English Proficiency at Work

[Joshua Farrell]

Should the lingua franca for doing business be English, and should more companies demand English proficiency from their employees? Care to explain your thoughts on why you think it may or may not be important for those in your job to know English well?

 

[Niyi Briggs]

In some countries, before you are given a job, you must pass IELTS sufficiently. English is a universal language and is important for all to know.

 

[Springtime]

English is an universal language. All public examinations here require students to get a pass mark in English. To get a job, proficiency in English is a basic requirement unless you work in a very small store serving only local customers.

 

[eldavis]

Personally i feel it depends on the company. If it is one that has do deal with a lot of international clients, then it would be best they use more of English, since its a universal language.

 

[Niyi Briggs]

The business world is driven by one language. There is no need to beat about the bush with that. If you desire to do international business, you better learn English or get an interpreter.

 

[IB D]

English is the universal language that majority of the world can understand. When you move outside the shores of your country to do business, you have to consider how you would communicate. Most international business men and CEOs are proficient with English even if it is not their first language.

 

[hastral45]

Should the lingua franca for doing business be English, and should more companies demand English proficiency from their employees? Care to explain your thoughts on why you think it may or may not be important for those in your job to know English well?

This is only applicable in Anglophone countries. What happens in countries that do not speak English. In India that is also colonized by the British. The first thing you learn as a visitor is their local languages before any other things.
But here in Nigeria and Africa at large, we placed foreign languages like English and French above our vernaculars.

 

[IB D]

English language is the major language of communication between people from different ethnic groups. It is of great importance to know English and know it correctly. You command greater respect and audience when your communication is understood clearly