In today\u2019s global business landscape, inadequate or insufficient foreign language skills can translate into grave repercussions for your business. These repercussions could represent lost business opportunities, unfavorable publicity or public opinion, and even legal disputes, especially in industries where clear and precise communication is of extreme importance. Does your company fall into the category of those at heightened risk? Are you equipped with an activated, well-structured, and updated multilingual communication plan to mitigate such risks?<\/p>\n
Contact Us Today to Bring Language Proficiency Testing to Your Organization<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Crafting a comprehensive multilingual communication plan is paramount to engaging successfully with customers and partners who aren\u2019t native speakers of your language. Tailoring this plan to meet the unique communication needs of your business\u2019s target audience and revenue goals is essential. To achieve an effective multilingual communication effort, besides determining the multimedia resources required, ongoing feedback from your multilingual clientele and the ability to adapt and connect with linguistically diverse audiences play a pivotal role.<\/p>\n Industries dealing with safety, health, aviation, nuclear energy, and pharmaceuticals, among others, must proactively minimize the potential for legal actions. When compounded with operations in diverse and multilingual markets, investments in language training<\/a>, cultural awareness initiatives<\/a>, and translation or interpretation services<\/a> take a center stage. Taking the time to train and improve your multilingual workforce in linguistic competencies and devising strategies to incorporate multilingual content across your social media platforms and marketing materials become necessary.<\/p>\n According to findings from a survey conducted for ACTFL, the demand for foreign language skills nowadays is strong in almost every industry<\/a>. Therefore, employers need to recognize the important role of diverse languages in business and formulate practical strategies to sustain competitiveness in the global economy.<\/p>\n For example, in fields like healthcare, misunderstandings arising from language barriers can lead to incorrect treatments, misdiagnoses, and legal consequences. Similarly, the provision of legal services may be marred by errors in documents and contracts, resulting in legal liabilities. The same could happen with businesses dedicated to international trade and export or companies providing customer support in foreign markets. Language proficiency gaps could lead to shipping delays, contracts lost, and compromised customer experiences.<\/p>\n \u201cThe number of non-English-speaking US residents rises each year, contributing to a growing problem of miscommunication and understanding. While language barriers are faced practically everywhere, they are especially prevalent and can have dangerous and even fatal consequences in the healthcare sector,\u201d (Orminski).<\/p>\n Numerous other industries such as hospitality and tourism, education, tech, and software development, can also suffer due to language barriers. Ultimately, creating a professional environment that actively prevents accidents, injuries, offensive statements, partnership strains, and reputational harm is of utmost importance. \u201cLanguage is one of the key factors to determining how professional a company is. It sounds harsh, but professionalism will determine the quality of product they are offering,\u201d (Leonard).<\/p>\n Contact Language Testing International\u00ae (LTI)<\/a>, the exclusive licensee of ACTFL language proficiency assessment with three decades of experience. LTI delivers valid and legally defensible ACTFL language tests in over 120 languages. ACTFL’s secure remote proctoring tests empower test-takers to complete assessments anywhere and anytime, helping your company assess the adequacy of your multilingual workforce. Allow the LTI team to provide the best language assessment plan to inform your multilingual communication plan, and onboard or retain the most skilled multilingual employees for your company\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n Sources<\/strong><\/span><\/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. (2019). \u201cMaking Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers\u201d. https:\/\/www.leadwithlanguages.org\/report<\/a><\/p>\n Leonard, Jay. \u201cHow Businesses Can Deal with Language Barriers\u201d. Business 2 Community. October 13, 2016. https:\/\/www.business2community.com\/marketing\/businesses-can-deal-language-barriers-01679524<\/a><\/p>\nCrafting a Tailored Multilingual Communication Plan<\/h2>\n
Addressing Legal and Safety Imperatives<\/h2>\n
Recognizing the Need for Language Skills in All Industries<\/h2>\n
Impact of Language Barriers in Specific Industries<\/h2>\n
Overcoming Language Barriers for Professional Excellence<\/h2>\n
Leveraging Language Proficiency Assessments for Excellence<\/h2>\n