Which languages are most valued?
It is well-known that the world’s most widely spoken languages are: Mandarin (Chinese), English, Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, Bengali, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, German and French.
However, just because something is ‘widely spoken’ does it mean that it is the most valuable to learn? Or is it the size of the economy that should drive language learning? If so…Mandarin would surely be top of the list? Possibly not! When Japan was the world’s second largest economy, it didn’t come close to being in the top 5 language options, maybe even the top 10. Chinese is unwieldy, hard to learn and many of China’s business persons have excellent English ability. As such, investing in Chinese may not be the best option.
So if frequency of use and dominating economies are not the drivers of language learning…what is?
If you are learning a language to support your career development, it would seem sensible to look at which languages will gain you access into certain countries. French for instance will support you in 56 countries! For those working in the Middle-East then of course Arabic would be very valuable as would Spanish and/or Portuguese for those wishing to gain exposure in Latin America.
There is no single most valued language…it is dependent on your personal and your employers ambitions and markets.
The value of learning a language:
SKILLS
Because the language learning process is mainly conducted by the left side of the brain, your abilities in
- Logic
- Reasoning
- Mathematics … can also improve as a result of your learning experience.
Other indicators suggest that language learning can:
- Increase attention span
- Improve task-switching capabilities
- Delay dementia
- Heighten abilities in comparing and contrasting
- Improve critical analysis skill
As such, one of the most significant values of language learning is generally being more employable all round with the development of strong associated skills.
SALARY
- In 2005, LEGC (now owned by Grant Thornton) found that in the USA learning at language could add an average of 4% to your salary. We at Laimoon suspect this will be higher for the UAE and higher 9 years on…but this is just a hunch as there are no statistics available on this that we can locate.
- Some companies even offer bonuses for learning or using a language in the workplace. One of the most famous of these is the CIA.
EMPLOYABILITY
- A report by the European Chamber of Commerce found that not having global mobility was a huge factor in youth unemployment and that monolingualism (only having one language) was the biggest barrier to mobility
- It is also believed that the largest language deficits exist in the most developed markets. Which means where there are more jobs, there is a higher demand for language skills.
Is English alone, enough?
Let’s let the statistics speak for themselves. According to the Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport (UK)
- Only 6% of the world’s population speaks English as a first language
- 75% of the world’s population don’t speak ANY English
English alone is simply not enough to put you ahead of the competition or give your business the edge it needs.
Do you need to be fluent?
The reason employers want to hire individuals with multiple language skills is because it offers them the potential to explore and trade in new markets, communicate to clients and customers and beat the competition. However, in general, fluency is rarely required, basic conversational skills are normally enough to open doors.
A 2009 survey by the Confederation of British Industry found that 74% of companies were looking for individuals with basic language skills.
What language courses are available in the UAE?
At Laimoon you can find courses in:
- Arabic
- English including Business English and English proficiency tests
- French
- Mandarin
- Russian
- Spanish
If you need some extra information regarding the language courses courses we have listed, please feel free to email us at help@laimoon.com