Knowing more than one language is a prerequisite in the business world. For an expatriate, travelling to another country, and knowing at least English fluently is essential, but what other languages are most important in the business world?
Spanish especially for non-Spanish or Latin American companies, has become a key language. In fact, it is the fourth most important language in the business world thanks to the large number of Spanish speakers from all over Latin America and increasingly present in the USA. Learning Spanish for foreigners has become a very important requirement.
English has become not only the Esperanto of the 21st century. It is also the language par excellence of the business world. It is often the case that in any process of labour mobility or of expatriation, when two workers from non-English speaking countries want to communicate in the same language they use English even though it is not their mother tongue.
Knowing English, speaking it, and writing it fluently, should be essential in the business world, if it is to have more significance beyond your borders. According to Adecco, 72.55% of job offers require knowledge of a foreign language. Besides, there is business English or certain jargon, depending on the sectors in which we are working, that is good to know and for that, there is nothing better than doing a specific course to improve it.
However, nowadays, the more languages you know, the more job opportunities you will have, not only for yourself, but also for the company you are representing in an expatriation process.
What are the most important languages in the business world? Secondly, Mandarin Chinese, which is spoken by over a billion people, it has emerged as another of the most important languages for doing business. Also, because some cities in China are the ones that receive more returnees and where the best business opportunities are found.
Germany’s strength in the international economic context has made Spanish and French the third most important languages in the business world. If a Spanish expatriate, for example, wants to learn a language, he or she should know that after English, German is now the most important – although it all depends on the country where the company is based.
And, finally, Arabic. The continuous rise and wealth of different countries in the East makes this a very important language, although it is rare to find executives in Arab companies who do not speak English fluently.
