When you recognize the need to enhance your business linguistics but don’t have a year or two to dedicate to learning a new language, what do you do?

Your company might be expanding into a new country, or perhaps you're noticing that many of your employees aren't English speakers. Maybe you're considering a strategic partnership in another territory.

Whatever the reason, you need a way to fast-track your path to a working knowledge of a new language. It’s a common place to be for people in global organizations.

If your business already has a Language Service Provider (LSP), then you can speak to them about how they can help you. At LinguaLinx, we help our clients with all of their linguistic needs, and this includes helping executives quickly get to grips with a foreign language.

If you have two hours a night for the next four months to go to a language course in person, then great. However if you don’t, then there’s no miracle way to do it, but it is totally achievable.

Here are some top tips and hacks on how to get a basic understanding of business linguistics under your belt.

Business Linguistics Tips

Speak the Language

We had to start with the obvious. The more you speak it, the more it’ll sink in. Ask anyone who’s gone in at the deep end and lived in a country where they’ve had to survive by speaking to the locals who don’t speak English.

A realistic way to do this, without planting yourself in the back end of a country for a few months, is to find someone you can speak to daily, even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes.

If you don’t know anyone, there are groups that will meet in most major cities. If you're looking to write the language, there are apps (HelloTalk and Speaky to name a few) where you can message people to practice.

Make Learning Accessible

This means getting an app. Think of the amount of time you spend on your phone checking and rechecking emails, scrolling through social media, and getting bitesize information about the news, celebrities, your industry, etc.

Check your screen time, and you’ll probably be shocked. Turn this time into learning time by getting an app that helps you learn the language.

Babbel and Duolingo offer great short lessons you can do anytime, anywhere.

Watch Movies and TV

Watching foreign language movies and TV with English subtitles on allows you to hear what the language sounds like. You can listen to people speaking authentically and not out of a text book.

The other way round is watching English movies with your language’s subtitles on so you can see how the words being spoken appear.

Our recommendation? Watch some English films that you’re already familiar with so you can really focus on the subtitles. Or watch a foreign language film that doesn't have a difficult plot, such as a light comedy or rom-com, so you won't get lost along the way as.

Know What You Want

Define what you want from the outset. Set your goals. Like all goals, make them realistic and achievable.

The first few weeks may be tough, but focus on the fact that you’re making progress every day. There’ll be a point where you finally get your balance on the bike right, and it starts to click.

A good goal to start with is “I want a working knowledge of the very basic (like how a five or six-year-old would speak) version of the language.”

You want to be able to just understand, speak, and write it simply. Does it matter if you mispronounce words? No. Does it matter if you don’t conjugate verbs properly? No.

What matters is a) you can communicate in the other language, which shows commitment and respect, and b) you understanding what’s being said and can speak at a basic level.

Set some milestones, so you have mini goals along the way that you can achieve and celebrate, to keep your motivation up.

Stick to Common Vocabulary

Part of knowing what you want is choosing what to focus on. The BBC reports that you only need to learn 800 – 1000 words to get to grips with a language well enough to communicate.

Once you get this basis and are confident to speak, other words will follow. So will grammar, punctuation, and pronunciation.

You’ll find that these base words you’ve learned will come with less thought. You'll focus more on what other people are saying and how they're saying it, naturally increasing your vocabulary and understanding. 

Enjoy it

Like any other personal development, make learning as fun and simple as possible. Integrate it into your daily life.

You’re looking for a frictionless way to add another tool to your arsenal. And it’s important to note that this doesn’t mean you won't get things translated for you, or use interpreters for important meetings and events.

Just because you know how to change the oil and brake pads doesn’t mean you stop getting your car serviced at a garage. There will be linguistic areas your LSP will always support you with. 

What it does mean is that if you can work some language practice into your busy schedule, you’ll make progress. Speak and listen to the language as much as possible through apps, movies, TV, or any other method. B

y setting an achievable goal of mastering the basics, you’ll be able to learn a second language, even with a hectic schedule.

Get a Quote for Your Language Needs

If you're seeking support for any of your business linguistics needs, we’d love to discuss how we can assist you. Consultations are free and come with no obligation.

In this article, we've covered essential strategies to help you quickly develop language skills crucial for your business success. From integrating language learning into your daily routine to leveraging various tools and setting achievable goals, these tips will fast-track your journey to mastering business linguistics.

With LinguaLinx, you can rest assured that your message will be accurately conveyed, no matter the language. As an ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 compliant provider with over twenty years of experience, we’ve earned the trust of organizations worldwide.