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Isn't speaking relevant foreign languages considered a plus in business settings? That seems to be the layman perception, at least.

by Dewie 12y ago

hawkice 12y ago
I've been told by Americans doing business in China that, even if you have pretty good Chinese, you don't have good business Chinese unless you specifically know that you do. So you'll get a translator anyway. Understanding the culture is important to understanding the product you provide, if it's at all different, so that can be pretty important.
- Wogef 12y ago
  This is absolutely correct. Only about 10% of the successful long-term foreign businessmen I know here speak passable Chinese. Chinese love when you speak the language- but that does not unfortunately translate into the sort of tangible business advantages that many students of Mandarin hope for. It's a wonderful language, and loads of fun to learn- but the ROI is not as high as other areas of study.
  - cottonseed 12y ago
    Where's "here"? I lived in Shanghai 3 years I would have put that number pretty close to 0%.
    - Wogef 12y ago
      >Where's "here"? I lived in Shanghai 3 years I would have put that number pretty close to 0%. Shenzhen. You're right, 10% is being generous but a lot of long time expats pick up Mandarin not at work but through the "long haired dictionary" method. I don't know any successful business people that have been here for more than five years that feel it's essential for business. Foreign companies fail here all the time due to not understanding culture, I've never heard of any failing due to the language barrier. Value comes from scarcity- fully bilingual people simply are not scarce in China.
      - matthewrudy 12y ago
        In Taipei the percentage of foreigners who speak good Chinese is quite high. Maybe just because I hang out with professionals rather than English teachers. But I agree that general fluency is a whole lot more common than business fluency.
- justicezyx 12y ago
  You are closer to understand culture knowing their languages...

Isn't speaking relevant foreign languages considered a plus in business settings? That seems to be the layman perception, at least.

by Dewie 12y ago

Isn't speaking relevant foreign languages considered a plus in business settings? That seems to be the layman perception, at least.

hawkice 12y ago

I've been told by Americans doing business in China that, even if you have pretty good Chinese, you don't have good business Chinese unless you specifically know that you do. So you'll get a translator anyway. Understanding the culture is important to understanding the product you provide, if it's at all different, so that can be pretty important.

Wogef 12y ago
This is absolutely correct. Only about 10% of the successful long-term foreign businessmen I know here speak passable Chinese. Chinese love when you speak the language- but that does not unfortunately translate into the sort of tangible business advantages that many students of Mandarin hope for. It's a wonderful language, and loads of fun to learn- but the ROI is not as high as other areas of study.
- cottonseed 12y ago
  Where's "here"? I lived in Shanghai 3 years I would have put that number pretty close to 0%.
  - Wogef 12y ago
    >Where's "here"? I lived in Shanghai 3 years I would have put that number pretty close to 0%. Shenzhen. You're right, 10% is being generous but a lot of long time expats pick up Mandarin not at work but through the "long haired dictionary" method. I don't know any successful business people that have been here for more than five years that feel it's essential for business. Foreign companies fail here all the time due to not understanding culture, I've never heard of any failing due to the language barrier. Value comes from scarcity- fully bilingual people simply are not scarce in China.
    - matthewrudy 12y ago
      In Taipei the percentage of foreigners who speak good Chinese is quite high. Maybe just because I hang out with professionals rather than English teachers. But I agree that general fluency is a whole lot more common than business fluency.
justicezyx 12y ago
You are closer to understand culture knowing their languages...