Top 5 most spoken languages in the business world
With the internationalization process that is taking place globally, if a company can only communicate in the language of its country, it is a disadvantage. Learning languages is essential for companies, as it allows them to open doors to customers and businesses in other countries. But when it comes to teaching language classes for employees, it is important to know which are the most widely spoken languages in the business world.
Although the list varies by continent and business sector, there are a few languages that tend to be most useful in the business world. Therefore, they are the ones that international companies tend to teach their employees. In this article we tell you which are the 5 most used languages in the working world.
5 most used languages at work
1. English
English is, without a doubt, the language par excellence in the business world. It is the default language used by all international companies. Although, in general terms, it does not allow for as effective communication as a native language, business English stands out for its versatility. Everyone speaks English in general terms (it is the most widely spoken language in the world), and learning it not only opens doors on a professional level, but also on a personal level.
As if this were not enough, mastering English is a common requirement for many jobs. Although it is not always necessary to have an official certificate, it is common for some of the job interview questions to be conducted in English. This means that not only the candidate will need to speak English, but also HR professionals and middle management. Therefore, if in your company English is a requirement and a source of business, implementing English classes for companies will always be a good investment, either for basic level or for improvement.
2. Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is the second most spoken language in the world, although it has the particularity that it is only spoken in one country: China. But this does not detract from the fact that almost 1 in 5 of the world’s inhabitants live in China. And of all the languages spoken in China, Mandarin is the business language par excellence.
Therefore, Mandarin training is only necessary for companies that have frequent dealings with China. Even in these cases, a good level of English opens most doors. But the fact of communicating in the native language is always a plus that benefits the relations between companies, and we cannot forget that China is one of the most economic exporters in the world. Therefore, learning Mandarin allows you to have a closer relationship with Chinese businessmen, which can translate into a more effective negotiation, in a competitive advantage.
3. Spanish
Another of the most spoken languages in the world and one of the most important for companies. Speaking Spanish means opening the doors to Latin America, a continent with a large number of emerging countries that are gaining international presence in recent years. In addition to this, there are Hispanic communities from the vast majority of English-speaking countries, so mastering the language allows to establish a closer relationship with people.
Of course, most Spanish-speaking companies are fluent in Spanish. But what happens when these companies incorporate international workers into their workforce? In these cases, implementing Spanish language training for companies is a good way to improve both competitiveness and internal communication. In this way, the language barrier disappears, and teams will be able to work more aligned.
4. French
French is one of the forgotten languages among the most widely spoken in the business world. It tends to be thought of as a language spoken only in France, but the truth is that it predominates in all Arab countries. Although many industries do not tend to interact with Arab companies, the truth is that they are major suppliers of raw materials, so many companies in the secondary sector benefit from being able to establish a close relationship with them.
On the other hand, France is still a very rich country, with a great influence in the art and fashion sector. Therefore, French for business is also important for companies in the art sector. In addition, it should be noted that English is not a particularly popular language in France. Of course, many people speak it, but the percentage is lower than in other European countries. If you have a relationship with French or Arab companies, implementing our French language training for companies is a good investment.
5. German
German, unlike the languages mentioned above, does not have a particularly large community. But, like Japanese, German is an essential language for technology companies. Germany is one of the most developed R&D countries in Europe, as well as a benchmark in the pharmaceutical and automotive industries. Therefore, being able to negotiate with German companies in their own language is an ideal way to differentiate yourself from other companies.
Along the same lines, many professionals in the technology sector are trained in Germany, and many professionals from other countries migrate to Germany in search of job opportunities. Therefore, teaching business German to employees is a good way to open the door to foreign workers. In addition, it is also very useful to improve the emotional salary offered by companies, since it is a language that opens many doors for employees.
Importance of language classes for companies
Whatever the sector and the positioning of your company, it is certain that there is a language (or several) that will influence the improvement of your company’s competitiveness. It is therefore essential to identify those languages that will add the most value and implement a training plan geared to the specific needs of the company. In the same way, it is also important that Human Resources can follow up the implementation of the training.
At Classgap for Enterprise we can help you improve your company’s competitiveness through training. We have an extensive base of native teachers specialized in different business sectors that provide customized language classes for companies. Likewise, it is possible to implement group classes (more efficient for teams) or one-to-one classes (more effective for training individual employees). Finally, our Virtual Classroom and its Tracking Panel allow you to record attendance and training results so that HR can follow up at a glance. And, all of this is Fundae subsidized training.
If you have any questions before you start, contact us without obligation!
