Employers should consider new national economies when deciding what languages to ask for in prospective staff, according to one expert.
Director of communications at the Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research Teresa Tinsley said that European tongues are most popular among bosses, but advised them to consider others.
“Obviously those economies which are rapidly growing – Thailand, Brazil, India, Russia, some Arabic speaking countries – they are all going to be really useful in future as well,” she said.
Ms Tinsley spoke soon after an article in the Sunday Telegraph revealed that British students could be offered several years at universities abroad as a lack of foreign language skills is hampering the jobs market for graduates.
She explained that studying overseas would make students more employable, as having an international outlook and being multilingual is seen as important by company managers.
Going to other English-speaking countries is still valuable, she added, because it will allow young people to become more culturally aware.
Posted by Colette Paxton
