Around the world, there are an estimated 1 Billion people learning English. There are many reasons why learning English has seen exponential growth in recent years, but it all boils down to the fact that English is the “global language” of business, politics, international relations, culture, and entertainment. Although English is not an official language in many countries , it is the language most often taught as a foreign or second language.

Business Leverage

The English language is the global language for business, and a good command of English will definitely give one who is eyeing a globally competitive business or career a clear edge. Communication problems, whether personal or business, translate directly into losses, zero result in negotiations, incompetence for global business, or the inability to conduct business in the international arena.

Career Growth

In terms of career success, Business English communication skills will equip you with a liberating confidence and ability to express yourself in the English language. It will surely be an advantage in interviews, thus giving you more opportunities to widen your career prospects. Or, if you are not looking for a new job, having the confidence and ability to speak Business English is one way of enhancing your potential for earning by making you stand out for career advancement or promotions. Studies show a steady growth in the number of companies worldwide requiring employees who have bilingual skills.

Internet Proficiency Means English Proficiency

Research shows that 80% of content on the web is in English, and business content makes up a large part of that content. Therefore, a good grasp of business information, data, or terminologies in the English language is integral for benefiting from the wealth of business information available on the Internet.

Pele’s Blog Mission

In this blog I plan to highlight the role of English in the business world.

I will examine trends, feature related news, analyze case studies, and provide tips for businesses to improve their language skills. I will also demonstrate how businesses can utilize their advanced language skills to increase productivity, boost sales, reduce customer service issues, and clarify their mission.

Recent Study- A Case for Investing in Business English

Just last week the UK National Center for Languages, CILT, conducted a survey showing that each year thousands of European (and Israeli) companies lose business and miss out on contracts as a result of language skills. The decrease in business deals may stem from not corresponding on time - or at all. Alternatively, negotiating in poor English casts doubt for the client on the competence and professionalism of your company. The lack of language skills may also impact the precision in communicating all of the essential information in a business call or email.

CILT continued to suggest that “there is enormous potential for small and medium sized businesses to increase total exports if they invest more in languages and develop coherent language strategies. Research definitely shows that companies that enhance their language skills can better exploit business opportunities. Language management is related to maximizing economic performance.”

Mr. Ari Syrquin, Head of the International Department at Joseph Shem Tov Law Firm, recently quoted this study in his Jerusalem Post article entitled “European Commission promotes investment in language skills” (November 21^st 2007). He cited the CILT’s study to show that companies with a strategic approach to multilingual communication can boost their export sales by more than 40 percent compared to competitors.

In the fast-paced global economy, foreign language strategies are an essential part of every company’s growth.