Foreign language training can help your company thrive in an increasingly global business world. Even a smaller company may need to work with distributors or clients in other countries, or may want to open an office in a foreign location.

By providing foreign language instruction to employees, you ensure your entire team can represent your company anywhere in the world. Business language training uses a more practical, everyday approach to language, focusing on the phrases you need to get around a city and communicate with fellow executives. You may not learn the intricacies of diagramming a sentence, but you will learn how to book a hotel room or conduct a business meeting.

Popular language education programs include:

1. Immersion programs, which include both cultural and language instruction
2. Classes, conducted at a learning center or at your place of business
3. Software that employees can use at work and at home
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get fast--and intensive--language instruction with immersion programs

If your employees need to learn a foreign language to travel to another country, an immersion program may be the most efficient preparation. They'll learn the language in that country, so they'll also learn the customs, dialects and other specifics you can't get from a textbook.

I recommend: Languages Abroad offers training for business professionals in 30 languages in 50 countries. You can also participate in cultural activities, and can stay either with a host family or in apartments. BridgeAbroad offers immersion programs designed specifically for professionals, and combines language instruction with cultural activities.

For business-specific training, try language instruction for professionals

Some companies offer language training programs specifically for corporate settings, so you can train entire departments or your entire staff. These programs often offer both language and cultural training, through group instruction, online training and private language education.

I recommend: Berlitz offers corporate group instruction at their training centers, online or at your workplace. Executive Language Training offers English language training and foreign language instruction at your location, either one-on-one or in small groups.

Support ongoing language training with software or online instruction

Through online programs or language instruction software, employees can strengthen their foreign language skills whether they're at home or at work. By studying at their own pace, they can prepare for more intensive language education programs later, or as a follow-up to classes or immersion programs.

I recommend: Rosetta Stone offers language software specifically for businesses. Its Enterprise Version 3 includes speech recognition technology and management tools like reports and graphs. TELL ME MORE software also offers a corporate edition of its language learning solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While language training is important in the long-term, if you're opening an office in a foreign country or working with foreign clients, you may need to hire a translator or bilingual employee initially. They can help you get everything off the ground, and then your employees can maintain relations with foreign clients and associates once they're trained.