Do you have to learn a new language in order to work internationally?

Hi Jocelyn,

I am answering your question as a French citizen working in Ireland. A new language will certainly help you as you will have an advantage compare to other candidates but most importantly you will have an understanding of other cultures. You don't do business with China the same you do with the US or Italy. The best way for you is to have international business courses and also do semester abroad (and this will also be the best time of your life!).

There's a great book called "Kiss, bow or shake hands" for iintercultural selling.

Work internationally can be working abroad for your market, expanding your company in another country, working for a different market etc.

Melanie

You actually do not need to be fully proficient in another language if you would like to work internationally (Although it definitely helps) Working internationally means working outside of the United States and overseas. When you get a job with a company that has international locations, such as a hotel brand or restaurant brand, then there are always possibilities that you are able to transfer internationally and work in a different country. To practice the language, I recommend Rosetta Stone, or even signing up for a language course at your local community college. Also, watching movies in different languages while having English subtitles also helps out with the language. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

As a French teacher I always tell my students that if they only remember one thing it is "Bonjour" "Merci" and "Au revoir" Not everyone will carry their second language to full proficiency but it is always polite to address people in their native tongue. It will also make daily life in whatever country you end up it infinitely easier.

Hi Jocelyn-

It will definitely help and looks great on your resume. It's hard to tell what area in the world you will eventually work in, but there are trends in the language industry that might help. Also, studying high demand and rare languages gives you an added bonus/desirability to companies.

French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese and Korean are some of the most popularly spoken/requested languages.

There are some languages that are gaining popularity, but aren't regularly offered that you should consider if a nearby community college or your college offers: Arabic or other languages spoken in the Middle East, Mandarin (Chinese), Thai

Hope this helps!

Not necessarily. If they speak English in your duty or assigned country, you do not to learn a new language. But it always helpful if you know another most spoken international language like Spanish and French.