Faculty of Economics and Management
Bachelor's Degree in Business Management
English Module/1st year/2nd block/Academic Year 2023
STUDENT: Silvério Mendes Augusto: 81230853
TOPIC: THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE FOR THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COURSE
I. INTRODUCTION
With the advent of globalization, geographical and cultural barriers were broken, which
allowed for an increasing flow of international business. In this context, communication skills
are one of the main competencies required by professionals working in the business
management segment. The English language is undoubtedly the current lingua franca of
business. With more than 1.5 billion people speaking English worldwide, the English
language has become essential for those who wish to excel in the global job market
(Fernandes, 2013 p. 3).
Globalization has directly influenced the way business is conducted today. International
business requires more than ever a language skill to ensure effective communication in a
multicultural and multilingual environment. This article aims to discuss the importance of the
study of the English language for students of the business management course. Practical
examples of how English language skills help in the professional performance of this segment
will be presented.
II. THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT
According to Corder, (1974) Language is such a vital resource for human life that many
regard any knowledge of it as almost sacred. For business managers, language is even more
important, since they need to deal with people from different parts of the world, in different
cultural and linguistic contexts, and still maintain effective and clear communication (p. 45).
Knowledge of the English language allows managers to communicate effectively with
their peers around the world. Kramsch, (1993) It highlights that, in addition to linguistic
competence, language is also a cultural aspect, which mediates the understanding of different
values, beliefs and behaviors (p. 76). Therefore, English language ability should not be seen
only as a linguistic competence, but as an intercultural skill. By studying the English
language, managers can better understand the cultural nuances that influence employee and
customer behavior, which can be critical to business success in a global marketplace.
To illustrate the importance of studying the English language in business management, we
can take as an example an executive who wants to negotiate a partnership with a foreign
company. If he does not understand the business culture and values of the foreign company,
he can risk misunderstandings and even failure in the negotiation. In this case, intercultural
and language skills are crucial in helping the negotiator understand the nuances of each other's
communication and culture.
A study carried out by EF English Proficiency Index, (2017) showed that communicative
skills in English are often more important than other technical skills for multinational
companies. They concluded that companies with a high level of English-language competence
tend to be more successful in their global business.
III. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
In conclusion, the study of the English language is crucial for business management
students, since they need to deal with people from different parts of the world and succeed in
a global business environment. English language ability can help in understanding the cultural
nuances that lie behind business communication and thus ensure effective and clear
communication. Therefore, business management students need to make the most of every
opportunity they have to develop their English language skills, whether through language
courses or international experiences.
IV. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Corder, S. P. (1974). Revising the notion of communicative competence for a multicultural
world. Em New Directions in ESP. Hong Kong: The City Polytechnic of Hong Kong.
BRAINE, G. (ed.).
EF English Proficiency Index. (2017). English Proficiency of the World. Zurich: EF
Education First.
Fernandes, B. H. R. (2013). Gestão estratégica de pessoas com foco em competência. Em Rio
de Janeiro-RJ, Brasil (1a. edição). Elsevier Editora. https://ru.b-
ok2.org/book/2569875/b584d5
Kramsch, C. (1993). Context and Culture in Language Teaching. Em Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
