Whether you are a bilingual professional pursuing a career in a language-related field or working in a company with a strong foreign language focus, the advantage of knowing how to speak two or more languages can open various opportunities for professional development. Actively seeking to improve your linguistic skills, from improving grammar and vocabulary to enhancing your overall communication skills, can be the ace up your sleeve for career advancement.<\/p>\n
Certify Your Language Skills Today<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n First, it\u2019s important to set clear goals in your professional journey and focus on what you want to achieve. A great starting point is finding a mentor, an individual that is proficient in the language you wish to learn or improve. A mentor is a valuable resource who will guide you through the learning process by providing practice opportunities and offering feedback on your progress or lack thereof. \u201cMentorship can be life changing. Staying in the driver\u2019s seat and being proactive about your relationship with your mentor is key to its success,\u201d (Phan).<\/p>\n Among the common types of language-related mentorship opportunities you can explore are pronunciation mentorship, diction mentorship, writing mentorship, translation mentorship and interpretation mentorship. Each area of guidance is an investment in yourself that will last a lifetime. For example, writing mentorship can provide constructive criticism on your writing style and grammar in a secondary language, while interpretation mentorship can focus on becoming more adept at listening in one language and speaking in another in real time.<\/p>\n A survey conducted for ACTFL recommends to employers in the United States to consider private coaching, online programs, and sector-specific training to develop the language proficiency of bilingual candidates and employees who need to improve their language skills.<\/p>\n To find a mentor, you can explore various scenarios. \u201cOne of the easiest ways to find a mentor for your career is to check into the career development options at your current place of work. In the U.S. alone, 71% of Fortune 500 companies have a mentoring programme, so the odds are good that your business will have something in place,\u201d (David).<\/p>\n If you are taking college courses, some academic institutions have mentorship programs and\/or language departments that can recommend professors or language experts that might be interested in mentoring you. Online platforms like Reddit or LinkedIn can also help you connect with professionals who are native speakers or with experienced tutors who are looking for opportunities to support college students to reach their goals. You can seek advice on online forums or social media platforms.<\/p>\n Furthermore, you can meet potential mentors by attending local language meetup groups or professional networking events, such as conferences or workshops led by ethnically and culturally diverse people. Participating in language exchange events or exploring language-related organizations can lead you to valuable mentorship opportunities as well. Sometimes opportunities to sharpen your language skills are right in front of your nose.<\/p>\n Family and friends are a fantastic resource for finding out who they might know (a colleague or acquaintance) that would be willing to mentor you. Oftentimes, even giving back to the community can provide access to practicing your language skills and identifying a mentor that\u2019s proficient in the language you want to learn. \u201cVolunteer events are another good spot to meet like-minded professionals, especially those who have retired wealthy and are looking for ways to give back. You can use an online platform like Volunteer Match to find volunteering opportunities in your city that match your interest,\u201d (Johansson).<\/p>\n As part of your journey to continue improving your language skills, it\u2019s crucial to stay motivated and committed to your goals, and a mentor can also help in this area. To showcase the progress you have made through mentorship, you can assess your language proficiency and get certified. Certify your language skills with Language Testing International\u00ae (LTI)<\/a>, a leader in providing language proficiency testing in over 60 countries, offering reliable and valid certifications in over 120 languages. As the exclusive license of ACTFL, LTI provides valid, reliable, and secure remotely proctored language proficiency assessments. The ACTFL language proficiency certificate that comes with your test results can strengthen your resume by demonstrating your language abilities to current or prospective employers and make your mentor proud.<\/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 Johansson, Anna. \u201cLooking for a Mentor? The 7 Best Places to Start\u201d. Entrepreneur. May 11, 2017. https:\/\/www.entrepreneur.com\/leadership\/looking-for-a-mentor-the-7-best-places-to-start\/294093<\/a><\/p>\n Phan, Janet T. \u201cWhat\u2019s the right way to find a mentor?\u201d Harvard Business Review. March 10, 2021. https:\/\/hbr.org\/2021\/03\/whats-the-right-way-to-find-a-mentor<\/a><\/p>\nSetting clear goals<\/h2>\n
Finding a mentor<\/h2>\n
Verifying your language skills<\/h2>\n