Master Networking in English | English Listening Practice

English Study Tips | Business English| English Listening

July 30, 2025•12 min read

Improve Your English Listening Through Networking Advice

Networking Vocabulary and Communication Confidence

Welcome to another episode of the Peach Teach English Podcast! In this episode, we’re diving into what networking really means, how it helps you professionally, and how to start taking action today. Through real examples and reflection prompts, you’ll build confidence in using professional English while also improving your listening skills.

Peach Teach English Podcast - Episode 27 Transcript

Welcome back to the Peach Teach English podcast. I'm Frankie Mesmer, your host, and if you're an intermediate or advanced English learner looking to improve your listening skills, expand your vocabulary, while also leveling up your professional and personal development, you're in the right place.

Today we're diving into a very important topic, networking. In today's episode, you're gonna learn about what is networking. Why it's important for your career and how to implement it into your life today. Ready to master your networking skills in English? Let's get started. So what is networking and what is it not? Networking is the idea of connecting with other professionals for mutual benefit.

But networking is not only thinking selfishly about what can I get out of this opportunity. You need to see what else you can also bring to the table. And networking is not trying to make as many connections as possible collecting so many business cards. It's about building meaningful relationships to help both parties grow. So now that we know what networking is, let's learn about why it's important. And in the next section, I'm gonna help you define your why.

So there are many reasons to include networking in your professional development, but we're gonna look at three common ones today. Number one is opportunities. Networking can open doors for new job opportunities, mentorship and professional growth. Let me share a networking experience from my university days.

While studying at university, I was very interested in connecting with international students on campus. So I joined four different groups, the Hispanic, Filipino, African and international organizations. I made sure that I attended the events and that I also built relationships with the members and the leaders of those groups.

Fast forward to my junior year and the members of the International student Organization nominated me to be the vice president, later the president, and the head of the international office later asked me to be her office assistant helping the international students adapt to college life in the United States.

None of this would've ever been possible if I hadn't gone out networking and started connecting with the members of these groups and the leaders of these groups. Number two, networking builds trust. When you start connecting with other professionals, a lot can happen. And when you see a group of very qualified individuals coming together, this starts to elevate your credibility in your field. Also, as you build these connections with different people, they start to trust you and see the work that you're doing.

So when someone comes to them and they might not be the right fit for their need, they can recommend you for that client or that next job opportunity. So when you expand your network, you're building your credibility, which will allow you to develop yourself more professionally.

And this is something that's been happening to me recently as I have joined a tutorpreneur community and basically together we get to see what other professionals are doing and when people come to us that maybe we don't teach the exact thing that they need, we know someone who does. And I also, know that they'd do a great job because I've been seeing over the years everything they've been working on and all the people that they've been helping.

And so just like I can give that to them, they can also give that back to me, and that's exactly what happened at the beginning of this year. One of the people from that community actually recommended me to someone who reached out to her, and she's been my ongoing client this year. So building that trust through networking can really help you professionally.

And number three, knowledge. Networking allows you to stay updated on the latest trends in your field or industry. As you are attending these events and connecting with other professionals that are either in your field or somehow contribute to the development of your field, you're able to be on top of what's really going on

and the advancements that are happening right now. For example, through different networking opportunities I'm able to attend these live events that teach me about new technology, new teaching methods, new strategies for marketing that all will help me be more successful in my career. All of this is made possible through networking with other professionals that are happy to share their knowledge with me.

And remember. You don't want to be selfish, so make sure you too are also consistently developing your knowledge so you have something to contribute and share.

So now we see the benefits of networking, but it's so important that you define your personal why for networking. What would you like to get from other professionals and how will you also be able to help the other person? And this is going to look different depending on what is your job and what are your goals.

So first you need to self-reflect. What are my goals? What kind of professionals do I need to connect with to make that happen? And where can I connect with these people? So we need to know your why, your who, and your where. These are crucial to start networking effectively.

So I wanna give you a list of questions to consider.

So let's start with your why. You can ask yourself these questions. So what are my career goals? For example, where do I want to be in my career next year or in two years? For example, you could also ask, am I networking for new opportunities to get clients, what skills do I want to develop?

Really ask yourself the why so you know what to look for when you're networking.

So let me share my why. There are many reasons why I'm networking. One of the main one is for collaboration. I want to invite other professionals to my podcast that can help you guys grow while improving your English. And at the same time, those people are able to benefit by having their information shared here on my podcast. Additionally, I like to network with other tutors, especially those that are trying to grow their own business because I can learn from their mistakes, their current experiences, and I can also share my knowledge with them.

So after you've defined your why, it's time to define your who. So you can ask yourself these questions.

Who can help me achieve my career goals? Who is in contact with my ideal clients or partners? Who can I learn from?

So who is my who? There are a few things to consider when going back to my why. So one of the main groups of people I want to network with are other tutors, especially those that are trying to grow their business. I can learn valuable tips about technology, strategies to help grow my business and develop my skills.

I can also invite them to be on my podcast or they can invite me to be on their podcast. So it's a way for me to expand my network and let people know that I exist. Another who for me is HR managers and engineers. These are potentially my clients, but even if they're not, they might know Someone who is. HR managers generally know who needs their English skills developed to get a job, and in engineering, having English can often elevate your career. So we've defined your why, your who, and it's time to define where to find these people to network with that are going to help me achieve my goals?

So ask yourself these questions. Number one, where does my ideal client or networking partner hang out? Remember, networking only takes two people. It can be a one-on-one interaction, a small group, or even a really big conference.

So let's start small and convenient. One of the easiest ways to network is taking that why and your who searching for people on social media, especially like LinkedIn, and inviting them to have a virtual coffee where you can learn from each other and see if there is a possible collaboration. Also, I recommend using Facebook.

Facebook is really focused on building communities. You can join some Facebook groups that specifically are for networking or for your area of work, or where your ideal client is going to hang out and try to build connections with these people. You can also join an online community.

This could be something free or even a premium service, but this is a way that you can network with people that are really dedicated to doing something similar to what you're interested in and supporting each other and achieving your goals. And on top of that, you can look for online events like webinars and conferences where you can meet other professionals that are also interested in developing their skills.

And you can get their contact, invite them to a virtual coffee and see how you can support each other in your professional growth.

I also recommend looking for those in-person events near your city. You can use apps like Eventbrite or Meetup or Search different groups or websites that tell you near your city what events are going on and really pay attention to the ones that are related to your field. So if you're working in IT and technology, these innovative technology events.

So from my personal experience, I would say finding communities has been the best way to help me networking, whether it's from my example before at university to now where I'm part of online tutor communities, I am learning to build deep connections that have helped me get opportunities. And learn so much new knowledge that have propelled me into more success in my career, gaining more and more experience.

So I really recommend looking for some kind of community groups that will help you build those relationships with people that have similar goals to you. And if one of your goals is to improve your English speaking skills, either for travel or getting better job opportunities. I have an online community, and this is a great way to improve your English speaking confidence while also connecting with other learners who have a similar goal to you and who knows through that networking, they even might help you get an opportunity.

So if you're interested in joining the Peach Teach English community, you can find the link in the description. There's actually a free community option, and you can sign up for a free courtesy class with me where I can tell you more about my paid class options.

So before we close out this episode, I wanna give you one action step. So make sure you've defined your why, your who, and where. And the next step is go attend some sort of networking event, or at least invite someone to a virtual coffee so that you can start building those meaningful connections that are gonna help you develop professionally. And I'd love to hear from you in the comments. What's your action step? Tell me your why, who and where? We can learn a lot of ideas from each other. And if you're ready to join the Peach Teach English community, be sure to sign up with the links in the description.

Thank you for listening to this episode today and start networking.

🗣️ Key Vocabulary from the Episode

1. Networking
Definition: Building relationships with other professionals for mutual benefit.
Example: "Networking is not just collecting business cards—it’s about forming meaningful relationships."

2. Mutual Benefit
Definition: When both people gain something from the relationship.
Example: "Networking should always be about mutual benefit, not just what you can get."

3. Bring to the Table
Definition: To offer value, skills, or knowledge in a professional situation.
Example: "Think about what you can bring to the table in a networking conversation."

4. Professional Development
Definition: Improving your skills and knowledge to grow in your career.
Example: "Networking is a key part of professional development."

5. Mentorship
Definition: A relationship where a more experienced person guides someone with less experience.
Example: "Networking can help you find mentorship opportunities."

6. Credibility
Definition: The quality of being trusted or believed in.
Example: "Building connections helps you establish credibility in your industry."

7. Tutorpreneur
Definition: A tutor who runs their own teaching business.
Example: "I joined a tutorpreneur community to share ideas and learn from others."

8. Collaboration
Definition: Working together with others toward a shared goal.
Example: "I often network to find people I can collaborate with on content or projects."

9. Virtual Coffee
Definition: An informal online meeting to connect professionally.
Example: "I recommend reaching out to someone on LinkedIn for a virtual coffee."

10. Ideal Client
Definition: The person or type of professional you most want to work with.
Example: "Knowing your ideal client helps you focus your networking efforts."

💬 Engagement Question for Practice

What’s your WHY, WHO, and WHERE for networking?
Write your answer in the comments or share it with a language partner. Use the new vocabulary above to express your goals and build confidence!