BENEFITS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING - LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATES â€" A PREREQUISITE FOR THE BUSINESS GRADUATE

Pop Anamaria Mirabela () and Sim Monica Ariana ()
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Pop Anamaria Mirabela: University of Oradea, Faculty of Economic Sciences
Sim Monica Ariana: University of Oradea, Faculty of Economic Sciences

Annals of Faculty of Economics, 2013, vol. 1, issue 2, 167-176

Abstract: Learning a new language at any age is an enormously rewarding experience in many ways. Studying a foreign language helps students understand English grammar better and improves their overall communication and problem-solving skills. Beyond the intellectual benefits, knowledge of a foreign language facilitates travel, enhances career opportunities, and enables one to learn more about different peoples and cultures. In Romania, languages continue to struggle to gain the status of key learning area in many primary, secondary schools and even universities, while many countries in the European Union have adopted a policy which requires ‘mother-tongue plus two foreign languagesâ€(tm), introducing languages from the earliest years of primary education. This is due to the fact that contacts between people of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds have increased in the past few decades, a number of factors like advances in technology â€" the internet, telecommunications, travel â€" increasing international migration and the trend towards economic globalization contributing to it. As these trends continue into the future, the need for intercultural competence will be heightened. Due to growing economic relations between Romania and various countries of the world, knowing a foreign language gives one the much-needed edge. This paper attempts to provide language teachers and language learners with accessible, concise information about the benefits of languages learning and the advantages of having a certificate proving proficiency in a particular foreign language, with emphasis on English. It draws on literature in a number of fields including second language acquisition, language education, presenting key arguments which are fundamental to supporting and promoting the benefits of languages. Also, it draws on the results of a research performed at the Faculty of Economics with 1st and 2nd year students. The research is based on the assumption that the language courses offered at the Faculty of Economics should provide students with internationally comparable proof of their language competence. This is extremely valuable for students who wish to obtain a language proficiency certificate which represents, in our opinion, a must for the Business graduate.

Keywords: English proficiency; language certificates; ESOL; IELTS; TOEFL (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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