FRENCH FOR BUSINESS, THIS MARKET IS YOUR BEST ALLY
It is possible that your company is looking for new markets to expand, if that is the case, we have to tell you that the first step is to be able to master French for business to perfection. No matter how much we want to take advantage of new business opportunities, if we do not know the languages of each area we will not be able to communicate properly with our customers and this will prevent potential business.
One of Spain’s biggest trading partners has always been France, and we have exported up to 15.6% of our products to the neighboring country. As you can imagine, initiating trade relations with this country is almost a sure bet. This is due to the confidence they have in our country, the geographical proximity and the ease of making trade agreements.
Expanding your company to the French market is a great opportunity, but you have to take into account a series of things if you want to make sure that your commercial strategy is successful… read on and we will tell you all about it below.
Internalizing your company is possible thanks to French for business
We are currently experiencing a business revolution due to globalization and the expansion of e-commerce. It is precisely because of this situation that it is a perfect time to take the step to internationalize your company. Seeing this, it is very likely that when you start working on these new commercial projects it always comes to your mind that English for companies is the most important language to master… But have you really thought about which areas you want to expand your business to first? You might be surprised to find that, if we do this exercise, most of the time it is better to start with another language, such as French, German or even Arabic or Chinese…
It is very important to clarify that French for business will not only allow you to do commercial dealings with France, but there are many countries where this is the official language of the nation. Thanks to French for business you will be able to start commercial relations with Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Monaco, Ivory Coast… In short, regardless of the market in which your company works and the geographical area to which you want to expand, with French for business you will have business opportunities halfway around the world.
What level of French for business do your employees need?
To communicate correctly and fluently in business, you need at least an Intermédiaire avancé level in French (which is equivalent to a B2 in English). It can be a bit scary at first, as it is not a low level, but what people don’t realize is that, with the right training, it can be achieved in much less time than expected.
Speakers of Romance languages have the good fortune that all these languages come from the same Latin root, so there are many similarities in both grammar and vocabulary that make it much easier to learn new languages. Likewise, if apart from Spanish you master Catalan, Galician or Italian, in less than two years you can easily achieve the “B2” level of French for business.
The first thing to consider is to choose the right company for your employees. At Classgap for Enterprise we have more than 10 years of experience in the field of education, and all our courses are 100% customized based on the objectives and needs of each company and employee. Likewise, in order to offer the best education, we have developed the “Virtual Classroom” platform where teacher and student can have a totally bidirectional communication, share notes, exercises, watch videos, do practices… in short, you have all the advantages of a face-to-face class in online mode.
If you are not sure how to start training your employees, don’t worry. At Classgap for Enterprise we have a totally free audit service where our experts will advise you and accompany you throughout the training process so that everything goes perfectly.
Useful phrases and expressions in French for business: master key vocabulary
It is not the same to study French for everyday use as it is to apply it directly in the company and in the workplace. For this reason, it is very important to take into account some key vocabulary that is very common in meetings and without which we would not be able to develop a business relationship with our new client.
Essential phrases in French for business:
- Nous sommes ici aujourd’hui pour parler de…: Today we are here to talk about…:
- Ensuite, nous examinerons…: Next, we are going to look at…
- Porter ses fuits: To bear its fruits.
- Je suis de votre avis: I agree with you.
- Laissez-moi continuer, s’il vous plait: Let me continue, please.
- J’aimerais beaucoup recevoir cette information par e-mail: I would very much like you to send me this
- information by e-mail.
- C’est à prendre ou à laisser: Take it or leave it.
French etiquette for companies: making the most of the negotiations
Every country has its own customs and, when it comes to business, these are much more evident and need to be taken into consideration. We have to bear in mind that, when we are the ones interested in making certain business deals, we have to do everything possible so that the client trusts us and feels confident and satisfied with the agreements. Mastering French for business is the first step, but we assure you that, if you also know French business etiquette, you will have a deal almost guaranteed.
Key points to take into account in the French protocol for business:
- They take aesthetics and dress code very much into account.
- It is very common to have lunch while doing business.
- Gifts are not usually exchanged.
- Haggling is frowned upon.
- The greeting consists of a short handshake.
- There is a lot of eye contact.
- Cards are exchanged.
You have already seen that mastering French for business is essential when it comes to opening up to this new market and establishing good business dealings. So, don’t wait any longer and contact us to start training your employees in French now, you won’t regret it!
