WORKINGLanguages

"Anyone who is serious about doing business in an international context needs to wake up to the need for languages…companies will be making a big mistake if they over-estimate the role of English when their competitors are already able to respond in several languages."
-Hugh Morgan Williams, Confederation of British Industry

Did you know… approximately 863 million people speak Mandarin as their first language? Or that China is one of North Carolina's top four export partners?

Did you know… approximately 400 million people speak Spanish as their first language? Or that Mexico is also one of North Carolina's top four export partners?

WORKINGLanguages™ help students and working professionals learn languages and business cultures without causing major conflicts with other school, work and personal activities. Working Languages run 28 weeks. Working Spanish is offered at two levels: beginner (for people with little to no background in the language) and intermediate (assumes 1 -2 years prior language training) and Working Portuguese and Working Mandarin are offered at the beginning level. These programs utilize a unique combination of interactive technology, distance learning, instructor-led workshops, conversation hours and an immersion to a country where the target language is spoken in order to create culturally sensitive language speakers who can function comfortably and effectively in the target language's workplace.

Format

Limited class size
Business related content, including special textbooks, business cases, oral presentations and other activities designed with the needs of the professional in mind
Instructor led workshops held one evening per week
Internet instruction
Flexible scheduling to facilitate studying at student's convenience
Review of students' progress in independent work and preview of upcoming lessons
Weekly conversation hours with bilingual conversation coaches
Practice language skills and increase comfort with verbal communication
In-country Immersion

In-country Immersions

Kenan-Flagler MBA students taking a Working Language course are required to participate in an in-country immersion. Participation can be waived under certain circumstances, such as planned participation in an international exchange program or the Global Business Project course.

Working Language immersions feature

Homestays
Language tutoring personalized for each student's needs
Company visits
Cultural excursions and activities such as cooking or dance classes, rainforest tours, and karaoke night
Community Service project
The "Mission (Im)possible," a specially constructed team activity promoting communication and cross-cultural understanding

"Watching the people…listening to them talk, eating with them… I don't feel you can learn a language by just sitting in the classroom… Interacting with the people is where the true learning takes place."

"I definitely learned more in the immersion than in the classroom! Experiencing how native Spanish speakers engage each other is key to understanding cultural differences and similarities."

"I feel like I leaned [things]…that will help me in the future to be less judgmental and more open to new experiences, different cultures and different customs."

"I will definitely visit Costa Rica again (in the next 5 years) because of this trip, and saw many business opportunities in Heredia in particular."

"The best Spanish class you will ever take…A full range of experiences that expose you to the language and culture. I wish I could go back with you!"

More Information

To learn more about the different Working Language courses available at Kenan-Flagler, follow the links below.

Working Spanish for Beginners | Working Mandarin | Working Portuguese |
Working Spanish for Intermediates