Importance of Learning & Speaking Korean Language for Successful Business

Posted by euroasia on January 6th, 2015

If you are serious about doing business in Korea or with Korean partners and customers, then you will need more than “holiday level” language skills to get by. It’s important that you learn how to speak Korean to take your career to the next level. Making Korean your second language can drastically increase your potential business opportunities. It is essential if you wish to break into international markets, work in Korea, or get promoted in a Korean-owned company. By being fluent, you can effectively communicate with your target demographic and build confidence and trust much easily.

A typical Korean language course will teach you basic business vocabulary and the nuances of the country’s language culture. By the end of a course, you should be able to start a conversation and keep it going. A business Korean class will equip you with the essential vocabulary you need in the workplace.

You will most likely start with basics like, “Give me your website address” or “I left my files at home” and then progress to more advanced discussions of business contracts, exchange rates, marketing budgets, product guarantees, etc.  Soon enough, you will be adept at using the Korean language for buying and selling, e-commerce and communications, finance, banking, accounting, stock exchange, etc. You will become more confident in business meetings and negotiations. Even if you don’t achieve complete mastery of the language, you will still gain a fluency that lets you create a great impression in the workplace. You will also gain insight into how Koreans do business.

Are you a complete beginner? To progress to business Korean, you will most likely be asked to take a level one Korean language course to cover the basics. After all, you can’t talk about profit margins until you know how to count in Korean. A good language school won’t limit you to travel-related vocabulary or situations, but instead slowly introduce you to business-related topics as you progress.

The best Korean language classes are taught by native-speaker teachers who can also teach you about Korean business culture. They might share their own experiences working in Korean-speaking organisations.

Once your Korean is at an advanced level, you might want to join intensive private classes where you will work with a tutor, one-to-one. This way, your teacher can tailor a curriculum for your particular requirements. Some language schools are even able to provide cross-cultural training, which can help you prepare for work and like in a Korean-speaking environment.

About the Author:

Euroasia is New Zealand's premier private provider of services in the area of foreign languages and cultures. They offer international language courses throughout NZ. Euroasia provides a range of services to help businesses in their dealings with people who may come from a different culture and speak a different language.