Role of language in the workplace speaks volumes
THE power of language to open career doors was spelt out loud and clear to a group of Torbay pupils.
More than 80 students from eight schools took part in the fifth Making Languages Our Business event seeing first hand how languages can be used in the workplace.
The students were from Torquay Boys' Grammar School, Torquay Girls' Grammar School Girls, Brixham College, St Cuthbert Mayne, Westlands School, Churston Ferrers Grammar School, Dartmouth College and King Edward VI College.
Marisol Foster head of languages at Torquay Boys' Grammar said the sessions gave them an excellent insight into how companies such as Centrax Gas Turbine of Newton Abbot and Natwest use languages.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
The students also took part in a translation activity, a hospital simulation in which they had to interpret between the doctor and a foreign patient, and a cross-cultural session which made them aware of how important it is for businesses to know about the cultural aspects of the country they want to do business with to help secure a business deal.
In the afternoon students attended an Arabic session in a lecture theatre which gave them the opportunity to experience a lesson at university.
Mrs Foster said: "Events such as this are organised to ensure that young people continue with their language studies as this will open many doors to them in their future careers."
Comments
by Returned Expatriate, Torbay
Saturday, January 15 2011, 8:42PM
“Having lived and worked overseas for some 36 years. I totally disagree with the need to teach foreign languages for business purposes.
English is THE international langauge and the opportunity to negotiate in your mother tongue is a tremendous advantage that should never be forfeited.
Learning a foreign language for social purposes is another matter.
In these days of globalisation, if an international company wants a local language speaker, it will employ a local and certianly not a Brit with our reputation for languages.
I have never worked for a British company abroad. I have been employed by foreign companies because, in addition to my professional skills, my mother tongue is English. In fact the internal working language of many if not most European international companies is English.
Having retired to the Bay, my wife and I are dismayed at the poor levels of English we hear and read. Why don't signwriters use a dictionary or have their English checked before writing.
My advice; forget the foreign languages but teach English to a higher level than our continental colleagues. Not an easy task as many youngsters in the other EU countries have far better English than our own.
Before the critics start writing, I am fluent in one foreign language and have some knowledge of several others.”