As a bilingual or multilingual professional, you have the opportunity to advocate for the value of language skills and related incentives, not only for yourself but also for others in the workplace. Encouraging employees to enhance their language skills can significantly improve communication and overall collaboration with domestic and international partners, clients, and customers.
ACTFL has announced the release of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024, representing a significant milestone in language assessment standards. Aligned with key language learning standards and resources, such as World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages, the ACTFL Performance Descriptors for Language Learners, and the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements, the Guidelines enhance clarity and accessibility, empowering educators and learners alike.
Read ACTFL’s press release here.
In today’s interconnected global economy, communicating effectively across diverse markets is paramount. Language-related issues can easily attract attention on social platforms, potentially showing an apparent lack of professionalism for your company. Negative feedback publicly shared by employees, customers, or clients about an unsatisfactory experience with your business can quickly spiral into a nightmare impacting your brand’s perception and overall image.
In today’s globalized economy, the ability to communicate in multiple languages is an increasingly valuable asset in the job market. Yet, the importance of multilingualism in Career and Technical Education (CTE) is often overlooked. Thankfully, forward-thinking initiatives like the one led by Executive Director Dr. Michael Herrera at Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS) in Pennsylvania are reshaping the landscape of CTE by recognizing and credentialing language proficiency among students.
Bilingual or multilingual professionals play a pivotal role in ensuring equal access for people from diverse communities, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds to the resources they need. Regardless of the additional language you command, your linguistic skills can make a positive impact in society while at the same time contributing to your employer’s business success. Therefore, consider seeking employment with companies, government agencies, educational institutions, or nonprofit organizations that integrate social responsibility goals into their initiatives and reward employees monetarily for using their linguistic skills at work to bring about meaningful social change.
California is embracing the challenge of preparing its students to thrive in a globalized society through the Global California 2030 initiative. This ambitious mission “is to equip students with world language skills to better appreciate and more fully engage with the rich and diverse mixture of cultures, heritages, and languages found in California and the world, while also preparing them to succeed in the global economy.” (California Department of Education) At the forefront of this endeavor are ACTFL assessments, serving as indispensable tools to measure and enhance language proficiency across educational programs. In this article, we explore how programs can align with the mission of Global California 2030 by leveraging ACTFL assessments to foster linguistic excellence and cultural competence.
Every company has its unique culture, values, and circumstances, but consider the advantages that a language incentive pay program can give to your business. Talented bilingual or multilingual professionals often seek job opportunities in a diverse-oriented work environment where language skills are recognized and rewarded. So, a language incentive pay program can help position your organization as an attractive workplace, attracting employees eager to address and solve language-related misunderstandings and risks.
Dr. Rubio is a nationally recognized world language scholar who has published extensively on the topic of dual language immersion teaching and learning. In 2023, Dr. Rubio joined the faculty of Yale University as the new Director of the Center for Language Study. Prior to that, Dr. Rubio served as a Professor of Spanish Linguistics in the Department of World Languages and Cultures and co-founder and Director of the Second Language Teaching and Research Center at the University of Utah.
If you teach or are otherwise involved with learners in Dual Language Immersion (DLI) classrooms, you likely understand the various challenges and rewarding moments that come with interacting with these students.
Depending on your aspirations as a bi/multilingual professional within the language services industry, you might be contemplating a foray into either translation or localization services. It’s important to recognize that translation and localization serve distinct purposes in the creation of multilingual content, although a successful strategy may involve a blend of both to effectively reach diverse audiences.
Implementing a reward system that monetarily incentivizes the contributions of your bilingual and multilingual employees requires careful consideration, thorough research, and strategic planning. It is a multi-step process that can bring significant benefits to your business because when you develop a program that recognizes and highlights employees’ language skills it makes them feel valued. “To pay bilingual employees fairly, companies must provide extra pay, often called ‘bilingual pay’ or ‘language pay’. Bilingual pay recognizes the tangible benefits and unique skills bilinguals offer,” (Salary.com Staff).