Globalization is reshaping how companies work, where they choose to do business, and who they decide to bring on board. As a result, the demand for multilingual employees is increasing.
The benefits of having a team that can communicate in more than one language are vast, especially for companies with international growth on the horizon. From a business perspective, it can help increase your client base and build trust in relationships with both existing and new partners. Plus, it will improve your reputation as a company that knows its clients — and the world they live in — well. On the other hand, from an HR perspective, language learning can help empower employees by making them more confident in their work with international colleagues and clients, and can make them more productive.
But when you’re thinking about integrating corporate language training into your company, choosing which language to focus on can be hard. To help you decide, we took a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages between German and Spanish as a second language for business.
Want to get started with language learning?
Download our free guide to language learning to find the right learning strategy for your team. Use the included roadmap to set up a language learning plan in your company.
Which Are the Most Useful Languages to Learn?
The most useful languages to learn depend on various factors, such as personal interests, career goals, and geographic location. However, some languages are more widely spoken and can open up more opportunities for communication and career advancement. Here are some of the most useful languages to learn:
- Business English – English is the most widely spoken language globally and is often used as a common language in international business and politics. Upgrading your English skills to Business English could therefore have a lot of advantages.
- Mandarin Chinese – It has the largest number of native speakers in the world and is increasingly important for business and trade with China.
- Spanish – Spanish as a second language is ideal because it is the second most spoken language in the world and is widely spoken in Latin America, making it valuable for business and travel.
- Arabic – It is spoken by over 400 million people worldwide and is important for trade and diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa.
- French – It is an official language in over 29 countries and is an important language for diplomacy and international organizations.
- German – It is widely spoken in Europe and is the official language of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, making it important for business and tourism.
- Russian – It is spoken by over 250 million people worldwide and is important for business and politics in Russia and other countries in the former Soviet Union.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual goals and interests, as well as what kind of business you are working in.
Why Spanish as a Second Language Is One of the Best for Business
With over 400 million speakers worldwide, knowing Spanish as a second language can dramatically increase your international business prospects. As the first language of 20 countries and the second language of the world’s biggest economic power, having Spanish on your company’s resume makes you a much more desirable partner in many major markets.
As the third most commonly used language on the internet, being able to communicate in Spanish has huge advantages in a technological world. Global digital growth shows no signs of slowing down, which puts your company steps ahead of competitors from around the world.
Time is money when it comes to your team’s professional development, and Spanish is considered one of the easiest and quickest languages to learn for a native English speaker. The grammar and sentence structure are simpler, and because both languages have Latin roots, they also share thousands of cognates (words that sound the same and have the same meanings).
However, not all Spanish is the same, meaning it can be one of the more difficult languages to apply to international business expansion. With 10 major dialects in use across the globe, learning the many nuances of Spanish around the globe can take time and practice. This can make it tricky to enter into various Spanish-speaking markets at the same time.
Why German Is a Good Language to Learn for Business
Germany is the economic epicenter of the EU and German is the second most spoken language in Europe, making it the ideal language for companies with a desire to expand their business into this region of the world.
Business prospects are rapidly increasing in Germany, which means it’s an excellent place for companies to expand to or open up new offices. Recent studies claim it’s the top investment location in Europe, meaning more opportunity for your company to gain market share and industry knowledge while connecting your employees to an expanding global network.
However, the complex grammatical structure is not for the faint of heart. Three genders, noun declination, and hundreds of rules (with just as many exceptions) make German one of the more challenging languages to learn.
Though if your team is up for the challenge, the rewards are worth the effort. Germany is home to many of the world’s most valuable brands and has the best reputation of any country in the world, making it a great place to do business. Plus, the language has a lexicon so expansive that your team will never be lost for words.
German or Spanish as a Second Language? You Decide!
All things considered, the answer to whether you should learn German or Spanish as a second language can’t be determined all that easily. Your company’s needs, objectives, and unique circumstances all play a major role in deciding what direction you should take. If you were to ask us, we’d say: Why not aim for both (or all) of the languages relevant to your business? The benefits of language learning are vast – and your team’s working knowledge of them can be, too!
Want to get started with language learning?
Download our free guide to language learning to find the right learning strategy for your team. Use the included roadmap to set up a language learning plan in your company.
