Perks of being bilingual
In an increasingly globalised world, the ability to speak a second language has become a valuable asset as it throws open more opportunities for employment. In 2015, CNN Money had named bilingualism as the “hottest skill” for job seekers as employers seek candidates with language fluency to meet the demands of the modern business setting.
According to Sanjeev Verma, Founder & Director of Intelligent Partners, an education consultancy in Dubai, ‘The need and importance of knowing a second language in today’s globalised world cannot be overemphasised. A second language increases your mobility between careers and geographical locations, arming you with a significant asset that differentiates you from the rest.’
As businesses look to reach customers around the globe, having the requisite linguistic abilities of a specific geographical region or territory will certainly boost the prospects of an applicant. As majority of the population in various countries continue to remain comfortable in their own language and are hence monolingual, ‘imagine how your employability would soar if you could speak either Mandarin, Japanese, Russian, English or any other language or combinations of languages’, says Verma.
Knowing another language will also mean understanding another culture resulting in better negotiations and decision making – all eventually increasing your employability, he adds. ‘Your counterparty will always be appreciative should you make the effort of knowing their language – another intangible benefit.’
English is often considered as the dominant language both in trade and employability, and fluency in this language will always be an advantage for those who are not native English speakers, says Verma. ‘On the flip side, as English is not the first language in parts of the world such as Europe, Middle East, China, Russia, Japan and where all communication and correspondence continues to be in the local dialect, knowledge of a second language - other than English - will always help in business and trade.’