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Talking the talk - trading our way out of recession

The many ways in which languages can boost growth - who's saying what:

Leading business expert recommends boosting language skills to help the UK to trade its way out of recession: Adam Marshall, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, is interviewed in the next issue of Languages Today magazine, out next week (and free to members of ALL).

David Cameron signs a joint letter to G20 on finding new growth markets: A letter signed by Australian, Canadian, Indonesian, Mexican and South Korean leaders raises pressing issues to be addressed at the G20 summit.

Vince Cable on why the UK should be thinking carefully about international skills: “The task is making sure that UK companies have people with the linguistic ability, overseas experience and cultural awareness necessary to do business abroad, to attract inward investment, to export goods and services. That, in fact, is the blueprint for sustainable economic growth”.

We must learn to talk the talk for boost in trading: Given that the majority of the global population doesn't speak English, language skills are key to unlocking our export potential, says Google boss John Herlihy.

CBI delegates look for optimism: the CBI calls on Prime Minister David Cameron to boost UK exports.

BCC international trade survey: Britain’s SME exporters are reliant on slow-growth markets, rather than countries experiencing rapid economic growth.

Globe-Gate Intercultural Web Project, USA: “Are foreign languages needed in exporting? For making repeat business with your trading partner, you must do what you always do for success: know your customer.” Bob Peckham at the University of Tennessee, on the need for modern foreign languages as part of a post-recession export imperative.

Lost in Translation: an introduction to the Position Paper Language Matters More and More by the British Academy Policy Centre, highlighting the "increasing severity of the languages deficit".

Valuing Languages: why languages matter:CILT advocate the importance of learning a foreign language and the benefits that it can bring, with particular emphasis upon the neccessity of languages in business.

Employers value language skills: statistics from CILT regarding employer thoughts on the language capabilities of job candidates with links to Labour market research that demonstrates a skills gap.

 

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