While languages languish in the UK, schools and companies overseas are turning to technology for innovative approaches and faster progress. They equate language mastery with economic prosperity.
People who speak more than one language can earn more than those who are fluent in just a single language. It is estimated that mastering a second language can add 10-15% to an employee’s potential salary.
On a larger scale, speaking more than one language can also help to boost economic growth, as countries that actively nurture language learning reap the benefits of a more innovative and educated workforce.
According to The World Economic Forum Switzerland, for example, attributes 10% of its GDP to its multilingual heritage. The country has four national languages: German, French, Italian and an ancient Latin-based language called Romansh. Britain, on the other hand, is estimated to lose out on the equivalent of 3.5% of its GDP every year, because of its population’s relatively poor language skills.
This may be partly because languages can help build trade relations. A study of small and medium-size companies in Sweden, Germany, Denmark and France found that those which invested more in languages were able to export more goods. German companies that invested heavily in multilingual staff added 10 export countries to their market. Companies that invested less said they missed out on contracts.