I’m Jane Carvell, a business English trainer, language coach and visual thinking enthusiast.
I help German-speaking professionals improve their English communication skills, so that they can build better connections to grow in an international working world.
This blog is for English learners who want to communicate with confidence, think creatively, and grow professionally.
(Für Leser, die gerade erst mit Englisch anfangen, gibt es auch deutsche Versionen einiger Beiträge).
Beyond Words: A Sketchnoting Workshop for Business English
Running a conference workshop in English can feel like a big step, even when English is your first language!
In this post, I share my experience of delivering my first ever workshop at the IATEFL BESIG Annual Conference in Athens.
I took participants into the world of sketchnoting and visual thinking, exploring how simple drawings can help us organise ideas, explain processes and communicate more confidently.
From “I can’t draw!” to creative sketchnotes showing a range of business processes, the workshop reminded me that clear communication matters far more than perfect English or perfect drawings.
How to Use Sketchnotes to Explain Processes
Struggling to explain your company’s work in English? You might know what you want to say, but the explanation gets too long, unclear, and your listener tunes out. This is a common hurdle in international business, where clarity and time matter most.
A simple fix: combine words with visuals. Sketchnoting—using quick sketches, shapes, arrows, and keywords—turns complex services and processes into something easy to follow and remember.
Sketchnotes: A Tool to Improve Your English Skills at Work
When you think about improving English language skills for work, you might imagine a speaking workshop, grammar books, or maybe a language app. But there’s another method that’s both fun and effective: sketchnoting.