Caroline Wojan has worked in the corporate language training sector for 20 years, and believes her business, Language Link Institute, has developed a way to help improve the listening skills of people who use English as a second language. For years Wojan believed the ability for foreign nationals to learn to listen effectively to English speakers happened organically overtime. That often meant communications SNAFUs and embarrassed foreign business executives trying to keep up with what is said at important meetings. "It [being able to listen and understand English] empowers them to feel more confident," Wojan says. "It also saves them time." The Language Link Institute helps people either learn foreign languages or master English. Think executives from foreign companies for whom English is their second language. The Language Link Institute also offers tutoring services for students, and cultural and language training for foreign nationals in local businesses. Wojan recently had an idea on how to help these foreign executives struggling to effectively understand English comprehend faster and more effectively. Wojan declines to elaborate on it, saying its a trade secret for her business, but says it has been effective for a broad number of her clients. "This strategy has been effective even if it’s only practiced 1-2 hours a week," Wojan says. "It's kind of a process." That has helped Wojan continue to grow the Language Link Institute. She has hired three language instructors in the last year and employs a staff of about a dozen people. Source: Caroline Wojan, director of Language Link Institute Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
