The Challenges of International Relocation
Relocating an employee internationally is a huge undertaking, and the logistics, vendor management, and supply chain decisions made to make those relocations successful can be daunting to any mobility consultant unfamiliar with the benefits of language and cultural training.
After the housing choices, flights, and household goods are handled, the remaining budget a relocating family can spend on their move is usually discretionary. It can include things like moving pets, buying new home goods upon their arrival in their new location, and possibly even language training.
The Importance of Language and Cultural Training
Effective communication is critical to the success of international relocation and shouldn’t be offered as an add-on to relocation policies. It can be the difference between feeling connected and confident in a new location or being desperate to come home, surrounded by familiarity. Language training pre- and post-departure benefits not only the relocating employee but their spouse and family, too. This includes cultural training for the entire family relocating so they know what to expect in their new home and confidently navigate their new culture.
The Consequences of Inadequate Language Training
Imagine landing in a new country, surrounded by a new culture, a new language, new colleagues, new doctors, teachers, and grocers, and feeling like an outsider. You’d be eager to come home, too.
English-speaking employees who move internationally often assume that everyone in their new country will speak English and are willing to accommodate what little language learning they’ve done. Speaking a little bit of a new language is better than not speaking it, right?
Being unable to give presentations or send emails to their new colleagues can be shameful, stressful, and even embarrassing, but those feelings are easily avoidable through language training.
Language Training: A Business Investment
Employee happiness has a quantifiable dollar amount
The number one reason for a failed international relocation? An unhappy spouse or family member. To avoid wasting millions of dollars moving someone abroad, allow them time before, during, and after a move to fully understand their new home – its culture and language. According to a recent study by the IMPACT group, 56% of international relocating employees claimed they experienced emotional or personal challenges that lasted three months or longer after their move. Disengaged or unhappy employees can cost an organization upwards of 30% of their annual salary through unproductivity.
“I have taken approximately 26 classes with my Spanish teacher and have found it to be a wonderful experience thus far! She is quite the character and does a really good job catering her class to my needs and wants. No class is ever the same. Some days we will work through some grammar exercises, while in others we read contemporary news articles and discuss Mexican culture. I have found that my Spanish is continuing to improve and my confidence in the language returning. I have a long way to go, but have found that the 1:1 class format is super conducive with my style of learning.” Global LT Student
It helps families acclimate quickly
In the study by Atlas, 32% of global employees said they would decline a relocation assignment because they lacked spousal support. While the employee has work to focus on, their spouse is usually left with finding a new school for the kids, new doctors, new community groups, and even friends. Who can they rely on once they get to their new home? Suppose spousal support isn’t included in a relo policy. In that case, their language teacher may be the only bridge they have between their old life and their new one and is the only one available to help them acclimate to and understand their new community. Their teacher helps learners understand language and culture and is intimately familiar with the daily support a spouse and family member may need.
“ I feel that I'm more confident to speak in Swedish. I like that my teacher corrected me for mistakes that I made kindly. Besides language, she also taught Swedish culture at work and in general which I appreciated a lot. She is a good motivator and she has a lot to give with her experience. I got good suggestions regarding technical materials that I can use to continue my study.” Global LT student
Our students and teachers have hundreds of stories about how their language teacher answers WhatsApp messages to help them make doctor appointments, use the right words when talking to teachers, or even find nail salons. The personal relationships between language teachers and their students are invaluable to relocating families. Global LT teachers go above and beyond to ensure their students succeed in their new location. They turn into friends and confidants, not just teachers. Knowing they have an advocate through language means they find comfort and familiarity in their new home, which lets the relocating employee focus on their new job.
Language and culture training are good for business
Employees who learn new skills and prioritize learning are more productive and profitable for their employers. They need language tutoring to thrive in their new location. Still, the confidence that comes with communicating authentically and proving that they’ve learned new skills means the relocating employee will start their new role excitedly and enthusiastically. That can translate into more innovative ideas, increasing global operations, and finding new customers. At the very least, language learning will keep those relocating excited about their new assignment.
In a recent relocation survey by Graebel, they reported that over 94% of international relocating employees said they would have done something differently or asked their employer to do something differently if they ever relocated again. What was on the wish list? 31% of those respondents said they would have liked to receive language and culture training pre- and post-departure. In today’s interconnected and globalized economy, language and culture training must be prioritized (both for the company and the employee's benefit).
Global LT: Your Partner in Successful Relocations
If you’re ready to equip your relocating employees with language and culture training to ensure a successful relocation, we’re here to help. Global LT is the leading language tutoring provider, is minority-owned, and was founded by an immigrant. We understand ex-pats because we are ex-pats. We offer 1:1 tutoring and group lessons, and our teachers focus their lessons on delivering real-world outcomes.
Read our latest white paper, “International Relocations Require Language & Cultural Training: Investing in Long-term Employee Happiness with pre- and post-departure Training,” to stay current on the language requirements and trends that impact international relocating employees.
