The Seven Benefits of Language Training

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7 Benefits of Language Training

A company’s success involves the synergy of different factors such as great Leadership Emotional Intelligence Training, innovation, strong financial management, sound marketing strategies, and a well-defined vision.  As companies are becoming more and more global, they need to constantly find that competitive edge if they want to be successful in this highly competitive environment.  Having a multilingual workforce is key to achieving this. In turn, having access to language learning resources is key to developing a multilingual workforce.

In business, gaps in communication can have a real direct impact on expansion and profitability.  Hence, more and more companies are turning to language learning programs to address this problem.

Sharing a common language is the foundation of communication. Research has found that when employees participated in language learning programs, the following significant gains were identified:

Confidence Levels Increased

A whopping 70% of workers reported that language training had made them more confident working with teams, partners, and vendors. They felt comfortable sharing ideas and were able to articulate those ideas clearly, which opened more doors for stronger business connections and allowed employees to engage successfully with colleagues and customers anywhere in the world.

Productivity & Efficiency Increased

When dealing with international clients or co-workers, it is not uncommon for employees to encounter problems of miscommunication. However, after language training, a majority of employees stated that they had become more efficient in their work due to fewer miscommunication problems. Moreover, 50% reported that the training has contributed to savings of around three or more hours a week while on the job.

Engagement Stimulated

64% of workers reported feeling more engaged at work when their companies offered language training programs. They also found that they had developed stronger relationships with colleagues and greater trust with management, and were now actively looking for opportunities for career growth within their companies.

This is in contrast to those employees that don’t feel totally engaged or motivated. Productivity and profits can be impacted, especially when you consider that employee turnover can cost around 1.5 times more than the annual salary of the person being replaced. Engaged teams, on the other hand usually have 24% to 59% less turnover. Additionally, these teams have 10% higher customer ratings, 41% less absenteeism, 21% greater profitability, and 17% higher productivity. This data, therefore, shows that genuinely caring about your employees and creating an engaged team should be a priority for top organizations.

Job Performance Strengthened

Developing greater language proficiency helps employees communicate more effectively with co-workers, supervisors, and customers. 71% of the employees who participated in company-sponsored language Emotional Intelligence Training Courses said that their job performance had improved as a result. Therefore, overcoming language barriers can boost the potential for employees to achieve both individual and company goals.

Loyalty Nurtured

As mentioned previously, employee turnover can be costly, impacting not only the bottom line, but also team morale. Company-sponsored language training improves employee engagement and increases the likelihood that they will stay with the company for the long term. In fact, 58% of workers said that they were more likely to remain with their current company thanks to employer-provided language training.

Diversity Enriched

Language learning was found to increase creativity and cultural awareness because it involves not only learning the vocabulary and grammar but also gaining an understanding of the culture and traditions of its speakers. A shared language in a multicultural workplace makes everyone feel included, leading to more efficient and productive team working.

Valuable Talent Attracted

Employees felt that companies which provided language training cared about their employees interests and skills, especially in terms of career prospects. This had not only led to better retention rates but also helped to improve the company’s image and attract talented workers.

Customer Relationships Improved

Knowing a foreign language is a good way for your employees to see and understand the culture and tradition of your clients, both present and future. International clients were found to be more inclined to connect and do business with companies that had an employee that spoke their language. Clients also felt that companies which made an effort to learn their language showed immense respect.

All in all, employee engagement, coupled with proper communication, is the pillar of an outstanding company.  It allows you to retain, develop and reward your employees.  It opens more doors to business opportunities.   Not only will your employees thank you for investing in their personal development, but you will enjoy higher levels of employee performance in return.

It can be seen therefore that investing in language training can add so much value – for a relatively small cost. Before the age of the smartphone, hard technical skills were the main currency of the job market. However, it is now recognized that meta-cognition and soft skills are vital to ensuring employee effectiveness, motivation, retention and the ability to adapt to ever-changing marketplaces. Therefore, it is not just about knowing what one word means in another language, but it is the added cognition and open-mindedness that really add value to an organization.

Immerse Language Institute is here to help you achieve success by partnering with you to empower your employees and align them with your business goals. We provide customized corporate training on-site to companies or online.  Contact us for more information.