The labor shortage in the United States has caused many companies to seek top talent from outside of the country. As a result, the diversity of languages spoken in the workplace has increased alongside workplace diversity. Language diversity also brings many difficulties and barriers to effective communication in the workplace.

To overcome the communication barriers that language diversity brings, you must first cast aside your assumptions and perceptions. Hundreds of different languages are spoken in the United States today, and when we hear a foreign accent, many of us assume that the speaker has a very limited knowledge of the language, when in reality, she may have a vast understanding of the language, just trouble in her delivery and word pronunciation.

Most foreign-born workers have had to pass some sort of English proficiency test before they were hired; in fact, many were educated here in the United States, England, or Canada and had to pass a test like TOEFL just to study at a university. In addition, because most languages do not share the same roots as English, you may find yourself working with an individual whose understanding of English grammar and vocabulary is better than yours, but she still may have difficulty pronouncing words in English. To help ease communication, change your mindset and assume that the person does have a good grasp of the English language, try to understand the individual, and to help her with her pronunciation.

Even though an international diversity employee may have a comprehensive understanding of the language, it is important that you speak slowly, because the slower you speak, the slower the other individual will speak, making it easier for her to understand what you are saying and to deliver an understandable response. Always maintain the mindset that you will be able to understand the individual. Listen carefully to what she says, because if you do not, your mind will shut down the communication channels and prevent you from trying to understand your international colleague.

One of the best things you can do to help break down the communication barrier is to avoid using idiomatic expressions and slang. English is very different from many languages, and your international diversity colleague may have excellent grammar but have absolutely no clue when it comes to slang or idiomatic expressions. Be precise in the terms that you use so that it will be easier for your international diversity colleague to understand you.

Remember that breaking down communication barriers is a two way street: your colleague is trying to communicate information to you, and you are trying to understand your colleague. Take responsibility for your part of this exercise and admit it when you don’t understand someone and try to help them when they don’t understand you. If you both make the effort to work as a team to understand each other, you will quickly break down the communication barriers and become more effective in the workplace.