Learning English for Better Business Opportunities

People study languages that open doors

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many universities across the United States had to shut down their Russian departments as interest in the language declined dramatically.  To this day, large numbers of Russian books can be found in university libraries, yet most of these are out of date and collect dust.  One might wonder what happened; after all, some of the world’s greatest poets and novelists wrote in Russian, so why wouldn’t there be more people studying it?

The simple answer to this question is that people usually don’t learn languages unless they think there is going to be a big reward.  During the Cold War, studying Russian opened doors to government careers, but now that Russia is no longer a superpower, people don’t consider it worthwhile.  In contrast, English is more popular than ever; Globalization has created a situation wherein learning English opens doors to careers and opportunities all over the world.

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A lesson from Dubai, an international business hub

The reward for learning English can be great no matter what kind of work you do.  Dubai is known for its many construction projects and glittering shopping malls.  People who do construction in the 110 degree heat tend to be the people who know the least English, while the retail workers inside the air-conditioned malls are people who can communicate in English.  The benefits of learning English are by no means confined to people in the lower income brackets; Emirati nationals can expect higher salaries if they demonstrate proficiency in English.  In fact, many companies there require certain TOEFL and IELTS scores before they even consider hiring a candidate.  Dubai is an international business hub, and multinational companies operating there tend to do business in English.

When people of so many different nationalities conduct business in one place, it makes sense for everyone to speak the same language, and English has become that language.

Salary gaps and foreign direct investment

In a 2012 survey conducted in eight Arab countries by Euromonitor International, the benefits of the English language to individuals and societies were measured using various criteria, such as salary gaps and foreign direct investment (FDI).

This gap was lowest in Tunisia (perhaps due to the role of French there), with a difference of only 5%.  However, there was a 75% gap in Egypt, and in Iraq it was 95%.  As more people in the region learn English, more companies are willing to do business, which attracts FDI.  Increased FDI then leads to more jobs for people who speak English.  In many cases, these foreign companies offer much better wages than local companies.  Governments have found that they can attract more business to their countries if more of their people speak English, and this has led to increased efforts in the area of English education.  This trend is by no means confined to Arab countries; Globalization has had a similar impact throughout the world.

English and Higher Education

Access to some of the best higher education institutions in the world requires knowledge of English.  Anyone who wants to study in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia or the UK must have strong English skills.  Typically, universities in these locations require that the student take an English proficiency exam before being considered.  Degrees from these countries often lead to better career prospects back home, whether or not English is actually used on the job; a student from Morocco could get a degree in the UK, go home, get a good job, and never speak another word of English again.  One could therefore say that learning English can have a direct effect on one’s job opportunities.