Education, as everybody may appreciate, is the extensive learning provided at schools, colleges and universities, while training is the relatively shorter period courses provided mainly for developing a certain skill or improving performance.

Yet it is rather difficult to find a dividing line between education and training; instead we can draw a continuum with education at one end and training at the other. Therefore, any type of learning that emphasises skills rather than theoretical knowledge is closer to training. We can even illustrate this with reference to Peters quote above by the following examples:

To explain training as defined in this quotation, let us take two examples. When we train crane operators in using the equipment effectively, there are a number of 'specific type of performance', i.e. the different functions of the buttons and gears, and the mastery of these is always through practice. The underlying rationale, i.e. how the crane does the different jobs when instructed by a button or a lever, is the mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge studied at a University. Little or no emphasis is put on this rationale, though the knowledge of the engineering theories and facts would have facilitated extra ability in the operator that would enable him to appreciate mechanical or electrical faults and the safety hazards. However, an operator is satisfactorily trained when he knows how to manipulate the buttons and levers in the operating cabin. Dealing with machine malfunctions is not required in his job.

With this theoretical background we can say most of the English language skills taught to in-service employees, in other words 'English for Occupational Purposes (EOP)' is language training while a few courses provided at the basic level are language education, e.g. General/Business English Elementary level, i.e. ESL.

With this academic introduction I wanted to introduce my blogs which will be dealing with English language training needed by executives, engineers, other professional working in industrial or private organizations.

I must admit that this blog lacks the interesting style preferred in blogs, but I promise that the future blogs will be interesting and useful for those who use English as a second language and are employed by organizations operating in English. Of course others should also find it interesting to know how professionals may find language training vital.