We Indians have been obsessed with English fluency since a very long time. The parents want to send their kids to the best English medium school possible. Fluency in English is treated as a deciding factor for a child’s career. If a person is fluent in English then he or she is presumed to be intelligent.
Just like different coaching classes, courses which claim to teach how to speak in English in just a week or two are gaining popularity all over. And surprisingly, many people do enrol in such courses. The popularity of such crash courses and the keenness among people to learn English shows the significance of English in Indian businesses and society in general, which consider the language to be a staircase to success. The screening tests of various companies, includes English competency as a separate section. This shows that English proficiency is considered as one of the most important factors along with the other skills for any job in the business world.
The importance of stressing more on English Proficiency in workplaces is justified, keeping in mind the growing competitive business requirements. Businesses are expanding and having a wider reach. The employees are required to interact with various international clients, for which English acts as a common language, as it is globally used. It is extensively used for communication in the non- Hindi speaking states such as Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Also it is used for various corporate communications in MNCs. India being a multilingual state, there is no one common language which can unite the whole nation. Thus English is considered as a common language for communication. If not advanced, at least a basic level of English fluency is required for communication at workplaces where people from all parts of the country work under the same umbrella. This helps in efficient communication and avoids miscommunication.
It also plays a crucial role for business growth and development. As we all know that networking these days is an important part of all businesses, it is very important for the personnel to be proficient in business for smooth functioning and wide networking. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written are required. One needs to have outstanding public speaking skills in order to give effective presentations.
Thus various job roles demand a good command over the language. It is considered important for professional practitioners too. Being a lawyer or a Chartered Accountant you are required to communicate with various clients. Good communication skills will help you grow professionally and build a good brand for your business.
Impact of not considering English Proficiency as one of the key skills for various job roles in India.
Considering the wide use of English in the corporate world, removing it as a prerequisite doesn’t seem a very wise choice. However, for some roles which don’t require you to work on the front end, direct interaction with clients, presenting critical ideas etc., can eliminate English as a deciding factor for job eligibility. Not all roles require the need for spoken and written English, but it surely acts as an advantage if one is able to fluently communicate English. Thus it is advisable for organizations to hire the best talent and give them the basic training. It is surely a loss to let go of an extremely talented person only because he/she couldn’t fit in your communication norms. Providing them the basic training is truly an investment for the organizations.
Should regional languages be promoted in workplaces?
We can never get away from our roots. A major part of our roots reflects through us in some or the other way. As we move to expansion and development of business, which requires professional communication, with English being a primary medium, does not mean that we totally refrain from using our regional languages.
Using regional languages for communication at workplaces tends to create a homely environment and a friendly atmosphere. It enables smooth flow of communication comfortably. It brings out the diversity and shows the organization has a diverse work culture, it helps in reducing monotony to some extent and unifies the staff with each other.
However, this might sometimes lead to groupism. Members of the same regional community may form a group and isolate the others. This may discourage some employees from getting involved in the activities conducted at the office and they might feel aloof.
Having English as a common medium of communication, allows everyone to come on a common platform and indicates a more professional and healthy environment, with no scope for groupism on a regional basis.
But only having English as a language for communication will create language barriers for those not comfortable with English. Few employees might not be comfortable and might feel hesitant to express themselves. But they should be encouraged to participate and not be judged on the basis of a language.
However, it is advisable to allow the use of regional languages but with some regulations so that we can have a more healthy work atmosphere.
Will removal of “fluent English” as a requirement for various jobs unlock hidden talents?
Sometimes, a language cannot define our skills. A simple verbal language cannot dim a personality which is born to shine bright. Unfortunately, such talents are not able to come in the upfront when English proficiency is kept as a major deciding factor for screening and eligibility. Companies sometimes lose the best talents merely for a skill which can be easily taught and developed with time. Not considering English as a major deciding factor and something which can be overlooked in case of exceptional talents will help the companies to hire the best work force and will also enable the employees to make full utilization of their skills along with brushing up on the language skills which they are weak while working in a competitive work culture.
There are many talented people who are unable to showcase their ideas due to the language barrier. The game changing ideas are hidden merely due to a language barrier. This is fair and unjust that you cannot be in the spotlight just because of a language. However, one can always work on ourselves, we just need to analyze our weak areas and work towards them. Thereby adopting a growth mind-set and working towards career progression.
Thus English is still considered as an important factor for communication at workplaces. It might sound too rigid to say that it is necessary but it is required at all levels of career for growth and progression in the corporate world.