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Before You Apply for a Job, Learn a Foreign Language; If You're Already in a Job, Learn One Anyway

Posted on: Tuesday, 5 July 2005, 06:00 CDT

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., July 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Now is the time to know a second language and nowhere is that more true than in the job market.

According to Marc Jennings, President of Berlitz Publishing and The Langenscheidt Publishing Group, the U.S. arm of the world's largest language- learning and travel publishing company, bilingual Americans have better earning prospects than Americans who speak only English.

"Managers at American companies that do international business face challenges of 'getting up to speed' in a foreign language. They must stay focused on their jobs while learning the business etiquette and customs of another culture," he says. "So many in the current job market are missing opportunities because they don't have multi-language skills."

The percentage of U.S. elementary schools that teach foreign languages is low, even though it's documented that the best time to learn language is while you are young; in fact, the younger, the better. While most secondary schools offer language, the range of languages is limited. For example, it has been documented that only 1% of them offer Chinese.

Studies suggest that more than 75% of U.S. firms face competition from other countries, but only 10% of them export goods. It is estimated that more than half of Internet users come from outside North America and that only half speak English.

"There are few corporations in America that aren't trying to address the burgeoning global marketplace," says Jennings. "More new hires are bilingual and trilingual. Professional leaders tie rewards to foreign language fluency because languages allow us to cooperate and compete worldwide. "

"Through our Berlitz Publishing and Langenscheidt language-learning and bilingual dictionary businesses, we are helping professionals with new languages and cultures," Jennings says. "Berlitz Publishing has a new series of Business Dictionaries in French, Spanish, and Italian with sample letters and guidance on all aspect of daily business in a variety of industries. We are continually reinventing our industry - with language-learning audio and print materials for busy professionals."

"If your company is doing business with other countries, it's time to visit your bookstore to look for products that will help you move into the 21st century of business," he continues. "And they're not just in the business section. Look for them in the language section too."

The Langenscheidt Publishing Group

CONTACT: Sue Krause, Lande Communications, +1-800-993-7600, ext. 3#,skrause@landepr.com, for The Langenscheidt Publishing Group

Source: PRNewswire

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