Believe it or not, aside from technical skills and growth mindset, global organizations and businesses today should have a high-impact language learning program. This can enable their workforce to communicate, collaborate, and conduct business on an international scale.
But here’s the catch, the language learning landscape isn’t the same now as it was during the past years. This is because the online language learning market is projected to grow at a whooping USD 12,452.63 Million by the end of 2025.
Even with this, the reality is that some learning leaders are still having doubts about how language training should be done now, especially with the current situation of the world.
So let’s jump in and take a quick glance at how language learning has evolved. We’ll see how it’s done in the past, how digital language learning has taken the industry by storm, and the innovations in language learning that can accelerate your company’s learning strategy.
Traditional F2F (Face-to-Face) Training
Here’s the deal: in the past, most organizations preferred to partner with language training providers that offered traditional instructor-led training sessions done in a classroom setting.
And yes! For years, enterprises and learners themselves have believed that this is the most effective method to learn a second language because of the personal interaction that comes with it, plus the exposure of the learner to the language through conversations with their language trainers.
But the truth is, contrary to popular belief, F2F training isn’t better than online learning. Actually, it’s the other way around! According to the Research Institute of America, digital learning can increase retention rates by 25% to 60% compared to F2F training (which is very low at 8% to 10%).
With today’s changing workplace, organizations are more optimistic about online learning as most likely, it’s here to stay. So shifting to digital modes of training is the most viable option for companies across the globe to ensure continuous learning that is more scalable and efficient for both learners and organizations.
Innovations in Online Language Training
Today, global organizations and businesses are making the switch.
This means that more and more companies are able to harness the power of digital learning now than ever before; thus, learning is mostly done through online video conferencing tools (such as Microsoft Teams, Skype, etc.), eLearning platforms (e.g. LMS, LXP), and rich content libraries with resources that are relevant and curated based on learners’ needs and goals.
But unlike before, traditional eLearning won’t work now since organizations need a training that is immersive and engaging to help them boost training utilization and effectively upskill and reskill their employees.
The point: digital learning will be the new norm in language training. As a response, more organizations are adapting to this more quickly, and so should you.
But don’t worry! To make your learning strategy more effective, be sure it includes these 5 innovations in language learning:
Highly Curated and Business-Focused Content
You see, no matter how language learning is done, may it be through F2F in the past and digital learning in the present, one vital thing to consider when aligning your language learning strategy to your business objectives is the learning content.
The thing here is that you should always make sure that your pool of content is highly curated based on the current goals, preferences, and learning styles of your learners for training to become not only more relevant but also more engaging.
The best part is, partnering with a language learning provider that houses a rich library of learning content that directly addresses the issues your learners encounter at work helps boost training utilization.
This is where the power of content curation comes in since it brings the most relevant content to your learners more easily, so that their learning experience will be more seamless.
For example, if your salespeople are attempting to close a deal with Chinese prospects, it’s best if they update themselves with the current trends and happenings in the Chinese market while also learning Chinese to easily convey their thoughts in the language most accessible to their clients.
Netflix-Like User Experience
As you know, the majority of us love personalization — from the ads we encounter as we scroll around digital spaces, playlists we listen to depending on our current mood, up to movies and shows we watch based on our viewing history.
The same thing applies to your workplace learning. Because in our current era of digital transformation, algorithms, and artificial intelligence (AI), a Netflix-like user experience helps us to be actively engaged in learning.
That said, the term Netflixization, which when used in the workplace learning context, refers to the use of eLearning tools and platforms that provide bite-sized, on-demand services and learning content in corporate training through learning systems (e.g. LMS, LXP).
Not only this, but the use of data and artificial intelligence can help you make the language learning experience for your employees more intuitive and personalized; thus, they will see the value and relevance of learning it in a real-world professional setting.
For instance, having a language learning provider that enables your learners to be assessed pre-training about their learning preferences, needs, and objectives and tailor training based on these data can give them a more intuitive learning process that improves knowledge retention.
Live Virtual Human Interaction
One of the top worries of L&D leaders about switching to a purely digital language training is that, more often than not, they think that the ‘human touch’ and immersion in language learning are completely removed.
But don’t worry! In digital language training, certified language trainers who are native speakers or proficient in the target language are there to guide learners all throughout their learning journey to the point when these trainers also recommend learning content that your employees can study independently.
Actually, goFLUENT is already redefining language learning through a Full Classroom Training Experience, simulating the traditional face-to-face training, but in a virtual and digital way, making learning more interactive, engaging, and immersive.
Indeed, this addresses the need for human interaction especially in digital learning spaces. This is achieved through personal private 1-on-1 language lessons and small-cohort sessions wherein learners from all over the world can interact with each other and simulate business and professional situations they encounter at work.
Always Available Learning Consultants
Aside from the expertise from language trainers, it’s also best if your learners can always rely on their learning consultants who they can easily contact 24 hours a day, 7 days a week whenever they have questions and concerns about their lessons, courses, and the training program in general.
Having this kind of solid support system doesn’t only make the language training more effective, but it also makes it more engaging and enjoyable as learners need not to worry anymore about how they can go through their workplace learning, considering the amount of time and effort they invest on their respective jobs.
Enterprise-Level Integration and Support
This is the best part for most organizations today! Language training should be fully integrated to your company learning system and implemented at scale with ease and efficiency.
For this, you can partner with a language learning solutions provider that allows enterprise-level integration through SCORM, SAML 2.0, or API wherein the eLearning portal can be integrated to your company’s current learning system (e.g. LMS, LXP) for an easier login process for learners and L&D leaders.
More so, a dedicated portal for managers and learning leaders can be great to have to help them monitor the progress of individual learners and quickly generate reports and data about training utilization, language level per learner, and other information that can help improve language training.
The Future of Business Language Learning
More than the blend of technology, relevant content, and human touch in the overall methodology of language learning, what’s certain during this time is that digital language training is here to stay.
In fact, a Fosway Group survey found that 71% of organizations have experienced an increased demand for digital learning from the learners and users themselves. And this is very significant! This is because the same report also said that only 5% think that learning strategy, investment and resourcing will go back to the way they were in the past.
So as we transition to and promote more digital transformation in the workplace, it’s best to ride with the waves and see how a digital language learning strategy can make the difference in business as we go experience the new normal at work.
