Today, workplaces across the United States require more than ever before a strong multilingual and multicultural workforce. A command of more than one language is a tremendous advantage for job seekers and people working in the United States because the population is continuously becoming more diverse. If you command two or more languages, the possibility that a federal, state, or local government agency could benefit from your skills is very high.<\/p>\n
Certify Your Language Skills Today<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to a survey<\/a> conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), titled \u201cMaking Languages our Business: Addressing Foreign Languages Demand Among U.S. Employers\u201d, the demand for employees with language skills other than English is on a constant rise. Their findings indicate that Spanish is the most sought-after foreign language among U.S. employers (85 percent), followed by Chinese (34 percent), French (22 percent), German (17 percent), Japanese (17 percent), Russian (12 percent), Arabic (11 percent), Italian (10 percent), Korean (9 percent), Hindi (8 percent), and Portuguese (8 percent). The report also reveals that most employers don\u2019t expect this demand to decrease and highlights that employers are also most likely to experience a skills shortage in the most in-demand foreign languages.<\/p>\n It is critical for government agencies to have the support of bilingual and multilingual employees to avoid violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires that people with limited English proficiency have access to federally funded government programs, services, activities, and resources. Government agencies need to hire bilingual and multilingual professionals to ensure clear and effective communication with non-English speakers to effectively deliver their services. In addition, providing equal access to information to constituents helps state and local government agencies build trust and strengthen relationships with diverse communities. Whether it\u2019s the department of motor vehicles, public transportation, the local tax collector, voting polls, schools, courts, or the public healthcare sector, multilingual support is invaluable.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, what has been most impactful is the trust that we are starting to develop [with residents]. A lot of our residents are coming from another country. Maybe they are refugees or come from countries with maybe not so reliable public safety departments. They are understanding that our police officers or firefighters, or our 9-1-1 dispatchers are here to help. And that is so much more impactful when they can do that in the language that people understand,\u201d shared Katie Hedrick, Community Inclusion Coordinator of the City of Roanoke in Virginia. Hedrick is currently developing and implementing the Bilingual Employee Incentive Pay Program<\/strong> in their Department of Community and Engagement.<\/p>\n An estimated 350 languages are spoken in homes across the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As a bilingual or multilingual professional, you can apply for governmental job openings and emphasize that your language proficiency skills can be instrumental in meeting the needs of diverse communities who otherwise may not be able to navigate the system. Your linguistic skills could improve the way agencies provide information, services, and resources to millions of people.<\/p>\n Read more –><\/strong> Why It Pays to Be Bilingual<\/a><\/p>\n Contact Language Testing International (LTI)<\/a>, the exclusive provider of ACTFL language proficiency assessments for more information on how to get your language skills certified. ACTFL assessments are the gold standard in language tests and accurately assess your language skills in speaking, writing, listening, or reading. LTI administers ACTFL assessments, which can be scheduled anytime, anywhere with our secured remote proctoring. Through LTI, you can get a valid language proficiency certification in any of more than 120 languages.<\/p>\n Sources<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n 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. <\/em>(2019). \u201cMaking Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers.\u201d https:\/\/www.leadwithlanguages.org\/report<\/a><\/p>\n Language Link. \u201cA Translation Guide for Government Agencies\u201d. November 19, 2021.\u00a0https:\/\/language.link\/blog\/a-translation-guide-for-government-agencies\/<\/a><\/p>\nA Growing Need for Bilingual Talent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Importance of Bilingual Talent in Government <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Get Your Language Skills Certified<\/strong><\/h3>\n