English Opens Doors for Global Executives

We live in a rich multilingual world, so why should?#CEOs?along with the professional workforce of large?multinationals, small companies, and start-ups speak?English?

There are currently 1.5 billion people around the world speaking?English, including as many as 600-700 million speaking?English?as a second language. With over 50 countries employing?English?as an official language, it is the most widely spoken language for?international business.

The Language of Business

As the "language of business,"?English is used as the lingua franca?across Europe, Asia, and Africa, boosting companies'?global reach, operational effectiveness, and productivity.?Proficiency in English?enables individuals from diverse nations to communicate via a shared dominant language, opening new doors for?economic opportunity, fiscal stability, and social mobility.

For many professionals, having a limited level of English proficiency can create a barrier to career advancement and limits access to information.

More and more?multinational companies?are mandating?English?as the common corporate language—Airbus, Daimler-Chrysler, Fast Retailing, Nokia, Renault, Samsung, SAP, and Microsoft in Beijing, to name a few.?English?is likely to retain its position as the most widely spoken language for the next decade ... and, if history is a guide, well beyond.

English in BRIC Countries

The ubiquity of English is not limited to western nations. The?BRIC nations—Brazil, Russia, India, and China, use?English?to facilitate trade in specific contexts, in an attempt to?internationalize communication?and performance across geographically diverse business initiatives.?English language skills?are rapidly improving in the BRIC countries. India and Russia have moved ahead of China, and Brazil is catching up. These countries have understood that to advance from emerging to developed economies, they must invest in?English training?for their labor forces (English First, 2023 Research.)

Lenovo, for example, a Chinese #multinational technology company, was initially headquartered in Beijing. After acquiring IBM’s laptop division in 2012, the company was restructured, and?English?was declared its?lingua franca. This policy helped foster a new culture of innovation, as well as establish operations on an?international basis.

Due to the strong and growing demand for a large base of competent?English speakers?necessary for a?#globalized workforce, requirements are increasingly set by the management of?multinational companies?(such as Amazon in Costa Rica,) to shape their own instructional syllabi. Corporate training is crucial in regions where local?English education?is either subpar or inaccessible. English instruction is essential to increase economic equality amidst a growing digital divide.

Importance of English - By Industry

English?is the?lingua franca?for numerous key global industries. Here are a few examples:

Technology

English?isn’t just the predominant language in the business world. It is the most sought-after language due to its importance in the?#tech world. Programming languages, software documentation, and communication with international teams frequently require?English proficiency. More and more, everything crucial about the present and future of consumer tech runs through at least one of five companies: Alphabet, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft.

Academia

English?as the?lingua franca?of academia offers higher education institutions unique opportunities to?internationalize and benefit from global connectivity. In addition,?English?is crucial as the dominant language for research and scholarly journals. Recent research, however, suggests that many studies presented in a language other than?English,?fail to command the attention they would otherwise receive.

Fashion

English?is essential in these industries with international supply chains and cross-border markets, interfacing with international clients and designers, and setting fashion trends across countries. Although?English?is widely spoken in the?fashion industry, and is becoming increasingly important for those aiming for the top of this highly?globalized?trade.

Media

From newspapers and magazines to television and radio,?English?has been the predominant language. This trend has accelerated with the advent of?digital media, where?English?dominates websites, social media platforms, and mobile applications. The extensive reach of?English?in media, advertising, and in the news not only reflects its widespread use but also reinforces its influence globally.

Conclusion

English language proficiency?has shown itself to be a leading driver of employability and social mobility across cultures. If there is a high demand for?English?in the workplace, it will be a language people will want and need access to learn!

As the pace of?globalization?increases,?multinational corporations?will require a workforce that can competently speak?English—from the C-Suite to professional staff, to support workers. There will also be opportunities for?English speakers?as the?BRIC economies?emerge, for corporate professionals with?globalized communication skills.

In these tumultuous times, are you a corporate leader that must confidently run your company in?English? Personalized coaching can be a useful tool in bringing your leadership skills to the next level - with tangible results and in a short time.

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Jane Ranzman, Global Business English Coach

Harvard BA & MBA Certified

Mastering Business Executives for Professionals

(www.masterbusenglish.com) [email protected]

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