“When doing business internationally, English is not enough”

This sentence is kind of a cliché by now. When talking about languages and business, we keep hearing and reading this a thousand times. But have you ever wondered why? Why do teachers, language professionals, linguists say this? Well… the truth is most people are lazy when it comes to learning languages other than English. 

How can we blame you? English is the language of international business. Everyone speaks English nowadays. Why should you bother to learn another language? You’re right, you shouldn’t. But here’s what you miss out on:

• Business opportunities

  We live in a globalised world. Even if you’re not working for an international firm, you could find yourself communicating with people from different countries. If you wish your foreign colleagues or clients to trust you, you would want to make them comfortable around you. And what’s the better way of doing it than speaking their language? 

• Job opportunities

  Nowadays, being able to speak at least one foreign language is not a plus, it’s a prerequisite. It makes you stand out from other applicants and it is an excellent point to show on your profile. According to CBI Pearson Education and Skills Survey report, 2019 “Firms need employees with languages other than English. Major European languages that continue to be those most in demand are German (37%), Spanish (35%) and French (32%)”. 

• Money 

  Some industries value foreign languages knowledge more than others. The finance industry is a good example. According to Global Banking & Finance Review, the top 3 highest paid languages in Finance are Chinese (£41,573) *, German (£38,512) * and French (£36,579) *.

• Enriching life’s experiences

  From an interpersonal relation point of view, learning a second language can really help you build strong business relationships. You get to know people’s values, their world view and then their needs.

*average salary

Our podcast guest, James is well aware of the benefits that learning a foreign language can bring to one’s business and life.

He is a finance professional, director and head of short-term interest rate products at the London subsidiary of a German bank. He has been learning German for several years with German & Hungarian language coach Gabriella Ferenczi and he practices his knowledge every day at work. 

As James explains, he learnt the basics of German at school. Then, when he started working for a German firm, he was offered German lessons. So, he decided to take a step further and get involved in a new challenge. In this ProLingua Global Podcast’s episode, James talks with Gabriella about his German learning experience. He recalls how he feels about dealing with the mistakes and the occasional embarrassment of speaking German in front of his colleagues. And he also mentions the challenging aspects of learning a foreign language: understanding different accents, being insecure about his level, or presenting in front of his German colleagues. 

As an English speaker, he could have got away with just speaking English. Instead, James gave a chance to German.

He admits that he still struggles sometimes when it comes to self-confidence and motivation, but he continues practising the language. It’s a challenge for him, and a proof that he can do it. As he puts it,

“The appreciation and respect I get when my German colleagues hear me speaking are really worth my effort”

A brilliant conversation about James’s experience and why you shouldn’t stick to English when working with a different culture. If you need a pinch of encouragement and you’d like to get inspired by the strategies that have worked for him, make sure you tune in and listen.

Once you’ve had a chance to listen, we’d love to hear from you. What’s the biggest insight that you take away from this conversation? 

If you enjoyed this interview and you wish to learn more about our client’s experiences, read about Lesley’s and Tony’s language learning journeys. Or if you’d like to get more tips about cross-cultural strategies, then check this one.