Business Language Champions Brings World Of Work Into Classroom
Teachers are often confronted with the why learn a language question as students
cannot imagine how these language skills will help them after they come out of the education system. On the other hand, you have employers who are desperate to find employees who have languages alongside their other skills.
Businesses value language skills because they improve the organisation's ability to communicate with foreign contacts and enhance their ability to sell goods or services in new overseas markets. Even if the business does not currently export, hiring an employee with a language is considered a wise investment for the future. The Business Language Champions scheme highlights this issue by getting business people to share their knowledge and experience with young people in the hope of persuading them to continue with their language studies.
If we can demonstrate to students that this kind of language employment is achievable, agreeable and available then perhaps they will no longer ask 'why learn a language' because the answer will be obvious - to further their prospects and increase their employability.
BLC and other languages employer engagement projects encourage students to consider how the languages they are learning at school will help them when they come to look for work by demonstrating the scope and diversity of language employment. The programme enables youngsters to share in the experiences of business people through workshops, presentations and site visits aimed at demonstrating the importance of language skills within the workplace.
When teachers are asked specifically 'why learn a language' they can arrange, through Business Language Champions, to engage with a local employer which trades with overseas markets. Business representatives can then visit the school and share with students their own experience of using languages at work, giving examples of what the role demands and the increased opportunities their language skills have given them within that organisation.
Not everyone will be swayed by the prospect of language employment but if students can understand the link between language skills and increased employability then this should inspire them to continue with their studies.