Looking for language courses with cultural tips and guidance for your business?

Is your business involved in imports and
exports, or do you collaborate with international stakeholders or clients? Find
out more about how your business and colleagues could benefit from the range of
languages and support on offer from the 

The UEA evening language programme is open to
members of the public, UEA students and staff. are now on offer too – a recent enhancement
to this successful programme which has been running for over 30 years. Sessions
are delivered by language specialist tutors, many of whom are native speakers
and come from all around the world.

The programme currently offers Spanish,
French, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, German, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese,
Russian and British Sign Language.

It is true that English is used a lot within the business world.
However, many people speak “Globish”, a simplified version of English which
means some important nuances may be lost in the process. Making the time and the effort
to learn a foreign language (even just some basic phrases) also sends a very
positive message, as it implies that you want to understand better and are not
intending to view everything from your own standpoint. Last (but not least),
learning a language is fun, and can be a great team building exercise.

The UEA Language Programme can also help you
to avoid cultural faux pas by helping you understand the business culture of
the country you are dealing with. Erin Meyer* gives a very striking
example: “Presenting to Londoners or New Yorkers? Get to the point and stick
to it. Presenting to Belgians, Spaniards, or Germans? Spend more time setting
the parameters and explaining the background before jumping to your
conclusion.” The impact of cultural differences on interactions and
processes can make a real difference.

 *(Erin Meyer, Affiliate Professor of Organisational
Behaviour at INSEAD)

For the standard evening programme, classes
take place in-person, on the UEA campus, usually from 6:15pm to 8:15pm. Terms
are 10-weeks long and run three times a year (beginning in January, April and
October).

Bespoke training can also be offered
specifically for businesses, tailored to your specific needs and requirements.
The Language Programme team would be very happy to chat to you about devising a
training package for your business.

The aim is to make language learning an
enjoyable and rewarding experience. All four communicative skills are tackled
(speaking, listening, reading and writing), but for businesses classes can
focus more particularly on certain skills depending on your specific
needs.  There is a maximum class size of 15 people, creating a nice
learning community where people feel comfortable to give it a try in a safe
space.  

Registration is now open for evening classes
starting in January.
Registrations close on Wed 1
January.

Learning a language is a gateway to a
different culture. Some students are driven by short-term objectives, such as a
holiday, or longer-term ones, such as communicating with a partner’s family in
their own language. But the benefits can also be professional – beyond the
ability to communicate in the language itself, taking a class can increase
students’ confidence in speaking, ability to improvise and adapt to new
situations, teamwork and problem-solving skills. It also grows people’s mindset
and cultural intelligence.

Contact the UEA Language team to discuss your
requirements: