The Importance Of Foreign Language In Business

In “Why Foreign Language Education Matters” Representative Rush Holt expresses the idea that the average American is generally deprived of what is known as cultural enrichment in their day-to-day lives, even though others believe that English should be the primary and only language Americans should speak. Holt conveys the overall concept that being bilingual, trilingual, or multilingual is a benefit not just for oneself but for our society. Rush Holt presents the argument with extreme concern for our upcoming generations and the consequences it may cause our nation’s economy to decrease in federal funding’s for education programs, as well as our global marketplace and national security who is highly dependent of translators, specialist, and

Learning to speak another language other than English is a highly debated subject in regards to education. Language in itself is an essential tool to everyday living,from whimsical conversations to important business meetings. Words have the power to inspire and change the world, but not everybody can understand the same words. There are hundreds of languages spoken around the globe how do we know which to speak? We can’t be certain. Therefore, it is not advantageous for English speakers to learn another language, there are too many languages for one to be exceptionally useful, and other countries are quickly learning English.

Being bilingual opens the gates to better job opportunities. When filling out an application form for a job position, majority of the time there is a box that has to be checked which asks if the applicant is bilingual and to list what languages the applicant speaks. Most businesses tend to hire the bilingual applicants because the person in charge of hiring knows that knowing more than one language will mean a better communication form with the costumers they will be dealing with. In a recent study it has been proven that,“ employers are increasingly seeking out bilingual workers . . . [and] in fact, a recent CareerBuilder.com keyword searched turned up more than 6,000 job postings seeking bilingual applicants”(Morsch 1). This shows that companies are looking for more bilingual employees. Also it has been proven that people that are bilingual are offered a higher salary then others who only speak one language. “For example, government workers in California who hold bilingual positions earn an extra $.58 an hour, according to the states Department of Personnel Administration Web site”(Morsch 1). It is obvious that bilingual speakers earn more than an average English speaking person. These examples help society understand

Non-native language particularly English, which is a Lingua franca- a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different, is often preferred to native language in the medium of instruction in higher education in many places like Hong Kong and Singapore, according to Interim report April 2014 of “English as a medium of Instruction – a growing Global phenomenon: phase 1” by British Council and University of Oxford mentioned in the Week 11 lecture PowerPoint. By using English medium teaching, students and university institutions would be benefited. This essay will argue that English should be adopted as the medium of language in tertiary education, and it is supported by the discussion of the pros and cons of using non-native language in tertiary education in the perspective of students and university

Some people think that English should not continue to be taught globally because many ethnic and national groups are afraid that they will lose their cultural identity and native language. There are also those for whom it is too hard to speak English at their work. Cultural identity reminds us that we are a part of a history that defines our past and shapes who we are likely to become. People also fear that they will not speak their native language anymore and that may mean they will not know their own identity well. Furthermore, people got a headache at work because they can’t communicate English, because, in fact, English is not an easy language to learn for many people. These reasons are the why people worry today. According to Debate.org,

‘English has unquestionably become a global phenomenon’ (Selvi, 2013) with approximately three hundred and seventy-five million people speaking English around the world with

The ability of speaking two languages is important for a career in today’s standpoint. With countries becoming more diverse with different cultures and ethnicity, being bilingual can help an individual tremendously in the work force. With this in mind, schools should implement a class for students to learn a new language and being able to master it before graduating high school. Therefore, Schools should require students to learn and master a foreign language before graduating high school because people who speak multiple languages are intellectually smarter, it helps them communicate better in the modern world, and benefits them for the workforce.

Companies that do business abroad have a dire need for bilingual or multilingual employees. Government agencies, education, business, entertainment, and a broad array of occupations all have needs for people with foreign language skills” (IRCSD). The United States continues to have one of the highest immigration rates of any country in the world, and the ability to comprehend another language is useful for communication regarding day to day work (Miller). The ability to converse with co-workers or customers, internationally or in local offices, can make daily life considerably easier. Knowing foreign languages creates an edge over monolingual applicants competing for the same jobs. In addition, it provides the opportunity for a higher salary

‘To prosper economically and to improve relations with other countries,’ U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan declared, ‘Americans need to read, speak and understand other languages.’…18% of Americans report speaking a language other than English, while 53% of Europeans (and increasing numbers in other parts of the world) can converse in a second language.’

It seems as though people, including employers, are starting to realize that bilingualism is a necessity. “Research from Rosetta Stone found that people who speak at least one foreign language have an average annual household income that’s $10,000 higher than the household income of those who only speak English. And bout 17 percent of those who speak at least one foreign language earn more than $100,000 a year… A recent survey from Los Angeles-based recruiter Korn/Ferry International found that nearly 9 out of 10 headhunters in Europe, Latin, America, and Asia say that being at least bilingual is critical for success in today’s business environment. And 66 percent of North American recruiters agreed that being bilingual will be increasingly important in the next 10 years.” (Andruss, 2008). If exposed to different cultures and languages at an early age, children can gain an understanding of their peers. When working in any group setting, the biggest challenge can sometimes be a lack of understanding and acceptance among group members. Martha G. Abbott, the Director of Education of the American Council on the Teach of Foreign Language (ACTFL), claims, “Knowing other languages and understanding other cultures is a 21st Century skill set for American students as they prepare

Multilingualism allows for those capable of it to understand and appreciate different cultures and life styles and encourages open-mindedness, dismisses ignorance and boosts positive social relations. The argument regarding multilingualism’s importance is rife; although there are many benefits from language skills it seems there is a lack of drive to learn another language.

Learning a second language is important in America today. Just going to the grocery store there is chatter of different languages being spoken. In any occupation it is beneficial to know a foreign language to be better efficient on workforce tasks. Students go to school with peers who make up a global classroom. Children have a natural curiosity and excitement to speak a foreign language and to learn about new cultures. It challenges and helps develop the growing brain to be able to problem solve more adequately. Elementary school students should learn a second language because it helps them understand other cultures and become good critical thinkers, learn language skills, and gain confidence with communication.

“One out of four of the world’s population speaks English to some level of competence” (NADRAG, TIHENEA, and STAN, 2013). It is well known that English is a globally used language and holding balance internationally, but after all how can we ‘dig deeper’ into it? Although undisputedly English is today’s international lingua franca, the comprehension of globalization of the English language of its historical origin, further consequences (to other non-English speaking nations), and trend of benefit with disadvantage might come more important than the language itself as it is practically being used daily and globally.

Language is a key part of any family, community, culture and the human race. Without language the world today would be much different. From cavemen, to the Egyptian use of hieroglyphics, to Old English, to more than 6,500 languages spoken around the world today, the advances that humans have made in language is remarkable and inspiring. The ability to speak, read, write and understand more than one language is also remarkable and expands the liberties in life, especially for young people. High school students should be required to take at least two years of a foreign language class in order to graduate, as many recent studies support the benefits of doing so. Students who have learned a foreign language in high school have proven to have a

One of the main advantages of studying English is that it vastly increases the career prospects and employment opportunities of students. One of the arguments in favour of speaking in English is that it virtually removes communication barriers. It is doubtless that it will be difficult to communicate with foreigners when the languages are different. English is therefore well-regarded as the lingua franca to ease international communication. As a result, miscommunication can be avoided and it can eventually assist companies to save cost and minimize wastage of time. (Mydans, 2007). Other than this, English is certainly the primary language of global trade and commerce and tourism sector. In many countries, most of the tourism authorities and other officials who are in contact with public prefer to speak English for interaction and also to engage with tourists and immigrants. (Wil,