Developing language skills is often one of the top resolutions made by professionals come New Year. Here are five impactful practices that will help you get started in accomplishing your resolution this year!
Learning another language can be a game-changer. Through the exchange with business professionals who are unable to speak your mother tongue, you can develop your soft skills as well as contribute to the international business development of your company. Overall this is a win-win situation.
Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things. – Flora Lewis
Whether you still have reservations about embarking on an ambitious journey, or you have already chosen to move forward with your goal/objective, here are five tips that should guide you in your approach:
1. Choose the language that is right for you
Of course, English, German, French, and Spanish happen to be the languages that are most sought after by HR professionals/teams in Western Europe. In America, Spanish and Portuguese are also popular languages.
But beyond general statistics, the real question you need to ask yourself is what your objectives are. Is it maximum employability or specialization? Don’t be afraid to distinguish yourself with a real competitive edge in the labor market:
- Mandarin is becoming an essential aspect of international trade, be it in the import/export, luxury, industry, distribution, aeronautics, or automotive sectors.
- Japanese and Korean are languages in high demand by employers in Asia.
- Arabic offers opportunities in the luxury and energy sectors.
With the emergence of BRICS, languages such as Mandarin and the dialect Brazilian-Portuguese have become a high-profile asset in international trade, import-export, and tourism sectors.
2. Don’t be afraid to get started
It seems impossible until it’s done – Nelson Mandela
At Learnship, beginners and pre-intermediates (those with some previous language experience) account for more than half of those starting language training. You should not be afraid to dive into an unknown language. Starting with the first lesson, a native, bilingual and excellent trainer will put you at ease and reassure you about your skills.
Your training and HR managers are also valuable supporters who will be able to advise you. This applies to counseling you on career options within your company when you learn a specific language and to the types of financing options for your training.
3. Be patient
If you’re starting at a beginner level, you should not expect to become an interpreter at the European Commission overnight. Often you begin by taking a test at the start of the course to assess your initial level and map your expectations. Keep in mind that language programs are designed to help you progress level by level, paced to optimize your efforts and match your memory capabilities.
Many language training courses provide you with standardized certification such as TOEIC, Linguaskill, Pipplet, etc. at the end of the course. When you have proven successful – i.e. a certificate for having reached a standardized language level (either at a half level or full level) – you can add it to your resume and have proof of your hard-earned language learning labors.
4. Choose a format that suits you
In a professional environment requiring an ROI such as a specific goal or the achievement of tangible objectives, it is better to favor an organization specialized in business language training that uses certified teachers. In terms of the focus of the class, each participant may have their own goals of improvement, that should be discussed in-depth with an HR or direct manager. Apart from pure eLearning, the language training market offers five main options:
- Face-to-face courses: these seem the most natural as they are a longstanding tradition in many companies. These courses have the advantage of offering an optimal framework for interaction and entertainment, despite the constraints of time and physical presence required in a chosen place,
- Language exchanges: these have a real added value in terms of experience but require a significant (time) investment,
- Telephone courses: these require few technical resources, but minimize the interaction between trainer and learner,
- Videoconferencing: this method requires a high-quality internet connection. It has the advantage of adapting to business travel and other family imperatives while offering real human interaction with the trainer.
- Blended learning: a cross-platform approach to corporate language learning, generally including e-learning and/or mobile learning and (online) face-to-face training.
5. Know when to start
The present time has an advantage over every other: it is our own. – Charles Caleb Colton
While we know that New Year’s is a great opportunity to reflect and start anew, it is also common knowledge that 80% of the resolutions made for the New Year are doomed to fail.
If you truly want to be efficient, we can only advise you to get started as soon as possible. However, you should take the time to analyze your own personal needs: what do you expect to gain from this training? What kept you from starting earlier? Was it a lack of time or lack of motivation? Is language learning your decision or that of your superiors?
By asking yourself the right questions beforehand, setting clear objectives, and choosing an organization that is reliable and corresponds with your educational goals, you have all the cards in your hand to achieve your resolution.
This page was written prior to our acquisition of GlobalEnglish so some of the copy may be a little confusing. Please excuse any reference to GlobalEnglish or out-dated product names. GlobalEnglish’s One platform is now known as Learnship Solo and is a core part of our offering. You can learn more here.