As a bilingual or multilingual employee, you have a unique opportunity to help create an inclusive workplace where language diversity is valued. Use your native language or any other languages you have learned to a high level of proficiency to create a work environment of respect and understanding. “A multilingual workplace is becoming the norm, as globalization increases diversity across the United States. You may find that coworkers speak languages in which you are not fluent, and this sometimes creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for a non-speaker.” (Archer).

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Helping Bridge Linguistic Gaps

You can be a catalyst for fostering language exchange to help bridge language gaps in the place of work—a crucial factor for pursuing new business opportunities. According to a study conducted for ACTFL, employers with a foreign language skills gap as well as employers that report a high dependency on multilingual staff are more likely to offer language training to employees compared to those who do not. So, advocate for language access by raising awareness about the importance of providing services such as proofreading documents, translating texts, language interpretation during meetings or discussions, and providing language learning support. Furthermore, encourage your employer to offer language training to employees and, in the best of cases, to implement language-friendly policies and practices.

Make sure to follow the guidelines and protocols set by your employer to ensure that language exchange is conducted in an appropriate manner. A matter of utmost importance when language exchange takes place at work is to maintain professionalism, adhere to your organization’s policies and procedures, and respect confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information in other languages.

Signal Your Language Proficiency to Others

Let your colleagues know that you are available to help with language-related tasks and assist with constructive feedback. Even if at the moment there may not be an opportunity to expand your job duties for a higher salary based on your language skills, be approachable and patient. Also keep your language skills sharp, build your language knowledge, and stay updated with the latest developments in the language(s) you command by reading the news, articles, or other relevant resources in those languages.

Becoming a resource to your employer by sharing pertinent language material, such as language learning apps or online references with coworkers who are interested in learning another language or who share a similar background to help them improve their language skills, can elevate your value within the company. Finally, consider organizing language-related events that celebrate diversity and help create a supportive learning environment.

Remember, at the end of the day the objective is to make all the employees feel comfortable and included with multilingual approaches to conducting business, while positioning yourself for career advancement. Your efforts can contribute to improving communication, promoting cross-cultural appreciation, and advancing your company’s goals as well as your own.

Certify Your Language Proficiency

By ordering from Language Testing International® (LTI), you can certify your current language proficiency to support your efforts to position yourself as the go-to person regarding language proficiency at work. LTI is a language testing leader with decades of experience conducting research and delivering universally recognized language credentials in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in more than 120 languages. Their language proficiency assessments are remotely and securely proctored that can be taken at anytime, anywhere—even from the comfort and privacy of your home.

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

Archer, Jan. CHRON. “How to Deal with Another Language Spoken at Work.” May 12, 2022. https://work.chron.com/deal-another-language-spoken-work-5159.html

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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