VietNamNet Bridge – A significant number of students at foreign language teaching centers already have stable jobs but also want the benefits of being bilingual in a country that needs more and more foreign language speakers every day.

Recruitment ads in Vietnamese newspapers demand strong and comprehensive language abilities for positions in Vietnamese companies. They ask applicants to have good writing, speaking and listening skills in at least one foreign language.

For “hot” jobs like network security, securities trading, or website design, foreign language is a top requirement.

Foreign language ability is the first factor when filtering applicants, said Phan Thi Thu Huong, Deputy General Director of the Thien Long Company, in charge of human resources.

“Senior employees will be cut out if they can’t use a foreign language,” said Minh Thien, a senior designer at a private company.

“Foreign languages are currently popular and even experience can’t compete with young people who are bilingual,” she added.

“My job requires that I understand Japanese documents, if I can’t use Japanese, I will be unable to access necessary information and have to hire translators,” said Luan, a Japanese student in Hanoi.

For those who work in foreign-invested companies, foreign language is compulsory.

Nguyen Thi Trinh, head of a garment chain in a Korean-invested garment company, confirmed: “The value of an employee will double they have both professional skills and are fluent in a foreign language”.

Trinh is pursuing a Korean language course.

“Good English skills gives me opportunities and self confidence,” said Bich Ngoc, who is working at a foreign-invested company. Thanks to her good English, Ngoc easily gets a job there.

Bich Ngoc, an employee at a foreign invested company, is recognized by her manager based on their discussions in English. Her abilities have provided her with an income higher than that of colleagues in the same position.

Ngoc Quyen, a tourism student, is manager of a foreign restaurant, thanks to her English skills.

Lan Anh, a member of an English speaking course at the Youth Culture House, explained “To catch up with young employees, I have to learn English. I can only learn professional knowledge from English documents.”

In her company, employees good at English get higher pay.

As foreign languages become more important to the workforce, employees are seeking out learning centres that can provide the type of professional, bilingual education they need.

(Source: Lao dong)