Global Business Leaders
Law schools, Business Schools, Schools of International Affairs and Diplomacy – they are all united by a mission to develop tomorrow’s global business leaders. In an increasingly global economy, well-prepared leaders are needed now more than ever.
What Skills Do They Need?
Complex negotiations and intercultural interactions are part of the day-to-day responsibilities of global business leaders. They need more than just tact to be successful. Multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, and chiefs of industry demand leaders who can speak the world’s languages and navigate the nuances of communicating with cultural competence.
The Lauder Model
In The Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, students pursue a joint degree that develops their linguistic and cultural knowledge along with their business acumen. They either pursue a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at the Wharton School or a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Penn Carey Law School in addition to a Master of Arts in International Studies (M.A.) at the School of Arts and Sciences. This unique program combines advanced world language study and intensive study abroad to deliver unparalleled results.
Selecting the Ideal Assessment
Although institutions may rely on internal assessments of language proficiency, it is crucial to also include external assessments that have been proven to be both valid and reliable to accurately capture what a student can do with language. Says Haimanti Banerjee, Associate Director, Language and Culture Programs at The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies: “Standardized externally administered assessments can provide a pathway for learners to assess their language learning progress and provide guidelines for developing proficiency.”
The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines – 2024 are an internationally recognized scale that can serve as a unifying framework and language for students and instructors to talk about language proficiency and pedagogic strategies that lead to improvement. According to Banerjee, ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview® (OPI), a telephonic interview with an ACTFL-certified rater, is the assessment of choice. “The OPI provides a framework of clearly articulated and standardized descriptors of assessment which can be applied consistently to all the 12 Lauder Language & Culture Programs”. Truly, Lauder’s learners and instructors are speaking the same language!
Building the OPI into the Program of Study
Lauder has integrated the OPI comprehensively into their program. Lauder participants take the OPI every semester when enrolled in their language courses, familiarizing themselves with the test format and gaining confidence in their ability to engage with speakers in the language for personal and professional purposes.
For Lauder participants and instructors, the OPI test scores reveal crucial insights into how students can function with their language in a workplace environment. As Banerjee notes: “The [OPI] results provide a useful benchmark for individual language performance. They help to tailor pedagogical practices for specific language functions and contexts and provide differentiated instruction.” Thus, instructors can create personalized pathways based on an individual’s strengths and weaknesses to ensure all learners realize their potential.
You can, too!
Lauder has woven the strands of language study and content exploration to provide the guidance and support nascent global business leaders need to thrive. By relying on the OPI for accurate data, Lauder instructors can focus on guiding participants to set learning goals and take the necessary steps to attain them. Lauder graduates have gained academic language and intercultural competence, enabling them to communicate with fluency and ease in a multitude of business environments and cultures.
We all want our higher education programs to be relevant. If you are a professor, look at your program and see what steps you can take to improve outcomes for your learners. Have you considered partnering with other departments and schools in your university? Consider combining language study with engineering, hospitality, communication, or even medicine. The world needs global leaders and at Language Testing International® (LTI), we are here to partner with you as you advance your goals.
Resources
To read the full Case Study, Benchmarking language proficiency for aspiring global business leaders: The Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, click here.
For more information about adding ACTFL assessments like the OPI to your testing program, contact LTI at https://www.languagetesting.com/contact-us/sales
