Construction workers form the backbone of the construction industry, yet many grapple with language barriers that impede their effectiveness on the job. However, if you are bilingual and find yourself facing this common challenge as a professional in the construction sector, there’s no need to panic—a straightforward solution exists: prioritize assessing your language skills to prevent poor communication in the workplace.

Certify Your Language Skills Today

Mastering Multiple Languages: A Superpower for Construction Workers

Commanding two or more languages can serve as a superpower, enriching construction workers’ job satisfaction, safety, retention, and promotion allowing you to make a meaningful difference. “Having foreign language skills is no longer a benefit for jobsite communication and safety, it’s becoming a necessity to do business. And it’s not just management that needs to improve their foreign languages,” (Hegeman).

Consider the situation of Gael, a skilled construction worker from Brazil who immigrated to the United States in pursuit of better opportunities for himself and his family. Despite his expertise in construction, Gael struggles to communicate with his English-speaking colleagues and supervisors on the job site. This leads to misunderstandings, frustration, and a feeling of isolation, hindering his job performance.

Recognizing the importance of overcoming language barriers, Gael decides to get a better understanding of his language proficiency and also seek targeted language training. He orders an assessment from Language Testing International® (LTI) and through a comprehensive and credentialed approach that measures his ability to speak, read, listen, and read in English, Gael’s strengths and areas for improvement are pinpointed. He enrolls in specialized language courses tailored to his construction-specific needs, empowering him to communicate more effectively and facilitating his integration into the company. In other words, Gael fully embraces language training, recognizing its potential to enhance his long-term retention with the company he works for.

Thanks to the language training and Gael’s perseverance, his language skills flourish significantly. He acquires the confidence to express himself clearly and decisively, fostering stronger relationships with his colleagues and supervisors in the workplace. This not only elevates Gael’s job satisfaction but also bolsters his long-term retention as his capabilities start garnering more recognition from the management team. “Officially, immigrants account for nearly a quarter of construction workers, though that’s likely an undercount because many construction workers are hired informally and don’t appear in standard economic statistics,” (Narea).

Escalating Demand for Foreign Language Skills in Construction and Other Industries

A survey conducted for ACTFL highlighted the escalating demand for foreign language skills in various industries, especially in the construction sector. Additionally, this sector alongside the healthcare and social assistance fields, reports the most substantial foreign language skills gap.

As a bilingual worker, you can serve as an inspiration to your coworkers with determination and the right support. Language barriers can be overcome and opportunities for career advancement are within reach. Order from LTI today and acquire the language skills requisites you need for success in a diverse and dynamic industry. LTI is the exclusive licensee of ACTFL assessments, delivering valid ACTFL language credentials in over 120 languages. Empower yourself through secure remotely proctored ACTFL tests for the utmost convenience.

Sources

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Lead with Languages Campaign commissioned Ipsos Public Affairs, with the support of Pearson LLC and Language Testing International. (2019). “Making Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers.” https://www.actfl.org/uploads/files/general/MakingLanguagesOurBusiness_FullReport.pdf

Hegeman, Kim. “Foreign Language Skills Gap Can Negatively Impact Business Relationships.” September 10, 2019. OEM Off-Highway. https://www.oemoffhighway.com/market-analysis/industry-news/article/21085843/foreign-language-skills-gap-can-negatively-impact-business-relationships

Narea, Nicole. “Immigrants could fix the US labor shortage.” Vox. Oct 26, 2021. https://www.vox.com/business-and-finance/2021/10/26/22733082/labor-shortage-inflation-immigration-foreign-workers

Madeline Martínez is a Multicultural Navigator Specialist at URBANDER, a Woman and Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) specializing in transforming businesses to advance humanity. URBANDER’s role is to serve as an extension of Marketing, Diversity, Human Resources, Procurement, Community Relations, and Social Responsibility teams, providing innovative approaches in the areas of strategic marketing, content development, workforce development, community outreach and IDEAS (inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and sustainability). Madeline holds a both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and is an experienced copywriter and content developer dedicated to amplifying the voices of URBANDER’s clients. From blogs and articles to social media posts and interviews, Madeline is a skilled writer across diverse topics integrating her marketing, business and academic acumen. Though her earlier work as a Publications Officer at the Inter American University in Puerto Rico, and her most recent performance as a Spanish Interpreter, Substitute Teacher, and Instructional Assistant for English-language learning elementary school students, Madeline has impacted countless families as they have navigated migrating to the U.S. from Spanish-speaking countries. As a bilingual professional, Madeline is also proficient in translating written documents from English to Spanish, and vice versa. She has received LTI issued ACTFL Language Proficiency Certificates in Spanish as follows: Advanced Writing, Advanced Listening, Advanced Reading and Superior Speaking. During her downtime, Madeline loves spending time with her family, and enjoys dancing, movies, photography, and coffee. She considers herself a continuous learner. “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers”- Helen Keller

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