The Advantages for New Graduates of Being Bilingual in the Workforce

English is the official language in 67 countries. Native tongue for 400 million people, English is used by more than 2 billion speakers. This is mostly a consequence of history. The British Empire’s expansion through colonization of new territories spread the English language to the far ends of earth. Other languages were spoken in the new world (French, Spanish, Dutch), but English rapidly established itself as le major language for trade. The political and scientific importance of the United-States and United-Kingdom over the last two centuries conferred, to the English language, a prominent role as the language for international communication.

We can also mention the influence of the Anglo-Saxon civilization during the 1900s through its culture, movies and music. Most notably the Beatles, with their simple and universal lyrics, whose songs inspired generations, and Hollywood with its internationally idolized stars. In the 21^st century, as the language of international business, science, and pop culture, English has become the most important language in the world.

Globalization and technology have opened the markets to trades, and allowed goods and services to be rapidly sold at the other side of the world. The development of new technologies and the internet has also allowed to connect people and countries with each other, in an unforeseen way. Students are aware of this. As specified by Karin Colinet, an English teacher and a Program Director of the Academica Dual Diploma at Saint Joseph de Trivoli in Bordeaux, in an interview given to Avenuedesecoles.com, “This diploma shows that the student is able to take on challenges like a dual qualification, that they are open minded and that they have he tools to approach the international world of today and tomorrow. A strength that will also be recognized by future employers.” On the companies’ end, they take into account these continuous changes if they want to remain internationally relevant. This has had an impact on the evolution of many trades. How to communicate, for an international company, without having mastered the language understood and spoken by most consumers? How to negotiate foreign contracts or export products without using English?

In an interconnected world, the advantages of bilingualism to build a career are undeniable. Speaking English fluently is considered an indispensable prerequisite on the job market. It is the n°1 language for business. Benefiting from a bilingual education is a strategic decision for the student’s future. Many recruiters deem crucial that their collaborators be bilingual or at least speak English fluently in order to participate to the development and growth of their company. It is, moreover, one of the most asked for skill on the job market. The absence of this skill can be eliminatory. Becoming bilingual in English would then enable more professional opportunities and to access to senior positions. Furthermore, in the workplace in France, English has invaded the daily vocabulary via American startups. English expressions make their way into everyday conversations: “meeting”, “team”, “deadline”, “pitch”, and many more. Knowing how to speak English also helps to exchange within French companies.

Having benefited from a bilingual education and being able to prove it thanks to a diploma such as the Academica Dual Diploma (High School Dipoma and French Baccalauréat) allows students entering higher education and the workplace to differentiate themselves from the other candidates. They will be able to more easily obtain their first internship and their first job in the sectors that interest them. Speaking English allows easier adaptation in any kind of environment.

International travel and encounters with non-francophones are common situations in the workplace. For the bilingual student, these will seem a lot less intimidating. Being able to speak another language and having a dual culture reinforces as well the self confidence as it is a gateway to the world, to other traditions, and allows to be rid of biases. The world becomes a field of possibilities.

Having access to the American High School Diploma program in France answers the parents’ concerns about their children’s future careers. The Academica Dual Diploma is a dual diploma comprised of the French Baccalauréat and of the American High School Diploma. To obtain it, students follow digital courses in simultaneously to their French studies starting from the 9^th (Troisième) or 10^th grade (Seconde). The classes are solely taught in English by American teachers, as if the students were in school in the US.

This linguistic and cultural immersion allows members of the program to truly become bicultural and develop their open-mindedness on the world. They acquire advanced linguistic skills and enhance their academic record. With this additional asset up their sleeve, they can serenely start their higher education and already think about their future careers.