Survey: High demand for language courses in companies despite pandemic

For many companies, good language skills are an important competitive advantage that, according to studies, is also highly relevant for business development and sales. Most companies have already recognized this and therefore want to invest in language training for their employees. A recent survey of managers reveals the details: a high backlog and need for improvement.

Need for catching up

In many industries, language courses have long been part of the standard repertoire of in-company training. Particularly with small and medium-size enterprises (KMU) there is however a clear catching up need, as now a common inquiry of LinguaTV and the B2B-information platform "Business Tipp" at the beginning of the year resulted. Thus the large majority (63%) of the respondents estimates good language knowledge of the coworkers as important or very important for the success of the enterprise. However, just 8% of the HR managers and corporate leaders surveyed are completely satisfied with the language skills of their own employees. The majority would only give them intermediate grades.


Need for improvement

Most of the respondents consider the current learning opportunities in the company to be in need of improvement. In order to improve this situation, around 45% of those surveyed want to continue the training courses already on offer, while more than 34% see a significantly greater need for language courses in their company. When asked which three languages their own employees should be proficient in, most responded with English (86%) and German (67%). French (24%) and Spanish (22%) are the most popular third languages, and in some cases Italian (8%).


Need for information

The survey also revealed a great deal of potential for improvement with regard to learning methods and formats. According to the survey, the majority of companies use digital and analog learning formats in roughly equal proportions. What is striking, however, is the still high proportion of face-to-face instruction, as well as the use of traditional textbooks and audio CDs. Among the eLearning formats, learning apps and video tutorials enjoy a somewhat higher prevalence; virtual classroom instruction, on the other hand, is frequently known but not yet used. Important training methods such as blended learning or micro learning have hardly been used to date and are even completely unknown to the vast majority of respondents.

Conclusion

The survey conducted by LinguaTV and Business-Tipp revealed a high demand for language courses in companies, especially in SMEs. A particularly clear potential for improvement was identified in the use of modern and especially effective eLearning methods, such as blended learning or micro learning. Here, the survey revealed a great need for catching up and information. LinguaTV offers suitable solutions for this. Since 2006, the Berlin-based provider of language courses for companies, government agencies and educational institutions has been designing a mostly digital language training program that combines instruction with qualified teachers in a virtual seminar room with multimedia video courses for self-directed learning via app and browser to create a highly effective blended learning offering. What few people know: The optimal integration of the flexible learning modules into a pedagogically meaningful and individual learning program enable demonstrably better and faster learning results.

If you are also looking for an effective solution for your team's language training, LinguaTV's education experts will be happy to provide you with a free consultation.