, expressions, and grammar in advance, so I can then apply that in the live classes. And the teachers in the private sessions are great at identifying areas I need to work on and giving me personalized guidance.
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Q: Can you share a specific example of how your English has improved in a work setting?
Ray: It’s made a real difference when it comes to proposing new solutions and negotiating with colleagues. It’s hard enough to have difficult conversations at work in your native language, let alone a second.
In the past, when someone would propose an idea in a meeting, I would just say "I agree" or "I don't agree." But through the English Live courses, I learned more nuanced ways to express agreement or disagreement, like "I'm not sure I agree with that" or "One way to solve the problem might be..." It makes the conversation flow much more naturally and avoids sounding too blunt or aggressive.
Instead of jumping straight in with "I propose..." when giving my own ideas, I now use more natural phrasings like "One possibility could be..." It just sounds more polished and professional. These small improvements have made a big difference in my ability to participate confidently in business discussions.
Q: Have you found that using more natural language has helped you build better relationships with your international colleagues?
Ray: Absolutely. In the beginning, I would sometimes feel anxious going into meetings, worried that my English wouldn't be good enough. But now I don't have that anxiety at all. I can just jump into conversations and know that I can express myself clearly, even if I'm not 100% native-level.
My colleagues have noticed the difference. I think they appreciate that I'm making an effort to communicate in a more natural, relationship-building way, rather than just stating things bluntly. It helps put everyone at ease and makes the interactions more productive.
Q: What would you say has been the biggest overall impact of improving your English on your life and career?
Ray: The biggest change is that I now feel so much more confident and capable in my global role. In the past, I would have to meticulously prepare for every meeting, writing out talking points and rehearsing. But now I can just jump into any discussion, on any topic, without feeling the need to over-prepare.
It's really opened up new opportunities for me career-wise. I'm able to take on more complex projects and responsibilities, and I feel I'm on a good path to progress to a director-level position. The ability to communicate effectively in English has been a game-changer.
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Q: And what about outside of work - how has improved English impacted your life more broadly?
Ray: It's opened up my world in a lot of ways. I'm able to stay much more informed on global issues and trends, not just relying on Chinese media. I can watch videos, read articles, and get perspectives from all over the world. It's been eye-opening.
I've also been able to travel more, which has always been a passion of mine. Places like Hungary, Germany, and of course Mexico have been great experiences that I may not have been able to fully enjoy without my English skills.
Q: Do you have any advice for other professionals looking to improve their English for work?
Ray: The key thing I've learned is that you really have to be proactive and make language learning a priority. It's not enough to just do the private lessons - you have to put in the time for the self-study courses as well, to build that foundation.
Don't be afraid to keep challenging yourself, even if you feel you're at an advanced level. I'm constantly finding new areas to work on, whether it's mastering more nuanced business expressions or improving my pronunciation. There's always room to get better.
Most importantly, find ways to apply what you're learning in real-world situations. That's where the true progress happens. Don't just memorize vocabulary - practice having actual conversations, even if they're a bit uncomfortable at first. That's how you'll start to feel more confident and natural using the language.
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