Breaking Down Language Barriers for Frontline Staff

When we both moved abroad, we discovered something that traditional language apps never prepared us for: the gap between knowing a language and truly thriving in your career.

In Berlin, Harry watched his friend struggle with language barriers that plague workers everywhere. She was senior enough to lead teams, but her language skills weren't polished enough for client calls. Her colleagues would take calls on her behalf whilst she sat excluded, unable to participate in the workplace culture.

Meanwhile, Henry was navigating his own language challenges across multiple countries, watching career-minded immigrants everywhere face the same invisible ceiling. They'd passed their visa requirements, completed general language courses, but still struggled with the precise, nuanced communication their roles demanded.

We realised that language learning had a fundamental flaw: apps like Duolingo teach you words like "grass" and "witches," but what about understanding when Mrs Jenkins says she needs to "spend a penny"? What about navigating Yorkshire accents or writing care notes that meet regulatory standards?

Traditional ESOL classes promised to be the solution, but they failed workers like Harry's friend in ways that felt almost cruel. Imagine finally finding time between shifts to attend English classes, only to sit in a room with 25 other people at completely different skill levels, learning to write essays you'll never use while still unable to understand what your patients are actually trying to tell you. When Mrs Ahmed misses three weeks because her shifts changed, she's back to square one. When Carlos gets moved to nights, the Tuesday/Thursday classes become impossible. These programs weren't designed for the reality of shift work, care responsibilities, or the specific language challenges that frontline workers actually face. They were designed for classrooms, not workplaces.

For care workers, this gap isn't just frustrating, it's devastating. When 9 out of 10 complaints about home carers stem from communication failures, we're talking about vulnerable people not getting the care they deserve. Language barriers don't just hold back careers, they compromise care quality.

Effective communication in care work goes far beyond vocabulary. It's about building trust with vulnerable people who depend on you. It's understanding cultural nuances in what people say and how they say it. It's writing precise care notes under time pressure whilst maintaining that human connection that makes care work meaningful.

Language is the backbone of care & the backbone of integration. When someone is confident in their English, they're confident in themselves, their work, and their ability to provide exceptional care.

That's why we built Lingly to use AI to break down these barriers. We give career-minded immigrants the targeted, workplace-specific language training they actually need to thrive. Not generic lessons about grass and witches, but real communication skills for real professional challenges.

Every individual deserves language training that unlocks their full professional potential. That's what drives us every day.

Book a demo today to see how lingly can transform workplace communication for your care team.

— Harry & Henry
Founders, Lingly