Huiping Li

Profile by Liz Wu

“If you don't know the pronunciation of a word, you usually stop there,” says Huiping Li.

Similarly, he discovered that if your communication skills are limited, your potential for career advancement also comes to a halt.

Li, 40, is an Application Specialist at Children's Hospital. His responsibilities consist of database and website design and development, including weekly reports to fellow technicians and clinicians. Even with a masterful understanding of technology, five years on the job and ten years' experience speaking English in the United States, Li realized that until he developed greater proficiency in his communications, he wouldn't be able to take on the leadership roles required for his professional development.

“I'm the type of person that, when I find I have some problem, I want to improve and solve that problem,” he says.

Li's English comprehension was advanced – so he didn’t need a typical ESL course. Instead, a diagnostic assessment revealed that he had four main areas in which to improve: in becoming a proactive listener, developing persuasive speech, improving inflections and conveying confidence. He would also benefit from certain pronunciation exercises specifically designed for Chinese speakers of English – drilling “l” and “th” sounds, for instance.

Li completed a three-month coaching program with Xavier University’s Intercultural Communication Group, which involved customized individual sessions with a communication specialist twice a week as well as the accompanying training materials (books, cds, videos). “This program is not an ESL program,” Li says. “It's much, much above that. If you are in an ESL program, the focus is on vocabulary, how to read – but this one is primarily to teach you communication skills ... (such as) how to conduct a meeting ... how to raise a question, how to reply to a question ... that requires some skills – it's more than just language.”

Li gives an example of something he learned during his training. “You need to understand the purpose ... always focus on the topic. I am from a technical background and when I speak to clinical people, I need to talk in their language.”

This particular idea is key to his progress at work, which will involve moving into managerial responsibilities. “The primary goal,” says Li, “is to move to the next level ... to be a leader.”

Li says that he has received a lot of positive feedback from colleagues at work regarding his marked improvements in communications. “They say, 'Your language has really improved ... and (your) comments and suggestions are really insightful'.”

All this gives Li a sense of accomplishment – and also makes things easier outside of the workplace. It's easier to understand people on the phone. He can get more enjoyment out of watching movies, one of his favorite pastimes. Also, he adds jokingly, it might be easier to understand his kids now.

Serious again, Li continues, “The primary goal is to improve job performance for career advancement.”

What's his position on that? He grins, and demonstrates his control of the English language (and ironic sense of humor) with a common idiom.

“No pain, no gain,” he says.