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Although English has become the global language of business communication, learning new languages can provide you with a multitude of development opportunities both for yourself and your company. One way to achieve that is to learn the most commonly spoken languages, such as Spanish or Chinese, which will help you cooperate with experts worldwide; however,
If you want to progress your career by
Once you get the hang of your target language, you will notice how it improves your career development. Read on to discover how you can achieve this!
Decide Which Language Will Be Most Beneficial
First of all, you need to figure out what language will be most beneficial for your professional development. The most spoken languages in the world, besides English, are Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French, and Standard Arabic. All five are widely used in all spheres of life, from business to science.
Find Your Preferred Learning Approach
Once you decide which language will be most beneficial for your professional development, you have to find suitable resources. Apart from self-teaching, which doesn’t work well for everyone, there are other types of courses you can choose from one-to-one conversation classes, apps, online platforms, or a traditional course.
Apps and online platforms are the most convenient way to learn a new language, as you can do it whenever and wherever you want. There are dozens of mobile apps available on Google Play and AppStore that allow you to start
A traditional course may be a better option if you want to learn the basics of a language with no stress and no haste. At the same time, you can ask your teacher any questions you might have at any time, which is not always possible when using an app or online platform. If you prefer the classroom approach, you can check with your local education center to see if they offer classes in a language you want to learn. Private tutors are another option, but they will be more expensive.
One-to-one conversations with an expert are another option that will let you dive into language
While sentences like “the boy eats an apple” are essential for the beginner as they teach grammar, the focus should be on developing conversational skills as soon as possible. And Communicative Language Teaching is a great way to do precisely that.
Immerse Yourself in the Language
Once you start
If you are nervous about speaking your target language in the real world, take small steps first. For example, you can watch movies, listen to music, read books, or play online games in the language you want to learn. This way, you will be able to become familiar with the sound of words and different accents. The more you listen to the language, the more you will learn about the culture and etiquette of its users and how they speak and behave.
The most important thing is to be open to mistakes and use what you already know instead of feeling too self-conscious to speak.
Getting a language partner is an excellent idea – a native speaker of your target language. If you are
Apart from that, you can get in touch with natives on Skype or go on language exchanges. There are also websites that connect language learners and native speakers to the language they want to learn.
Focus on Business-Specific Lingo
Language
If you are looking for an affordable way to learn business-specific lingo for your particular profession, there are many online platforms that can help you with that. The courses are specifically designed to teach you industry-specific terms in both written and spoken form. At the same time, you can take part in real conversations with native speakers in order to gain fluency in the language.
Another thing to remember once you are fluent in your new language is that it’s the culture that matters the most. Learn about the behavior of its users while trying to avoid pushing certain buttons that may cause offense or confusion. It’s also helpful to know about some common taboos within the culture of the language you are
To Sum Up
Learning new languages is never easy, but you can make it smoother if you set specific objectives and work hard on achieving them. As you decide which language to go for, you should take into account your professional goals, your personal interests, and the opportunities in different regions of the world.
The language you pick will help you progress in your career and give you new opportunities to open up your business to new countries or apply for a job in international companies. So, if you are looking for an opportunity to improve your career development,
Starting with pronunciation, you’ll learn how to rewire your ears and turn foreign sounds into familiar sounds. You’ll retrain your tongue to produce those sounds accurately, using tricks from opera singers and actors. Next, you’ll begin to tackle words and connect sounds and spellings to imagery rather than translations, which will enable you to think in a foreign language.