New trends in the language professions: a report from the world of work (original) (raw)
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Foreign languages and employability in the eu
This paper presents the phenomenon of multilingualism becoming the norm rather than the exception in the European Union. It also seeks to describe the correlation between the command of foreign languages and employability. It is evident that the challenges of today's societies when it comes to employability are more and more complex. Thus, it is one of the crucial tasks of higher education to prepare its students to face this kind of complexity, understand its nuances, and have the capacity to adapt effectively to situations that are common in corporations based in the countries belonging to the EU. From this point of view, the assessment of the impact that the command of foreign languages of European university students could have on the numerous business sectors becomes vital. It also involves raising awareness of future professionals to make them understand the importance of mastering communicative skills in foreign languages that will meet the requirements of students' prospective employers. The direct connection between higher education institutions and the world of business also allows companies to realize that they should rethink their recruitment and human resources procedures in order to take into account the importance of foreign languages. This article focuses on the objective of the multilingualism policy developed by the European Commission, which is to enable young people to master at least two foreign languages, which is crucial in their future careers. The article puts emphasis on the existence of a crucial connection between the research conducted in higher education institutions and the business sector in order to reduce current qualification gaps.
This report reviews evidence regarding the foreign language competences of European citizens and presents new findings about the relationship between foreign language skills and the likelihood of being in employment. In view of providing research evidence that can inform European Union (EU) policy initiatives, it reviews studies that frame knowledge of languages as a form of human capital, presents descriptive statistics about language knowledge and investigates whether this knowledge is related to employment chances. Using data from the Adult Education Survey (AES 2011) the analyses show how many languages adults know and their proficiency level in the two best known languages in the 25 Member States. To understand the relationship between language knowledge and employment status, for Member States was used to examine whether skills in foreign languages increase the employment rates of 25-64 year-old adults. In addition, the analyses capture different relationships between language skills and employment for specific languages - English, French, German, Russian and Spanish – and age groups (25-40 and 41-64). Findings indicate that knowing foreign languages and being proficient in them is an important factor for being employed. This is the case in 17 Member States, although different patterns emerge in different Member States in relation to specific languages, proficiency levels and age groups.
Languages and the market: a ReCLes.pt selection of international perspectives and approaches
2018
ReCLes.pt – the Association of Language Centres in Higher Education in Portugal – was honoured to host the ReCLes.pt 2014 International Conference on Languages and the Market: Competitiveness and Employability at the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies (ESHTE – Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo de Portugal). This topic is pivotal for the development and improvement of specific language skills that serve different areas in the labour market. Indeed, according to the report Languages for Jobs: Providing multilingual communication skills for the labour market, a report set up under the Education and Training 2020 framework, language learning should be “better geared to professional contexts and the needs” of the job market since doing so will then benefit not only learners but also “those seeking to employ people who are well-trained and properly qualified to assume their professional responsibilities” (2011: 4). Although the working group did include representa...
Foreign Languages: The Key Factor in Employability
Management, 2020
The globalization of knowledge, and of higher education itself, is contributing to an increasing use of foreign languages. Nowadays, labour markets worldwide demand employees and graduates who possess foreign language proficiency and good communication skills. The aim of this article is to show that possessing foreign language skills offers graduates and employees the opportunity of a better job, career success and promotion. This study investigates the role of foreign language skills in the employability and success of Kosovo citizens. In addition, an international review of the effects of language skills on effective communication is provided in order to make a national and international comparison. Our findings support the hypothesis that foreign languages constitute a good amount of knowledge management which generates success for both graduates and employees. We will try to prove this hypothesis through a relevant literature review and others' research. This article's objective is to explore the benefits of learning foreign languages. The results show that the use of foreign languages is crucial for employment, career success, knowledge sharing and cross-cultural communication.
Proceedings of EDULEARN18 Conference 2nd-4th July 2018, Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 2018
The challenges of today's societies when it comes to employability and to the reality of the current labour market are more and more delicate and diversified. One of the major commitments we expect from higher education is to prepare its students to face this kind of complexity, understanding its nuances and having the capacity to adapt quickly to situations which are common in companies' lives. From this perspective, the assessment of the impact that the mastery of FL (foreign languages) among our students can have on the different business sectors becomes paramount. It involves reorganising the work carried out with the students during their academic path and raising awareness of future professionals so they may understand the importance of obtaining and mastering communicative skills in foreign languages that will provide them with the right tools to ensure an effective response to the requirements they will have to meet when they apply for a job. The close connection that exists between higher education institutions and the business world also allows the companies to realise that they should (re)think their recruitment policy in order to take into account the importance of foreign languages (FL). This article bears therefore upon the tasks carried out, as well as on the findings enabled by the project " Foreign Languages and Employability " (FLE) since the date when it was launched on January 2017, at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (IPV), in Portugal. It focuses on creating a closer relationship with the local business community with a view to understand its needs regarding FL. The aim of the project is to strengthen the more practical aspects of the students' education to ensure the graduates' employability and a successful professional development. Data collection is carried out through the analysis of job offers, through the replies given to online surveys and through semi-structured interviews. The project includes representatives of the different IPV schools (Agrarian, Education, Health, Technology and Management) working in different sectors of the institution, at the time of the project debut.
Foreign Language Skills: A Challenge for the Economy
2017
Awareness of the fact that multilingualism opens doors to new markets and new business opportunities is not an original phenomenon, but the various works produced with a view to its being acknowledged are still little publicized and granted little practical use also. Showing mastery of communicative skills in several foreign languages is always valuable for the market economy, not only in terms of sales and marketing, but also in order to reach new target groups and establish lasting strategic relationships. The purpose of this article is to provide a general overview of the studies carried out in this context, focusing in particular on aspects such as the increasingly obvious relationship between in force language practices of a diversified nature and the proper functioning of businesses. Equally important is the mastery of language skills, seen as an important driving force of cross-border cooperation, as well as the development of an emotional culture within the business world, p...
Foreign Language Mastery and Glocal Employability
Multilingualism has become the norm rather than the exception worldwide. Morocco is no exception. This paper seeks to address the issue of multilingualism and language teaching in Morocco with a special focus on the functional specialisations of the languages existing in the linguistic map of Morocco to consider their economic benefits for the Moroccan labour market. The linguistic map of Morocco and the attitudes of seven interviewees in both national and international companies are qualitatively analysed to reveal the real linguistic needs of Moroccans in the era of a globalised economy. A hint is made to the Moroccan language planning policies and the leading institutes namely, the Institute of Studies and Research on Arabization and the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture, whose roles respectively are to promote Arabic and Amazigh languages in all Moroccan walks of life. Policy-makers should encourage the acquisition of foreign languages in Morocco and meet the requirements of the flourishing business between Morocco and its close neighbours and commercial partners. The hypothesis introduced is that, to increase employability, the new job candidates need to have some linguistic skills that should meet the prerequisites of both the local and global job markets. To improve Moroccan economic performance, proficiency in different languages, especially English, is a must. The recent progressive free trade agreements ratified by Morocco, with the USA, the European Union, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, suggests that the most appropriate language to play the role of a lingua franca would be English.
Learning Foreign Languages: Motives and Strategies
1998
AUTHOR Mackiewicz, Wolfgang TITLE Learning Foreign Languages: Motives and. Strategies. PUB DATE 1998-10-00 NOTE 7p.; Paper presented at the European Cultural Foundation Seminar (Oegstgeest, Netherlands, October 9-11, 1998). PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive(141) Speeches/Meeting Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Communicative Competence (Languages); Educational Objectives; Educational Policy; Foreign Countries; Language Attitudes; *Language Planning; Public Policy; Second Language Instruction; *Second Language Learning IDENTIFIERS *Europe
2012
This study is within the general area of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), focusing on the acquisition of German by university students living in Sweden in formal (class room) settings. The main aim of the study is, firstly, to find out what motivation and attitudes students in Sweden have towards learning German, and whether these attitudes change as students progress through different stages in their language learning process. Secondly, the study investigates what relevance the attitudes and motivation of students may have for the popularization of learning German and other foreign languages in Sweden besides English and, more generally, for the initiative of mother tongue plus two foreign languages proclaimed by the European Commission. A questionnaire survey was carried out specifically for the present work, focusing on learners' motivation and language attitudes, as well as their awareness of projects initiated by the European Union (the "mother tongue plus two languages" initiative and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR). The survey was conducted at the universities of Uppsala and Stockholm. 99 students taking courses in German at various levels from beginners to advanced participated. The results showed that the overwhelming majority of the students have pronounced positive attitudes towards the German language. These attitudes become more robust at higher proficiency levels. Their motivation has a solid integrative direction and is not immediately aimed at professional or career development but mainly at improved communication with Germans, travel and leisure, culture and literature. At the same time, awareness of the language projects and initiatives by the European Union was extremely low. All in all, the informants showed a high grade of openness and integrative abilities in the context of multilingualism and foreign language learning, which is in line with the EU policy on multilingualism. Yet to be more realistic, for the policy to be implemented, substantial measures would need to be taken, including a campaign to raise awareness about EU language initiatives.