Language differences can often be a bit of a hurdle when it comes to doing business internationally. When I worked in the coffee business I had an amazing opportunity to meet with the Bolivian farmers who grew my favorite coffee. I come from a rural background and I had every hope of sharing anecdotes and insights with these guys who were very friendly and social. It didn’t work out as well as I had expected, their English was about as good as my Spanish, there were pleasantries but no insights or anecdotes.

Part of the problem was that the only course in Spanish I had taken was a basic course in conversational Spanish. It was geared towards travel. Since that time I have taken a course on teaching English as a second language. The school where I studied and practiced had some teachers who specialized in teaching English to international business people. When students are employed individuals who know the dollar value of what they are being taught it’s amazing how much can be learned in a matter of weeks.

I get regular correspondence from a Swiss gentleman who works as a coffee broker in South America. His command of languages is undoubtedly one of his most important tools.

SGI Business Languages offers a Corporate Language Program in several languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian and German. They offer a choice between intensive and flexible programs.