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Increasing employability by learning new language

  • 17-06-2013 1:27pm
    #1
    Plastic Sheeting
    Site Banned Posts: 51 ✭✭


    Hi

    I want to increase my employability by learning a new language. Since there's nothing happening here in Ireland for the forceable future I have taken it upon myself to unsticks and leave. However, I'm not going to go to the usual Anglophone countries as I want to learn a new language.

    What are your opinions on learning a new language. Are there any languages which are in demand by large corporations or multinationals?

    Some people have recommended Chinese or German.

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    Tabnabs
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,790 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    Scandinavian countries have very low unemployment levels. The Netherlands would be another decent place to emigrate to.


  • #3
    cloudatlas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,711 ✭✭✭cloudatlas


    Tabnabs wrote: »
    Scandinavian countries have very low unemployment levels. The Netherlands would be another decent place to emigrate to.

    What could the O.P. do before he attained fluency, are their jobs for someone with no Dutch in Holland?


  • #4
    Plastic Sheeting
    Site Banned Posts: 51 ✭✭Plastic Sheeting


    cloudatlas wrote: »
    What could the O.P. do before he attained fluency, are their jobs for someone with no Dutch in Holland?

    I was thinking TEFL


  • #5
    inmyday
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 731 ✭✭✭inmyday


    Learning a new language is not easy. Takes a lot of hard work.
    Although on job sites, multilingual jobs are plentiful.
    I am trying to learn German myself, and it is so hard to, with other life commitments. But one day hopefully I'll be able to say im fluent, in Deutsche.


  • #6
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    You don't need a foreign language for TEFL. In fact (weirdly) the schools generally want people with no local language skills.

    If I were you I wouldn't bother learning a language to increase your employability, as language skills tend not to be respected by employers or have a fair time spent studying to salary ratio.

    I would get a MBA, possibly some project management qualifications, and some IT skills.


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  • #7
    brandon_flowers
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,657 ✭✭✭brandon_flowers


    cloudatlas wrote: »
    What could the O.P. do before he attained fluency, are their jobs for someone with no Dutch in Holland?

    First things first OP, what industry will you be looking in?

    Yes, a lot of jobs in the Netherlands will require better English than Dutch actually. Considering you are fluent in English you have a great chance in a lot of other countries not just anglophone ones. I spoke very little French before moving to a job in Monaco but seen as I'm here I am making an effort to learn. I am not obliged for my job but it's just as easy to learn as it is difficult to get by without in everyday life. There are plenty working here that can't go beyond bonjour and merci. You will have the same in Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Madrid etc

    Picking up the language when you are there is then much easier. Trying to learn a language while you sit at home with no practice is a waste of time.


  • #8
    Plastic Sheeting
    Site Banned Posts: 51 ✭✭Plastic Sheeting


    Mr. Loverman wrote: »
    You don't need a foreign language for TEFL. In fact (weirdly) the schools generally want people with no local language skills.

    If I were you I wouldn't bother learning a language to increase your employability, as language skills tend not to be respected by employers or have a fair time spent studying to salary ratio.

    I would get a MBA, possibly some project management qualifications, and some IT skills.

    I know ya but the country you teach it in will offer the opportunity to learn their lanaguge
    brandon_flowers wrote: »
    First things first OP, what industry will you be looking in?

    Yes, a lot of jobs in the Netherlands will require better English than Dutch actually. Considering you are fluent in English you have a great chance in a lot of other countries not just anglophone ones. I spoke very little French before moving to a job in Monaco but seen as I'm here I am making an effort to learn. I am not obliged for my job but it's just as easy to learn as it is difficult to get by without in everyday life. There are plenty working here that can't go beyond bonjour and merci. You will have the same in Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Madrid etc

    Picking up the language when you are there is then much easier. Trying to learn a language while you sit at home with no practice is a waste of time.

    Looking in the legal/banking industry


  • #9
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    Plastic Sheeting wrote: »
    I know ya but the country you teach it in will offer the opportunity to learn their lanaguge

    Do you have a degree?

    You could come to China to teach TEFL and learn Chinese.

    I live in Beijing and I'm learning the language. It's not so hard. Just takes a long time to learn it.


  • #10
    cloudatlas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,711 ✭✭✭cloudatlas


    Plastic Sheeting wrote: »
    I know ya but the country you teach it in will offer the opportunity to learn their lanaguge



    Looking in the legal/banking industry

    I think the problem is taking a year out to learn a language whilst creating a deficit of one year in terms of work experience in the sector you're interested in.


  • #11
    Plastic Sheeting
    Site Banned Posts: 51 ✭✭Plastic Sheeting


    Mr. Loverman wrote: »
    Do you have a degree?

    You could come to China to teach TEFL and learn Chinese.

    I live in Beijing and I'm learning the language. It's not so hard. Just takes a long time to learn it.

    Yes I do.

    I have given that some thought. would you recommend Hong Kong?


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  • #12
    brandon_flowers
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,657 ✭✭✭brandon_flowers


    If you are in the legal/banking profession you will use English as the main language in a lot of companies no matter where you are based. Hong Kong, Singapore etc will all use English as the business language. The more Anglicized the place the harder it is to learn a language also, locals will just revert to English when they know it's better than your effort at their local language*.

    Honestly I think you would be better off trying the European cities first if you really want to learn another language.

    *except France - tourist orientated business will love practicing their English with you, the rest will carry on being ignorant.


  • #13
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    Plastic Sheeting wrote: »
    Yes I do.

    I have given that some thought. would you recommend Hong Kong?

    Hong Kong is amazing but you will stuggle to find work there as an English teacher.


  • #14
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    Mr. Loverman wrote: »
    Hong Kong is amazing but you will stuggle to find work there as an English teacher.

    Also be aware they don't speak Mandarin in Hong Kong. They speak Cantonese.

    Mandarin is standard Chinese, i.e. what they speak in Beijing.


  • #15
    Plastic Sheeting
    Site Banned Posts: 51 ✭✭Plastic Sheeting


    Mr. Loverman wrote: »
    Hong Kong is amazing but you will stuggle to find work there as an English teacher.

    Is it possible to make a decent wage in China. Plus where's the best climate?
    Mr. Loverman wrote: »
    Also be aware they don't speak Mandarin in Hong Kong. They speak Cantonese.

    Mandarin is standard Chinese, i.e. what they speak in Beijing.

    I hope they're similar.


  • #16
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    Plastic Sheeting wrote: »
    Is it possible to make a decent wage in China. Plus where's the best climate?

    Yeah you can make a lot of money in China. I earn more than I earned in Dublin.

    Plastic Sheeting wrote: »
    I hope they're similar.

    Almost entirely different.


  • #17
    Plastic Sheeting
    Site Banned Posts: 51 ✭✭Plastic Sheeting


    Mr. Loverman wrote: »
    Yeah you can make a lot of money in China. I earn more than I earned in Dublin.




    Almost entirely different.

    Do you like it there? Is there much chance of changing careers from English Teacher to something else once you have mastered the art of Chinese?


  • #18
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    I like China, but most people (including me) go through phases of hating the place. Americans, in particular, seem to really struggle with the cultural differences. China is pretty much the opposite of Ireland.

    It will take you about a decade to "master" Chinese.

    Have a look at this thread:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=83890321


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