Reason: 6
Communication barriers lead to missed business opportunities..but it is important to note that cultural competence developed through foreign language learning is just as vital for a better understanding and cooperation with other countries
Reference:
Plasberg, U. (1999) ‘Building bridges to Europe: languages for students of other disciplines’ in the Language Learning Journal, No. 20, pp. 51-58
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Intercultural competence, International relations, Understanding
Reason: 8
Skills strategies being devised for London point to the need for language training and policies
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability
Reason: 86
One in every five British exporters (Statistics from Metra Martech) knows it is losing overseas business through its inability to overcome language and cultural differences
Reference:
Stevick, L. (2003) BCC Language Survey: The Impact of Foreign Languages on British Business - Part 1: The Qualitative Results (British Chambers of Commerce, November 2003)
Related Keywords:
Business
Reason: 87
Most businesses agree that their own business dealings are not significantly affected by lack of language skills, but there is widespread acknowledgment that it would certainly be ‘nice’ to be able to speak foreign languages and would likely be seen as a great compliment to their customers
Reference:
Stevick, L. (2003) BCC Language Survey: The Impact of Foreign Languages on British Business - Part 1: The Qualitative Results (British Chambers of Commerce, November 2003)
Related Keywords:
Business, Values
Reason: 88
Some exporters give little consideration to the possibility that there might be language and cultural differences between themselves and customers in overseas markets and that their business is significantly affected by ignoring these differences
Reference:
Stevick, L. (2003) BCC Language Survey: The Impact of Foreign Languages on British Business - Part 1: The Qualitative Results (British Chambers of Commerce, November 2003)
Related Keywords:
Business, Culture
Reason: 89
There is a recognition that overseas customers who can speak English will, at times, deliberately choose to use their native tongue
Reference:
Stevick, L. (2003) BCC Language Survey: The Impact of Foreign Languages on British Business - Part 1: The Qualitative Results (British Chambers of Commerce, November 2003)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication
Reason: 96
The European Commission is working to develop the entrepreneurial spirit and skills of EU citizens - Such goals will be easier if language learning is effectively promoted in the European Union, making sure that European citizens, and companies, have the intercultural and language skills necessary to be effective in the global market-place
Reference:
Commission of the European Communities (2003) Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity: An Action Plan 2004-2006
Related Keywords:
Business, European Union (EU), Intercultural competence, Language learning skills
Reason: 121
You could use a language if you work in business or in a court
Reference:
Sixth Former
Related Keywords:
Business, Careers, Employability, Law
Reason: 142
The growing need for people with language skills is attributable to a number of fairly recent developments, all of which have implications: changes in technology; changes in Europe; increasing internationalisation;advances in transport systems
Reference:
King, A., Thomas, G. (1999) The Guide to Languages and Careers (London: CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Globalisation, Technology
Reason: 143
Growing international business, and the regulations needed to control it, mean that many jobs which have been seen as purely domestic are now taking on an international flavour
Reference:
King, A., Thomas, G. (1999) The Guide to Languages and Careers (London: CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Globalisation
Reason: 144
You are far more likely to gain your customer’s respect and to be able to play a controlling part in business negotiations if you are able to communicate directly in his/her language.
Reference:
King, A., Thomas, G. (1999) The Guide to Languages and Careers (London: CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Values
Reason: 163
Businesses need languages
Reference:
King, A., Thomas, G. (1999) The Guide to Languages and Careers (London: CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability
Reason: 164
It is fairly widely accepted that if businesses want to sell their goods abroad, they need to employ people who can speak the language of their customers .. not just in the professional context, but also socially as well
Reference:
King, A., Thomas, G. (1999) The Guide to Languages and Careers (London: CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Employability
Reason: 167
With the numbers of foreign visitors coming to the UK, it is obvious that those who work in tourist-related industries really ought to have some knowledge of languages. . A good service can only really be delivered to foreign visitors if there are people on hand who can understand what they have to say and are happy to converse with them in their language, and not just in English
Reference:
King, A., Thomas, G. (1999) The Guide to Languages and Careers (London: CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Careers, Communication, Employability, Language for specific purposes
Reason: 172
The integration of the EU makes a working knowledge of both languages and computing advantageous for a career in business or finance
Reference:
King, A., Thomas, G. (1999) The Guide to Languages and Careers (London: CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Careers, Employability, European Union (EU)
Reason: 179
In line with 'softer' approaches of modern business theory, the importance of human communication is increasingly stressed. Language, including foreign language - is seen as key to such communication and real interchange
Reference:
King, L. (1999) ‘Challenges to multilingualism’ in Tosi, A., Leung, C. (eds) Rethinking Language Education: From a Monolingual to a Multilingual Perspective (London: CILT), pp. 19-29
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Networking
Reason: 252
The percentage of companies that have employees with foreign language skills appears to be similar for French, German and Spanish companies surveyed. UK companies surveyed, by contrast, have the poorest language skills base
Reference:
Elucidate Study (1997) cited in Hagen, S. (1999) Business Communication Across Borders (London: LNTO and CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Key skills, Language learning skills, UK
Reason: 253
It is clear that a small, but nonetheless significant proportion of European companies have lost business due to language and/or cultural deficiencies
Reference:
Hagen, S. (1999) Business Communication Across Borders (London: LNTO and CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Intercultural competence
Reason: 254
With increasing internationalisation in the corporate sector, it is inevitable that more, rather than fewer companies will experience language and/or cultural barriers in one form or another - particularly SMEs -with a higher concentration of first-time exporters
Reference:
Hagen, S. (1999) Business Communication Across Borders (London: LNTO and CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Globalisation, Intercultural competence, UK
Reason: 255
Failure to 'culturally adapt' sales and marketing material is a major cause of cross-cultural miscommunication. Moreover, companies which have successfully mastered adaptation have usually done so by adopting a 'language' or communication strategy in the first place
Reference:
Hagen, S. (1999) Business Communication Across Borders (London: LNTO and CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Culture, Intercultural competence
Reason: 256
Businesses in the UK appear to face greater linguistic deficiencies than companies elsewhere in Europe
Reference:
Elucidate Study (1997) cited in Hagen, S. (1999) Business Communication Across Borders (London: LNTO and CILT)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, UK
Reason: 273
Globalisation means that businesses and other employers increasingly need foreign language skills at all levels, in a range of languages broadly reflecting the spread of languages across the world
Reference:
Wicksteed, K. (2004) 'Languages and the Baccalaureate' in Languages, Mathematics and the Baccalaureate (London: The Nuffield Foundation), pp. 12-17
Related Keywords:
Business, Diversity, Employability, Globalisation
Reason: 282
For British executives, a working knowledge of Middle Eastern and North African languages (for social interaction, or dealing with customs or road-blocks etc.) gives a real advantage
Reference:
Ehteshami, A. (2002) BRISMES: Report - Middle Eastern Studies in the United Kingdom: A Challenge for Government, Industry and the Academic Community (www.dur.ac.uk/brismes/report)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages, Mobility
Reason: 283
There is an increasing number of employment agencies which focus specifically on international jobs and jobs which require a language
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Mobility
Reason: 284
The assumption is that increased foreign trade, closer European links, the effects of globalisation and even the war on terrorism will increase the demand for skilled linguists in an increasing range of languages
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Diversity, Employability, European Union (EU), Globalisation, International relations, National security
Reason: 285
An interesting phenomenon is the growth in jobs requiring multilingual staff such as regional airports and the emergence of new areas of activity calling on a whole variety of languages at different levels of skill
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Diversity, Employability, Multilingualism
Reason: 286
15% of the firms involved in a Language Advantage survey in 2001 recognise that they have lost business because of the language skill factor or cultural barriers. One individuall even claimed to have lost half a million pounds of business per year because of it
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Intercultural competence
Reason: 288
The Exportsite Ltd survey (based on over 1000 telephone interviews with owners, MDs and financial directors of firms with an annual turnover in excess of £50,000) indicates that 32% of those interviewed believe that languages constitute a barrier to export
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication
Reason: 289
A survey for Professional Manager in March 2000 revealed that 30% of British companies have over 20% of their customer base outside the UK and that over 70% conduct some business in other countries
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Networking, UK
Reason: 294
There is evidence to suggest that the demand for languages is changing with the growth of new areas which are likely to make use of varying degrees of fluency
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business
Reason: 296
Non-traditional languages have an increasing commercial value given the size of Britain's overseas trade outside Europe and the USA and the potential size of the market in areas where specific languages are widespread
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages, UK
Reason: 297
There is strong anecdotal evidence that commercial employers are recruiting abroad. This would appear to be the case where multilingual staff in particular are needed. It is also indicated where employers need a language other than the standard ones available within the UK education system
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages, Multilingualism, UK
Reason: 298
Languages are of clear commercial benefit. They enhance other skills in the field of communication; they are of huge cultural importance; they create opportunities for individuals who speak them
Reference:
Connell, T. (2002) Languages and Employability: A Question of Careers (www.cilt.org.uk/careers/pdf/reports/employability.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Culture, Employability, Key skills
Reason: 306
Several studies have shown that English-monolingual companies are increasingly encountering language difficulties as they try to expand in those areas of the world thought to have greatest prospects of growth, such as East Asia, South America , and Eastern Europe - areas where English has traditionally had a relatively low presence
Reference:
Crystal, D. (1997) English as a Global Language (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Global English, Multilingualism
Reason: 307
Some two thirds of the world’s population do not use English. In certain parts of the world (most of the states of the former Soviet Union, for example), English still has a very limited presence
Reference:
Crystal, D. (1997) English as a Global Language (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)
Related Keywords:
Business, Global English
Reason: 311
Languages are the lubricant of trade
Reference:
Arcand (1996) cited in Crystal, D. (2000) Language Death (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)
Related Keywords:
Business
Reason: 330
Societies which deal in only one language will be in a minority and are unlikely to flourish, nor will they maximise job opportunities for their citizens
Reference:
The Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000) Languages: the next generation (London: The Nuffield Foundation)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Multilingualism, UK
Reason: 338
The UK needs an international cadre of professionals. The pressure towards creating a more internationalised corpus of professionals is becoming more evident in many areas of activity, including medicine, law and accountancy. A knowledge of English alone will take them a long way, but not far enough to be able to work as effectively as their peers from other countries in an international environment. The dominance of English has been a powerful disincentive to learn other languages but the situation must be addressed if the UK is to maintain a cadre of professionals able to work worldwide and to ensure that mobility of expertise is a two-way process
Reference:
The Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000) Languages: the next generation (London: The Nuffield Foundation)
Related Keywords:
Business, Careers, Employability, Global English, Mobility, UK
Reason: 340
English alone will not sustain word-class excellence - operating successfully in a highly competitive world economy and maintaining world-class standards involve more than muddling through in the short term and include as a minimum the acquisition of the range of skills which our competitors offer. Given that so many people all over the world now speak, or are learning English, knowledge of English no longer confers an automatic advantage on the British workforce
Reference:
The Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000) Languages: the next generation (London: The Nuffield Foundation)
Related Keywords:
Business, Economic, social and political dimension, Employability, Global English, UK
Reason: 341
The essential ingredient in securing a contract can be developing an understanding with the client, which is more easily done with even a basic knowledge of the client’s language and an appreciation of the cultural framework
Reference:
The Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000) Languages: the next generation (London: The Nuffield Foundation)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Intercultural competence, Understanding
Reason: 345
There is a mismatch between business ‘demand’ and education ‘supply’. There is frustration in the business world with the inadequate levels of language skills emerging from education
Reference:
The Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000) Languages: the next generation (London: The Nuffield Foundation)
Related Keywords:
Business, UK
Reason: 346
A short-term outlook puts the UK workforces at a long-term disadvantage...Young people, unaware of their relevance, see no need to acquire language skills- and are edged out of the increasingly competitive employment market
Reference:
The Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000) Languages: the next generation (London: The Nuffield Foundation)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, UK
Reason: 347
A wider range of languages is called for - The present range of languages spoken by the UK workforce and taught in the education system does not accurately reflect the current pattern of UK trade, nor the patterns that are predicted to emerge in the next generation
Reference:
The Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000) Languages: the next generation (London: The Nuffield Foundation)
Related Keywords:
Business, Diversity, Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages, UK
Reason: 367
In the knowledge society of the 21st century multilingualism is better. It is better for countries and states whose shared ambitions are for peace, growth and prosperity. It is better for business whose purpose is increased trade, greater competitiveness and greater employability. It is better for communities in their desire for social inclusion, mutual tolerance and an appreciation of their past and present heritages. It is better for individuals - for their sense of self and their openness to the world, for opportunities for economic and personal growth. At this time of great fear and dangers in the world, it is better for humanity in its vital quest for peace, stability and enrichment. Only through multilingualism can we really understand and appreciate the stranger
Reference:
King, L., Johnstone, R. (2001) An agenda for languages (produced by CILT for the Birmingham Conference of October 2001, http://www.eyl2001.org.uk/agenda.pdf)
Related Keywords:
Business, Economic, social and political dimension, Employability, Historical dimension, Identity, Inclusion, International relations, Knowledge, Multilingualism, National security, Social cohesion, Understanding, Values
Reason: 395
It would be unacceptable if the opportunities arising from 'mobility' were to be available only to elite groups within the population. Advice received from the business community suggests that there are opportunities and needs for languages both here and abroad across a wide spectrum of achievement and activity: not only for the high-powered international manager, the MEP, the diplomat or the international news reporter but also for the lorry-driver, the secretary, the shop assistant, the receptionist and the taxi-driver
Reference:
Scottish Executive, Ministerial Action Group on Languages (2000) Citizens of a Multilingual World: Key Issues (www.scotland.gov.uk-library3-education-mwki-07.asp)
Related Keywords:
Accessibility, Business, Employability, Equality (equal opportunities), Inclusion, Mobility
Reason: 406
A capacity in an additional language is an indicator of the flexible, mobile, communicative and culturally aware talent that the business community are seeking to recruit
Reference:
Scottish Executive, Ministerial Action Group on Languages (2000) Citizens of a Multilingual World: Key Issues (www.scotland.gov.uk-library3-education-mwki-07.asp)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Employability, Intercultural competence, Mobility
Reason: 407
The rapid expansion of opportunities for e-business within a shrinking world is driving a need for languages ability. Customer expectations and the high stakes of winning or losing business require competence to deal in a customer's language
Reference:
Scottish Executive, Ministerial Action Group on Languages (2000) Citizens of a Multilingual World: Key Issues (www.scotland.gov.uk-library3-education-mwki-07.asp)
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Employability, Globalisation, Technology
Reason: 430
60% of British trade is with non-English speaking countries
Reference:
Marshall, K. (2001) 'Making the case for languages' in the Languages Box (Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies)
Related Keywords:
Business, UK
Reason: 431
Buy in your native language, sell in the customer's language
Reference:
Marshall, K. (2001) 'Making the case for languages' in the Languages Box (Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies)
Related Keywords:
Business
Reason: 441
In the global economy too few employees have the necessary language skills to be able to engage fully in international business and too few employers support their employees in gaining additional language skills as part of their job
Reference:
DfES (2002) Languages for All: Languages for Life: A Strategy for England (London: DfES)
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Globalisation, UK
Reason: 499
A language will possibly help you in international business
Reference:
Sixth Former
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Globalisation
Reason: 570
The Secretary of State for Education has asked HEFCE to consider the following as courses of national strategic importance. Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin and other far eastern languages/dialects ..for business and trade purposes
Reference:
DfES Press Notice 'Charles Clarke seeks protection for courses of national strategic importance', December 1, 2004 (www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2004_0209)
Related Keywords:
Business, HE (Higher Education sector), Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages, UK
Reason: 575
Languages are important for companies with foreign branches
Reference:
Sixth Former
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Mobility
Reason: 578
Languages are useful for trade
Reference:
Sixth Former
Related Keywords:
Business, UK
Reason: 597
Languages help with business relations abroad
Reference:
Sixth Former
Related Keywords:
Business, International relations
Reason: 637
One of the important things about a language degree is being able to relate to people from a variety of backgrounds. We live in a multicultural society and if you can't relate to people from different backgrounds then it might be more difficult to convince them and to sell things to them
Reference:
language undergraduate
Related Keywords:
Business, HE (Higher Education sector), Networking, Social cohesion, UK, Understanding
Reason: 642
It's very good for public relations to be able to speak to different parts of a multinational company or its suppliers in their own language regardless of whether they can speak English fluently. People are much more confident expressing themselves in their native tongue and open to persuasion, convincing, asking for things, it does work miracles
Reference:
language undergraduate
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Networking
Reason: 652
The ability to speak a foreign language will make doing business with people from other countries much easier for the company you are working for
Reference:
language undergraduate
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Networking
Reason: 655
In today’s world companies do a lot of business with foreign companies. They need to be able to communicate with them. They need people with languages
Reference:
language undergraduate
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Employability
Reason: 675
With multinationals it’s essential to be able to communicate across the globe
Reference:
language undergraduate
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Employability, Globalisation
Reason: 678
In the multicultural environment we live in today, languages are necessary to widen business scope
Reference:
language undergraduate
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, UK Community Languages
Reason: 687
The business world is becoming smaller through the increase in communications, it's therefore becoming more international and there is therefore a need for linguistic communication
Reference:
language undergraduate
Related Keywords:
Business, Communication, Employability, Globalisation
Reason: 725
Overseas inward investment into this country means that multilinguals are needed in the UK
Reference:
Higher Education Advisory Panel
Related Keywords:
Business, Employability, Multilingualism, UK

700 Reasons to study languages...