Why Fluency in English is Important in the Corporate World?

English is the most commonly spoken and written language in the world. An approximate 1500 million people speak the language around the world, of which only 375 million are fluent speakers. It is used by more than 1 billion people as a foreign language. If you don’t know English well, you’re not going to be able to communicate easily with people.

English is a top-of-the-line Internet user and a top-notch tech language. And you need to be tech-savvy to do well in the workplace — whether that means being able to put together Excel sheets, do a conference call, research and fact-check data or use social media successfully.

English is the “lingua franca” (meaning “popular language”) not only of corporate industry but also of all forms of correspondence worldwide. This means that it is valuable for knowing and exchanging shared observations and connections with your colleagues.

Here are the top reasons, stressing out the importance of fluency in English in the corporate world.

English is the international language of business

English is now commonly recognized as the official language of companies around the world. Many international businesses have embraced it as the most successful way of obtaining access to global markets and commerce. One of the main factors for the rise of English across the globe is the global expansion of North American and European companies trading globally.

The advent of the Internet now plays a significant role in the dispersal of English internationally. English is prevalent in the online world, as can be seen in social media, message boards, and the fact that most international websites have the means to translate into English.

Deciding whether English is important to business is not a matter of giving greater importance to language in general. It’s just a matter of survival and effective communication.

Fluency in English sets you apart in business standards

Back in the early days of pre-globalization, it was a bonus to learn English. Like it or not, fluency in English was a symbol of superior intelligence and sophistication. It made you look pretty good to the people.

Today, no matter what your background and experience are, several employers would simply expect you to learn the language. Even though you have received your education in another language, or you come from a place where English is scarcely spoken. You are supposed to learn English quickly. This means that you have to impress your interviewer or boss that you are extremely fluent in English and knowledgeable in both the written and spoken forms.

English is important to give presentations and speech

Good fluency in English is important for effective business communication. If you speak in your native tongue and no one else in the room knows the language, you cannot give a message to the staff or be in charge of a Board meeting. So, you need to speak the “common language” well, and you can turn your thoughts and opinions into concise (clear and logical) sentences so everybody can understand and respond.

It really isn’t enough to get a brilliant idea. You have to convey it to your audience in a fluent sequence. In this context, a good flow in English is very important.

Good pronunciation gives a good impression

Speaking and writing in English are two different skills — you can write well, but unless you’re able to speak clearly and fluently, you’re unlikely to make an impact on the workplace. People judge you by the way you converse. It must also be noted that English slang varies from place to place. American English is not the same as British English.

In India it is appropriate to mix words from Indian with English to communicate something, leading to the creation of a’ hybrid’ language (combined).

Wherever you work, it’s best to learn the kind of language that’s spoken there, and strive to fit your dialect more closely with the local tongue, so you can properly mix it in.

The importance of English fluency

Nowadays English is the official language of business. Practically speaking, the more you can understand the language, the more you can communicate-and not just with native English speakers but with a wide variety of people who have exposure to English.

This is the age of internet and online marketing, and only with a sound knowledge of English, you will be able to reach out to the 1 billion English speakers on the World Wide Web. The higher your degree of fluency in English, the better it is for your employer, as you portray your company with a more secure, professional image when doing business with others.

Besides possessing an amazing command of spoken English, the dynamic business culture of today often requires an equally impressive command of written English. It’s mostly because almost all forms of business communication such as e-mails, conferences, sales and promotions and even corporate legal documents are now being performed in English.