What level of English does an account manager need?

For an account manager with regular international client contact, B2 is the minimum, especially for speaking and listening. At that level you hold a fluent conversation with native speakers and can support a position with arguments. Anyone negotiating price and contracts in English often benefits from C1 for speaking.

Is B2 enough for a key account manager?

For a key account manager who negotiates with international clients, B2 is often just too tight. The difference lies in nuance: reading between the lines, adapting tone and delivering a difficult message without harming the relationship. That belongs to C1. For written contact, B2 is usually sufficient.

How do you test an account manager's level of English?

Measure per skill and always include a speaking component, because speaking under pressure is the skill that counts most for account managers and is least visible in emails. An intake with a writing and speaking test, or a scan based on work situations, gives a more reliable picture than a written test alone.

Welk Engels niveau heeft een accountmanager nodig?

Voor een accountmanager met regelmatig internationaal klantcontact is B2 de ondergrens, vooral voor spreken en luisteren. Op dat niveau voer je een vlot gesprek met moedertaalsprekers en onderbouw je een standpunt. Wie in het Engels onderhandelt over prijs en contract, heeft vaak baat bij C1 voor spreken.

Is B2 genoeg voor een key accountmanager?

Voor een key accountmanager die zelf onderhandelt met internationale klanten is B2 vaak net te krap. Het verschil zit in nuance: tussen de regels door lezen, de toon aanpassen en een lastige boodschap brengen zonder de relatie te schaden. Dat hoort bij C1. Voor schriftelijk contact is B2 meestal wel voldoende.

Hoe test je het Engelse niveau van een accountmanager?

Meet per vaardigheid en neem altijd een spreekdeel op, want spreken onder druk is voor accountmanagers de vaardigheid die het meest telt en die het minst zichtbaar is in mails. Een intake met schrijf- en spreektoets of een scan op basis van werksituaties geeft een betrouwbaarder beeld dan een schriftelijke toets alleen.

Does my employer have to pay for language training?

If the language is necessary to do your job and your employer is obliged to provide that training, it must be free of charge and study time counts as working time. This is set out in article 7:611a of the Dutch Civil Code. For other training your employer is not obliged to pay, but many employers do.

Can my employer ask for the costs back if I leave?

Not if it is mandatory training that is necessary for your role. In that case a study cost clause is not allowed. For training that is not mandatory, your employer may agree a repayment arrangement with you. Read that agreement carefully before you sign.

Can I contact Language Partners myself as an employee?

Yes. You can request a proposal and forward it to your manager or HR. That way your employer immediately has a clear picture of content, duration and cost.

Does language training count as working time?

For mandatory training that is necessary for your role, yes, and the training then takes place during working hours where possible. For other training, it depends on the agreements with your employer.

Moet mijn werkgever een taaltraining betalen?

Als de taal nodig is om je functie uit te oefenen en je werkgever verplicht is je die scholing te bieden, dan moet de training kosteloos zijn en telt de studietijd als werktijd. Dat staat in artikel 7:611a van het Burgerlijk Wetboek. Voor andere scholing is je werkgever niet verplicht te betalen, maar veel werkgevers doen het wel.

Mag mijn werkgever de kosten terugvragen als ik vertrek?

Niet als het om verplichte scholing gaat die nodig is voor je functie. Dan is een studiekostenbeding niet toegestaan. Voor scholing die niet verplicht is, mag je werkgever wel een terugbetalingsregeling met je afspreken. Lees die afspraak goed voordat je tekent.

Kan ik als medewerker zelf contact opnemen met Language Partners?

Ja. Je kunt een voorstel opvragen en dat doorsturen naar je manager of HR. Zo heeft je werkgever meteen een concreet beeld van inhoud, duur en kosten.

Telt een taaltraining als werktijd?

Bij verplichte scholing die nodig is voor je functie wel, en dan vindt de training waar mogelijk onder werktijd plaats. Bij andere scholing hangt het af van de afspraken met je werkgever.

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Blog

Crash course or regular programme: which suits your employee?

What level of English does an account manager need?

How to request language training from your employer

Training budget left? How to use it before 31 December

Language training in your 2027 training plan: how to justify the budget

Legal English training for legal teams

Doing business with Germany, why English often is not enough

In-company language training or individual training: the trade-off for HR

Meetings and presentations in English: where Dutch teams get stuck

How to choose a language training provider? Seven questions to ask

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