Learning a second language
IF you want a good career with a multi-national approach, languages are key.
In Malaysia, we tend to speak our native language very well and can usually pick up two or three others. However, that is not enough in today’s world.
To be marketable overseas, you need to speak a lingua franca: a language that is commonly used in trading.
There are many languages that qualify for this title, so the key to picking the right one is to understand its applications and limitations.
First, English remains the world’s most popular as it is the most commonly used tongue in the fields of business, science, technology and diplomacy.
If you see your business as focused on China and her neighbours, Mandarin would be a logical choice. After all, it is spoken by more than one million people around the world, and is a national language in Taiwan and Singapore too.
As China is a manufacturing powerhouse, you could also opt to learn this language and live anywhere and be the Chinese connection for any multinational.
If you are interested in the petrochemicals industry or any business that is focused on the Middle East, then Arabic is a great choice.
While most corporations there will use English as a house language, Arabic is also useful in Africa, especially Chad, Lebanon and the Western Sahara.
As this continent has several fast growing economies, learning this language may pay off handsomely.
Another great language is Spanish, which is spoken by 521 million people. It is also the lingua franca in South and Central America, and of course, Spain.
As well as being the official language in 21 countries, it is very useful in the United States, where it is the most commonly spoken language after English. Also, unlike Mandarin and Arabic, you do not need to learn a new alphabet.