Managing your finances can be stressful, especially when language barriers add an extra layer of complexity. What happens if a bank customer with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) is faced with an issue when seeking assistance with financial planning or applying for a loan because language is a barrier? The most effective and immediate solution is to have a bilingual professional always available on the premise to help communicate clearly and deliver peace of mind to those involved. Are you bilingual? If so, that can be you!

Certify Your Language Skills Today

A Real-Life Example of the Importance of Bilingual Employees

Imagine a person needing to discuss a sensitive financial matter with their bank, such as securing funding for a small business. Let’s review a real-life scenario to better understand the relevance of bilingual employees in the financial sector.

Isabella moved to the United States from Italy, and she is excited to kick off her new business, a quaint café in her new community on the outskirts of Atlanta. Isabella decides to apply for a commercial loan from a local bank. However, when she meets in person with the loan officer, she finds it challenging to communicate her ideas and questions effectively due to her Limited English Proficiency (LEP). She also struggles to understand documents, paperwork, and the loan application process. The loan officer, acknowledging Isabella’s discomfort and confusion arranges for an in-house team member who is fluent in both English and Italian to serve as an interpreter, assisting them during the meeting. The interpreter serves as a bridge, ensuring understanding on both sides, and helps Isabella prepare any required documentation, such as her business plans and financial projections. The loan officer’s willingness to accommodate Isabella’s language needs and provide interpretation support allows her to secure funding for her café, empowering her to start her business with confidence.

Thanks to the bilingual skills of a fellow bank employee fluent in both English and Italian, Isabella was able to navigate the conversation with ease and clarity. This level of personalized assistance not only addresses the customer’s immediate banking concerns but also fosters a sense of trust, confidence, and calm in the process of establishing relationships with new clientele. “Being bilingual is not only about speaking a second language. It is good for the employee’s health, as well as the health of the employer’s business,” (Diggs).

Language Proficiency Sets You Apart

In today’s global economy, banks that recognize the significance of bilingualism stand out as champions of high-quality customer service. By equipping their teams with colleagues who are proficient in more than one language and are also culturally sensitive, these institutions ensure that every customer receives the support they need, including equal access to financial services and opportunities for entrepreneurship, regardless of heritage or ability to communicate in English.

According to a survey conducted for ACTFL, Spanish, Chinese, French, Japanese, German, Russian, Arabic, Italian, Korean, Hindi, and Portuguese are the most sought-after foreign languages in the United States. Whether addressing account inquiries or resolving financial disputes, bilingual professionals capable of mastering any of these languages allow customers to navigate money-sensitive situations without a hitch.

Many bilingual professionals in the financial sector go above and beyond to help customers in their time of need, and they deserve to be celebrated. You can be one of these superheroes. Connect with Language Testing International (LTI) today, if you command any of the languages most needed across the U.S. to assess and prove your level of proficiency. LTI, the exclusive licensee of ACTFL, delivers reliable ACTFL certifications in over 120 languages. Benefit from secure remotely proctored assessments you can take anywhere, anytime at your 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

Diggs, Kallen. 5 Studies Prove Bilinguals Benefit Employers in More Ways Than One. The Good Men Project. July 10, 2017. https://goodmenproject.com/business-ethics-2/5-studies-prove-bilinguals-benefit-kldg/

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

    Recommended Posts

    Bilingual Incentive Pay and What It Means for Your Students
    Are You Professionally Proficient in All of Your Languages? Discover Your ACTFL Language Proficiency Level – LTI Blog
    bilingual certification process
    You Can’t Fail an ACTFL® Language Proficiency Test—Just Discover Your Level! – LTI Blog