Why Language At Work?
Language at Work brings training to everyone in the workplace. Our programs in interpersonal skills, writing, public speaking, customer service, and management help employees at all levels improve the ways they communicate with one another.
For over 30 years, Language at Work has worked with government organizations, associations, and businesses to help them increase organizational efficiency, and to achieve employee development goals.
In 1985 Language at Work responded to the need for improved workplace communication by developing programs in writing and speaking. To meet the rising rate of illiteracy we developed Lead to Read, our signature literacy program.
Success with these programs led to requests for training at all levels throughout the workplace, and for training in expanded areas of communication and organizational effectiveness. Today Language at Work has offices in Washington DC, and New York, New York, and is one of the oldest soft skills training companies in the greater Washington area.
Our courses are:
RELEVANT
Course designs use workplace situations.
EXPERIENTIAL
Participants interact, discuss, and practice.
FACILITATED
Instructors guide rather than lecture.
CUSTOMIZED
Topics and treatment can be adapted.
TRANSFERABLE
Lessons are immediately applied in real life.
TIME-TESTED
Our courses have worked for over 30 years.
RESEARCHED
Methodology is based on principles of adult learning
FLEXIBLE
Instructors adjust content level to match students
PRACTICAL
Real life situations are used to illustrate lessons.
FUN
Classes are relaxed, collegial, and touched with humor.
Our Team
Judy Pollock
President
Judy has over 30 years of experience as an instructor, coach, public speaker and actor. Judy brings her experience from the classroom and the theatre to the development of training that helps people interact effectively, and enjoy the benefits of communication that works.
Mary Scohera
Director of Operations
Mary has over 20 years of experience in marketing, communication, and project management. Mary’s customer service approach to management and problem-solving ensures that our clients are happy, and that our programs exceed expectations.
Nathan Pollock
Program Development and Instructor- New York Office
Nathan brings his experience in education, training, sales, and real estate to the development of outreach in the New York office. Nathan’s experience with webinar development and marketing are creating new opportunities in the New York area.
Jane
Dog at Work
Jane has 2 years experience as Language at Work companion and entertainer. She reminds us that effective communication is brief and direct, and that meeting audience needs is the key to success. She’s a good listener.
Instructors
Language at Work instructors combine expertise in instructional design with workplace knowledge and experience. They are known for guiding participants to apply classroom concepts to the situations of their daily lives, and for making classes lively, challenging, and interesting.
Emma Givens
Emma has over 5 years experience as an instructor of communication skills, grammar, presentation skills, critical thinking skills, Shakespeare and theatre. She has designed online and in-person classes, and has developed course material, and systems for evaluation and monitoring . Emma is known for bringing practical and lively examples of communication to her classes, and her background in theatre contributes to her awareness of behavior and passion for engaging class participants.
Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger
Carol Ann has over 25 years experience as instructor, speaker, and program designer, and she is the author of Building Relationships One Conversation at a Time. Carol Ann teaches courses in speaking, writing, and presentation skills, and as a recognized expert in William Shakespeare, gives lectures and workshops on his works. Her humor and wisdom make all her programs engaging and memorable.
Jill Rendelstein
Jill Rendelstein has over 20 years experience as a writing teacher, coach, and editor for public and private organizations. She has taught several levels of writing at George Washington University and Northern Virginia Community College, and currently teaches Writing Studies at American University. She is an accomplished editor, and has written for various print and web publications.
Jill has developed methodologies that help students approach the writing task with confidence and ease, and is known for identifying and reducing barriers. Jill is known for promoting writing through various learning processes, helping students create clear and distinct documents, with dynamic sentences.
Jill’s lively and creative approach to teaching is evident in her classes, and in the talks she gives at Speaker Series and Conferences.
Jill holds a Master in Fine Arts from American University.
Vince Brophy
Vince has over 15 years’ experience as an instructor of presentations, writing, and video production, and has developed classroom and online training programs and educational material. He is a presenter, information developer, and published writer. Vince has worked as a technical writer, and has designed and delivered e-learning videos on communication. Vince is known for his ability to make students feel comfortable and successful. His background in theatre helps him bring energy and variety to his teaching.
Hilarie Gaylin
Hilarie has over 20 years experience as instructor of writing, interpersonal skills, and organizational development, and she develops training materials and webinars. Hilarie is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through CTI and an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through ICF as well as a writer and editor. She is known for her ability to recognize and encourage the capabilities of others.
Christy Woods
Christy has an affinity for grammar, language use, and communication behavior which informs and inspires her teaching. Her experience in public and private organizations, and her continued interest in language development make her classes lively, and her students enthusiastic.
Sample List of Clients
Government
- District of Columbia Superior Court
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Federal Drug Administration
- National Archives and Records Administration
- National Credit Union Administration
- National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
- National Park Service
- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
- Smithsonian Institution
- Social Security Administration
- US Census Bureau
- US Defense Intelligence Agency
- US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
Associations
- American Bankers Association
- American Institute of Physics
- American Psychological Association
- American Physical Therapy Association
- American Petroleum Institute
- Consumer Electronics Association
- International Legal Technology Association
- National Association of Counties
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- National Council for Interior Design Qualifications
- National Governors Association
- National League of Cities
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Commercial
- Atlantic Risk Management
- Balfour Beatty Construction
- Datatel
- DC Water and Sewer Authority
- Fannie Mae
- Gannett
- Hewlett-Packard
- Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority
- MITRE
- The CNA Corporation
- Purple Strategies
- Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
- Greenwald & Associates