Language Proficiency: A Matter of Life and Death

Let’s face it, there is a strong and growing demand for multilingual talent as a natural result of the evolving demographic shifts in the United States. According to a study by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), Making Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers, “American employers are […]

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Language and Beyond

As customer demographics change, companies and hiring managers need to look closer at language and culture as part of the customer service experience. Language proficiency is an indicator of an individual’s ability not only to connect with a customer but also to identify cultural nuances in a shared language that would create trust and customer […]

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The Importance of Communication in Light of the COVID-19 Outbreak

The Importance of Communication in Light of the Coronavirus Outbreak We’re in the midst of a global health emergency. As the Coronavirus continues to spread, healthcare providers can expect to see an increase in the number of patients with limited English proficiency. How can healthcare organizations best be prepared to serve everyone in need of […]

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Certified Language Skills: A Pathway to Foreign Language Incentive Pay

Certified Language Skills: A Pathway to Foreign Language Incentive Pay (FLIP) Ever wonder if your proficiency in a language other than English could increase your income potential? The answer is absolutely, 100%, YES! A recent report by ACTFL, entitled “Making Language Our Business,” unveiled that the demand for foreign language skills is greater than ever […]

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Hiring for Healthcare in 2020

In the healthcare field, employing skilled and competent caregivers who are able to meet the diverse and growing needs of our communities is more important than ever. In a 2018 study commissioned by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, it was reported that 41% of […]

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Why Language Proficiency Assessments Are Good for Employees and Employers

Why Language Proficiency Assessments Are Good for Employees and Employers Whether you have multilingual employees, plan to hire those who are, or want to encourage your staff to pursue a second or third language, it’s critical to consider certification of their language abilities. Certifying your employees’ language skills brings credibility to your company’s multilingual talent, […]

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The Importance of Language in Patient-Centered Care

American medical systems face challenges as demographic shifts result in a growing number of patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). The commonality of language and cultural sensitivity are key elements that can facilitate the implementation of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. It is vital that healthcare providers offer translation services in order to respond to patients’ […]

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Mi casa es su casa

The American Dream, a key piece of which is home ownership, is flourishing in Latinx communities all across the nation. By every economic measure, the buying power of Spanish-speaking Americans is skyrocketing to the tune of over $2 trillion. That buying power is most especially manifesting itself in home ownership, evidenced by the statistic that […]

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You May Have to Remain Silent, If You Don’t Understand the Language of Your Arrest

Interactions between police and citizens can either be friendly, community building events, or frightening, emotion-laden, traumatic crises fraught with peril and fear. In either case, communication and process are facilitated when both sides speak the same language. However, given the growing multilingual makeup of U.S. society, there are often differences of language between the police […]

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Plan Now for AAPPL

The beginning of the school year provides teachers and students alike, a fresh perspective and endless possibilities for changing the way things “have been done.” The AAPPL offers teachers an external measurement as their student move towards proficiency, which can be used for a multitude of different reasons.

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