First, learning English is essential if i wish to go through the interview process to get a job. it is important to feel comfortable with the language and be able to converse without hesitation with the interviewer. Even if the interview may be in another language, sometimes the interviewer will switch to English just to test your fluency. But conversation is not enough; i must be able to understand formal written English, including contracts. When i was in Hong Kong, i went for an interview and was given a letter of employment to read and sign. The letter stated, "You will have a nine-month probation period, and one month's notice or payment in lieu of notice has to be given if either party wants to terminate the contract during the probation period." i did not know what "payment in lieu of" or "terminate" meant. i could not ask the interviewer or i would not get the job. i signed the contract and started the job. i quit six months later without prior notice. Because i did not understand the contract, i lost a month's salary.