Some people need to learn a foreign language for travel; many study it for school; others, however, take a stab at proficiency for professional reasons. That’s why corporate language learning is such a popular offering among language trainers – it’s a skill that’s very much in demand.
Who takes business-centered language lessons?
If the organization you’re a part of regularly takes on foreign-based service projects, such as when you’re running a call center that handles international customers, then it’s highly likely that people in your organization will require high levels of proficiency in a target language. Same with pretty much any business that regularly interacts with foreign clients, which, nowadays, should include majority of mid- to large-sized firms in most countries.
Business-based language learning does things somewhat differently than other forms of language training. While it seeks to teach the users similar skills as those used for travel or residency, it lays a particular focus on certain aspects of the language that will be more useful for business purposes.
Call center agents, for instance, will need to get a heavy dose of accent training along with their lessons, along with a focus on words and phrases that demonstrate customer service ideals. Sales agents should learn acceptable negotiating etiquette in the target country, along with learning the language. Most any business position where learning a language is required will have some special aspect to focus on as part of the overall training.
It’s for this reason that we recommend using either a business-specific language learning software or a tailored class when you’re looking at learning a language for such purposes. More than teaching the language, these resources give you other necessary skills you will find useful in your actual work.