Philosopher Roger Bacon once said: “Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.” True to this sentiment, at ESSEC Business School, the knowledge of languages is the key to opportunities across the globe.
Imagine trying to order food from a server who doesn’t understand English. Say a few words in Mandarin, throw in some Cantonese, and the situation changes – frustration dissipates, and smiles emerge. The communication barrier is broken. ESSEC Global Bachelor of Business Administration (GBBA) student, 18-year-old Marouane El Azzouzi, walked away with a great experience and a free snack.
More importantly, he saw first-hand how valuable it is to speak to someone in their native language. This begets the question: if a few words can change a situation so drastically in a simple social setting, what other relationships can it build or break in the complex international business world?
OPENING DOORS ACROSS THE GLOBE
For one thing, “if you can speak your client’s language, you might have a better relationship with them,” first-year student from Switzerland, Matteo Keller answers.
He believes this is why ESSEC places such a significant emphasis on learning other languages. In addition to speaking English, international students take up French, and all students choose German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Spanish, or Mandarin as their third language.
Students strategically select languages that will expand their career options. For example, Marouane, who already speaks English, French, and Arabic, is now taking Spanish and Chinese. Spanish because of the country’s proximity to his hometown in Morocco, while Mandarin was selected because of his goals to break into the burgeoning Chinese market.
Students can practice their language skills while on an exchange, and some, like 21-year-old Radhika Tandon, get the additional opportunity to test their multilingual skills through internships overseas.
Come January 2021, the third-year GBBA student will start a six-month internship with an advertising agency in Paris. Her business development role requires her to liaise with clients from both Asia and France, so speaking French is a must. And as most of her colleagues are only comfortable speaking French, Radhika’s proficiency in English, Hindi, and Bengali means she is well-poised to add value and help the team connect in the Asian market.
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICE
The truth is that it is harder to become fluent in a new language if you don’t use it daily. That’s why ESSEC ensures that language classes span across the four years students spend in the school, so students can steadily build their proficiency.
Classes are kept small and comprise a mix of games, quizzes, and group projects. This ensures participation is high, and everyone is given a chance to speak up, Matteo says. Although in his first semester at ESSEC, he’s already able to have a basic conversation in Italian and is eager to use his new skills to improve his communication with his mother’s side of the family, who are all Italian-speaking.
Being part of a diverse student body also means opportunities to practice with classmates, Marouane chimes in, adding that being in Singapore has afforded him the chance to practice his Mandarin in daily life. He also tries to watch TV series and movies in Chinese and Spanish to hone his comprehension skills.
“The most important thing is to take the classes seriously and practice a lot. Try to think in the language you are learning, and use it in every possible occasion,” Marouane says. This will help one feel more comfortable and confident with the language, opening the doors to more relationships and opportunities in the global world.
Whether it’s a free snack or a new job offer, unlock language, and the world will be your oyster.