In the business world and think you don't need to know German?
Think again!
OK, so you run into lots of people that speak English in the business world over there, but not always! Who's going to be able to deal with those people? Besides, American businesses are often looking for someone with FL training. It can provide an edge over your competition in the job search.
- Contributed by Brian Zahn
One important issue for Americans, who work for foreign companies, is that many times even management can and will be left out of what could be very important dialogue concerning decisions which may affect them personally.
How can an American sell an idea, a product, or even discuss company policy without being aware of the verbal and nonverbal language of those they are trying to sell?
- Contributed by Tara Deppert
Our corporations can't expect to sell their products to foreigners using English any more than the Germans or Japanese would approach American markets and expect to do business in their language. The first rule of international marketing is to approach a foreign culture in their language.
- Contributed by Bob Jenkins
You can buy in your own language, but you should sell in the buyer's native language.
- Contributed by Doreen Krueger
If you want to sell something [in the business world], you're far more likely to make the sale if you speak the language of your customer--even though he/she may speak yours as well as his/her own. You can handle their language, know something about their history and culture, and they feel you are more interested in them-and they are far more likely to buy from you than somebody who has a similar to equal product but doesn't take that step.
- Contributed by Harold Fry
I can think of 2 examples from the business world as to why one should learn a language which also involves learning a culture. The first is a paraphrase of what the Secretary of
State for Washington State, Ralph Munro, said. His comment was something to the effect that the greatest trade barrier facing us today wasn't any form of import tariff, but rather was our ignorance of other languages and cultures.
Herr Kohl [the former Chancellor of Germany] said something like this,
"If I want to sell you something, then I speak in your language. Aber wenn Sie mir 'was verkaufen wollen, dann sollen Sie meine Sprache können." ["But when you want to sell something to me, then you ought to be able to speak my language."]
-Contributed by Ken Joling
Have some pride in yourself - speak German!
There is nothing more invigorating than continuing to speak German to a German who insists on speaking English because he/she assumes that I can't speak anything other than English. I can prove that I'm not the usual ignorant American.
- Contributed by Brian Zahn