Although English might appear to be the world language of business communication, there is now good evidence that MBA and other business school graduates who speak more than one language do better in the world of global business.

Even if you are only able to communicate a little in the language of a potential employer or business partner, you are showing the kind of cultural sensitivity and respect that can bring rewards to you and your company. 

As Sylvie Glandier, former head of marketing for the UK government's Department for International Trade in Brussels, recently stated in an interview for The Guardian newspaper: 

I work with British embassies across Europe organising trade fairs and liaising with local suppliers. I get the best deals and the best service by negotiating with people in their own language.

At Imperial College London we have an excellent in-house language teaching centre, the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication (CLCC). It offers a wide range of different global languages, available at different levels, from beginners to advanced, and classes are taught in the evenings, avoiding any clashes with daytime timetables. 

And, most important of all, on all courses taught in the language centre you deal with a human being, not a machine, so you will interact with your tutors live, either in person at Imperial College London's South Kensington Campus, or via the internet for online courses. There is no doubt this is the best way to learn a new language.

Make learning another language part of your business masters, professional development or MBA course.