Best Languages to Learn for Business Opportunities and Global Career Success

Key takeaways:

Learning a foreign language is a great way to boost your career and business.

76% of consumers prefer buying goods from websites in their own language. This means that when expanding abroad, adapting to local culture and language is critical for success.

Some of the top business languages are English, Chinese, French, Spanish, Japanese, and German.

Being multilingual can open many doors in the world of business. Whether it’s climbing up the career ladder or reaching international customers, knowing more than one language can make a real difference in your professional life.

If you’re considering learning another language for more career and business opportunities, you’re on the right path. However, it’s not just about learning any random language. It’s important to be strategic when choosing which language to learn. 

In this article, we’re going to dive into the best languages for business and explore which one you should learn depending on your career goals and area of interest.

Why learn an international business language?

There are countless reasons why learning one of the top business languages in the world is a good idea. Here are some of the biggest benefits of becoming multilingual:

1. Keeping up with globalization

These days, large businesses rarely operate just in their country of origin. Due to how easy it has become to travel and communicate with anyone across the globe, the world is now more interconnected than ever.

As a result, many companies have branches in several countries. But to conduct business there successfully, it’s important for them to understand their target market. One way to do this is by learning the language the citizens of each country speak. 

This is a strategy that many big names in business have adopted. For example, former Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke mastered six languages to improve his career and communication skills. He had this to say about why he chose to learn so many languages:

“Being multilingual creates a stronger connection with peers, employees, and consumers, which is critical for a business like ours.”

If you want to have global success, learning another language may just be essential.

2. Standing out in the crowd

According to U.S. census data, only about 22% of people in the United States speak a language other than English. This means that about 80% of Americans are not multilingual, making it harder for them to navigate a global market.

Learning an international business language can help you stand out and land your dream job. It has been reported that about 40% of employees who speak more than one language secured their positions at least partially thanks to being multilingual. What’s more, they were also reported to earn 19% more than their monolingual colleagues.

3. Overcoming language barriers

While these days, it’s easy to assume that most people speak English, that doesn’t mean that learning other languages has lost its value. In fact, research shows the exact opposite. 

A survey that asked over 8,700 consumers from 29 countries found that 76% of people prefer buying goods with information available in their native language. Even more crucially, 40% said that they would never purchase products from websites in other languages.

This means that language barriers are still relevant to this day. If you want to succeed in business, speaking several languages should be at the top of your priority list.

4. Enhancing business relations and cultural understanding

Sometimes, learning a language is about more than just being able to communicate with your colleagues and business partners. Even if using a lingua franca (such as English) or hiring an interpreter is possible, those are not always your best options if you want to build long-term business relationships.

Billy Bauer, the marketing director of Royce Leather, decided to learn Mandarin Chinese to get ahead in his career and help the company. China is a country that places importance on face-to-face interactions and etiquette, and by learning their language and more about their culture, Bauer was able to gain the trust of Chinese executives. This, in turn, let him conduct business dealings in China with more confidence and ease.

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Top 9 most useful languages to learn for global business opportunities

Now that you know why being multilingual is so important for your career, it’s time to answer the big question: What are the most important languages for business? Here are the top 9 languages we would recommend, based on your goals and field of work.

1. English: The universal language of business

Total number of speakers: 1,528 million

Key areas: Global

English is often considered to be one of the best languages to learn in general. But it’s an especially good choice for anyone interested in advancing their career. 

Over the years, English has become the lingua franca of the business world. This means that more often than not, it can be used as a universal language to seal deals and communicate with colleagues and potential business partners all around the world.

Many international companies, even those not based in English-speaking countries, have adopted English as their official corporate language. These include Nissan, Honda, and Siemens. 

If you or your employees aren’t native English speakers, consider taking up corporate English lessons to improve your business prospects.

And if you're intersted in learning more about how English became the world's lingua franca, watch this interesting YouTube video:

2. Mandarin Chinese: The language of the Chinese economy

Total number of speakers: 1,184 million

Key areas: China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia

China is one of the key players on the global market. It has the second-largest nominal GDP in the world, and Mandarin Chinese is also the second most-spoken language in the world.

Learning Mandarin is especially useful for anyone working in technology, as both China and Taiwan are some of the biggest producers of important tech. However, even if you’re in other industries, Mandarin may still be a useful language for you to pick up. For example, the popular company Shein was founded in China, with its current headquarters being in Singapore.

3. Spanish: Key language in Latin America and the US

Total number of speakers: 558 million

Key areas: Latin America, Spain

Spanish is the fourth most-spoken language in the world, and it’s especially important to master for anyone operating in Latin America. If you’re in finance, trade, or tourism, Spanish will be a huge asset to you.

The language also has its use outside of Latin America. It’s spoken in Europe, too, particularly in France, though many Europeans from other countries also learn Spanish as their second or third language. 

Spanish may also be useful in the U.S., which has a large population of Latinx people. In fact, it’s the second most-spoken language in the U.S., with 13% of inhabitants speaking the language in their home. This is why learning Spanish for business purposes could prove invaluable.

4. French: Official language in international companies and African markets

Total number of speakers: 312 million

Key areas: France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, sub-Saharan Africa

If you work in tourism, business, or diplomacy and politics, learning French is a good idea. It’s an official language of several international organizations, and it’s spoken across several continents, making it a very global and versatile language.

Many French speakers also prefer to use French as their go-to language instead of English, and showing willingness to adapt to your business partners’ needs and preferences can open many doors for you.

French is also important for anyone interested in working for the European Union, as its headquarters are based in Brussels, Belgium.

5. German: Europe's economic powerhouse

Total number of speakers: 134 million

Key areas: Germany, Austria, Switzerland

If your business is active in Europe, you may want to learn German. Germany is one of the biggest and most influential countries in the EU, and it has the largest GDP of any country in Europe. It even ranks third worldwide, so it’s a major player in the world of business.

Learning German is a great strategic move for anyone interested in the automotive industry, as well as science, pharmaceuticals, and technology. And even if your business hasn’t expanded to Germany yet, countries such as Austria and Switzerland also offer many great business opportunities.

6. Arabic: Growing importance in the Middle East and global trade

Total number of speakers: 335 million

Key areas: Middle East, North Africa

The Middle East has quickly become one of the main hubs of international business. Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are all economic powerhouses. These countries’ official language is Arabic, so if you’re interested in working in the area, consider signing up for Arabic lessons. And if you’re interested in working in some countries in North Africa, such as Egypt, you’ll need Arabic, too.

Arabic may be especially useful to learn for anyone interested in the oil business, infrastructure, tourism, or even fashion.

7. Portuguese: Emerging markets in Brazil and Africa

Total number of speakers: 266 million

Key areas: Brazil, Portugal, Africa

While Spanish is the language that people usually think of when Latin America comes up, Portuguese is another important language in that area. That’s because it’s spoken in Brazil, the largest country in Latin America.

Brazil has been on the rise lately, with its economy expanding fast. It has the ninth-largest nominal GDP in the world, making it the most attractive Latin American country for many economic leaders and large companies.

Outside of Brazil, Portuguese is also spoken in some African countries, including Mozambique. It will also come in handy in Europe, with it being the official language of Portugal.

If you work in manufacturing, finance, technology, or agriculture, consider picking up Portuguese for better career opportunities.

8. Japanese: Industry-specific language for technology and manufacturing

Total number of speakers: 123 million

Key areas: Japan

While Japanese is predominantly spoken in one country, Japan, it can still be an invaluable language to learn. Japan is the leader in many business areas, especially electronics, technology, and the automotive industry.

If your dream is to work with companies such as Toyota, Honda, or SONY, learning Japanese should be high on your to-do list, as these companies all have headquarters in Japan. 

When you’re learning Japanese, don’t forget to also look into Japan’s rich culture. Their norms and traditions can often differ from those in the Western world, and if you want to truly impress your future employer or business partner, it’s good to show them that you respect and admire their culture.

9. Other notable languages (e.g., Hindi, Korean, Italian, Dutch)

Other than the eight languages we’ve already covered, there are several other languages that may be useful for your career, depending on which industry you work in. Here are some other languages we would recommend learning:

Dutch: Dutch is a great language to learn for anyone considering working in Europe, especially in the Netherlands or Belgium, where it is an official language.

Hindi: As the third most-spoken language in the world, Hindi is a great language to learn if you’re interested in working in India or South Asia.

Italian: For anyone interested in fashion, learning Italian may be a good idea, as many of the best brands and designers come from or are located in Italy.

Korean: If you’re interested in companies such as LG or Samsung, you may want to learn the official language of South Korea, aka Korean.

Promova Corporate to unlock the most important languages for business

Learning a new language can help you advance in your career and business. But where should you start? How can you learn a new language and help your employees do the same at the same time? 

Promova is the perfect solution.

With our corporate language training option, you can help your team succeed in your country and abroad. Here are some things you will be getting when you sign up for Promova:

• Certified tutors: We only work with professional and experienced tutors with native-level language skills.
• Team size flexibility: We’re happy to work with your team, no matter the size. Whether you have 5 or 500 employees, we’ll make sure that all of them are taken care of.
• 1:1 sessions: If you or one of your employees needs help preparing for a big presentation or a work trip abroad, we can help with individual lessons tailored to your specific needs.
• Group lessons: For those who prefer learning languages in a group setting, we also offer open group sessions. This is language learning and team building all at once.

What’s more, you’ll also get access to the Promova app and will be able to use your personal AI tutor that can help you at any time of day, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

Sign up for Promova today and take your business communication to the next level.

Final thoughts

Learning a second language is one of the best ways to advance your career and boost your business. Data shows that multilingual people often earn more money, are more in demand, and are more likely to succeed in international business. 

There are so many reasons to learn a new language, and with this article, you should be able to pick the right one for you.