Businesses that travel internationally (or are even working with other clients or businesses in other countries) come in contact with other cultures and languages on a regular basis. As English is generally the “language of business”, most of the time us English speakers don’t have too much trouble communicating. That being said, knowing even a little (or a lot) of a client’s language can be a big help in understanding them better, improving relationships, and building trust. Evening if you’re just traveling for fun, knowing how to ask where the bathroom is in Chinese or being able to order beer and tapas at a Spanish bar can go a long way (and perhaps earn you some big points if you’re with clients).

There are an overwhelming amount of language tools and resources on the web and in book stores. Because of the many choices, it can often feel more overwhelming than helpful. One of the most well known and advertised language tools is Rosetta Stone. This is indeed a fantastic and robust tool for learning a whole host of languages. But there are also some other excellent alternatives which are just as powerful and might fit your needs better, depending on what you need and want. If Spanish is what you want to learn, Visual Link Spanish and SpanishPod101.com – Learn Spanish with Free Podcasts are two great ones, for example. Whatever you ultimately go with, it’s key that you know what you want—that is, do you want to gain a basic understanding of key words and/or phrases or do you want to go all in and learn to speak like a native? (Indeed, how good the language program is can make a big difference on how well and how quickly you acquire language proficiency, but in the end it is also up to you. Consistency, dedication, patience, and a good dose of humor are super key).

For those wanting a really solid understanding of all the basics, another brilliant resource is BBC Languages—perfect for the frequent international business traveler and/or tourist. This is a FREE language resource that covers French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Chinese, and Portuguese, just to name a few. The tools may not be as comprehensive as Rosetta Stone but it is incredibly interactive and fun and can keep you focused and learning for hours on end. By the end, you’ll be finding bathrooms, ordering beer, and impressing clients like an international-culturally-intelligent-business-superstar. Here’s to taking the international business world by storm!

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