Communication is the Key to Success!

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When the euphoria of being selected for an international assignment has died down. Amongst the key issues identified by the assignee and their family in facing their new challenge are

• understanding how people will behave differently

• understanding why people behave differently

• re-establishing a normal daily routine

• making themselves understood

However when the language spoken in the new country is not their own (or even English) the overriding concern is always

• communication and negotiation

Effective communication with new neighbours, acquaintances and colleagues, even on a very basic level, is probably the most critical requirement to a quick and effective settlement. Family members need to have the ability to establish a friendly rapport, to ask questions and to be able to conduct basic everyday tasks with confidence.

Equally the ability to make yourself understood in the workplace demonstrates commitment to the job, helps establish partnerships and co-operation and creates an increased air of management authority.

It is therefore somewhat surprising to learn of the indifference many companies still pay to the acquiring of basic language skills. At best arrangements are made for a programme of drip feed tuition in the destination country after arrival (very often difficult in practice as the assignee becomes too involved in their new role), at worst there is an expectation that the individuals own language (or English!) will be the acceptable medium of communication (an increasingly unacceptable approach!).

Wouldn't it be ideal if you could combine the highest quality country briefing and an intensive introduction to the required language in a co-ordinated programme?

Farnham Castle's Language Plus programmes provide the exact solution. This format is proving highly popular with organisations and delegates who recognise the importance of communication within the context of cultural and practical understanding of the host destination. A recent delegate who attended a Japanese Language Plus programme commented

"excellent course, professionally run with exceptional teachers and speakers"

Each programme provides the opportunity to undertake a one or two day briefing within intensive language tuition, delivered normally by a national of the country whose language is being taught, with often spectacular results. The same delegate, who undertook a 5 day programme consisting of 11/2 day briefing and 31/2 day language further commented

"The language course was exceptional ... starting from scratch, I have developed a good grounding in the Japanese language, both written and spoken."

Every organisation is looking for a successful assignment, allowing the assignee and family to undertake a Language Plus programme is a worthwhile investment is the key to that success.