The FINANCIAL — English is the most widespread language in the world according to experts. Estimates say that there are more than 350,000,000 native English speakers and more than 400,000,000 speakers of English as a second language or foreign language. In Georgia all leading banks and business companies require their applicants to have mastered English language. Having mastered English can increase a middle manager’s salary by 30 %, HR experts say.
However, even these numbers do not really indicate how important English is as a world language, because less than fifteen percent of the world population uses English. The importance of English is not just in how many people speak it but in what it is used for. English is the major language of news and information in the world. It is the language of business and government even in some countries where it is a minority language.
It is the language of maritime communication and international air traffic control, and it is used even for internal air traffic control in countries where it is not a native language. American popular culture, primarily movies and music, carries the English language throughout the world.
In some countries and in Georgia as well, English is the dominant secondary language. All leading Georgian Banks and business companies require their applicants to master the English language.
According to Tamta Tuashvili, PR Assistant of Insurance Company Aldagi BCI, one of the leading Insurance Companies in Georgia, mastering English is obligatory for staff members and applicants, but mostly it is dependent on their positions.
“English is commonly used as a medium for the communication of information and news. Three quarters of all messages and mail is sent in English. Eighty percent of computer data is processed and stored in English. More than half of the newspapers published in the world are published in English. Even in many countries where English is a minority language, there is at least one newspaper in English. So the necessity of the English language is doubtless,” Tuashvili declared to The FINANCIAL.
“Mastering English is compulsory for top managers, sales managers, and the retail department because today some terminus, periodical editions, and offers come in English. Aldagi BCI is one of the most popular insurance companies in Georgia and is often visited by foreigners, so the staff must have the ability to communicate with them,” Tuashvili added.
In Georgia, English is a second language, though it is not generally used as a medium of communication, but it is necessary for daily life. Today Standard English is taught in schools and universities, because it is necessary for careers.
The English language replaced Russian which was dominant in Georgia in the Soviet period. According to old newspapers’ reports around 80% of the Georgian population were speaking Russian fluently during 1960-92. The Russian language became popular in the 70s. It was the language of businessmen living, working and travelling in Soviet countries.
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The English language replaced Russian which was dominant in Georgia in the Soviet period.
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According to Tinatin Gugberidze, Public Relations Manager of Caucasus University, the English language has particular importance for those working in the business sector in Georgia. As all advanced companies in Georgia have business relations and partnerships with foreign companies it is impossible to be successful and to further develop organizational capacities without a knowledge of English.
“Caucasus School of Business doesn’t have courses in the English language, as its target audience should already have a sound knowledge of English prior to applying to the University. English is one of the primary requests from Caucasus University for current or prospective students. This is added proof of the importance of the English language today,” Tinatin Gugberidze declared to The FINANCIAL.
“Almost all members of staff should be fluent in English, at least all those who hold responsible and strategic positions within the organization. The knowledge of any field, especially of a foreign language, facilitates the external relationships of the company and therefore builds the welfare for the organization,” Tinatin Gugberidze added.
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All CEOs of the leading banks in Georgia speak English.
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According to Tinatin Stambolishvili, PR Manager of GPI Holding, English is obligatory for senior managers and for middle managers.
“Mainly for those who are engaged in the following positions: insurance/reinsurance department and sales managers. In any case knowledge of the English language is preferable for any and of course it is obligatory for senior managers and for middle managers,” Stambolishvili declared to The FINANCIAL.
“English is mainly important for a better relationship with foreign partners, acquiring knowledge and information, preparing documents/reports, etc. GPI Holding is an insurance company and most of the company’s partners are from foreign countries. That’s why 60% of the staff speak English, 20% speak it fluently and 20% as a secondary language,” Stambolishvili added.
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60% of the staff at GPI Holding speak English, 20% speak it fluently and 20% as a secondary language.
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According to Nino Bakarashvili, the Head of the HR Training Department of ProCredit Bank, the bank is making a significant investment in staff development both on the local and international level.
The bank is owned by ProCredit Holding AG and Internationale Projekt Consult (IPC) GmbH Germany. The bank’s management and supervisory board members are of German origin, but the working language is English and sometimes Russian.
“The bank’s corporate values such as transparency, social responsibility, and professionalism are revealed in the recruitment as well, especially in the staff development approach. For entry positions, we are not looking for highly qualified staff with extensive banking experience, just promising young people eager to develop. Social responsibility is also revealed in creating jobs for a wide range of the population, ordinary people who can further develop within the existed institute. This explains why English is not an obligatory requirement while hiring,” Bakarashvili said.
“On the other hand communication, experience exchange within the group, and development of future leaders of this huge global family is becoming more and more important and requires one common communication language which is English,” Bakarashvili added.
According to Tata Shavdia, Head of the PR and Communication Department of Bank Republic,
mastering English is obligatory for Managers, the number of positions oriented on customer service etc. English is a language of communication between management, as a large number of managers are expatriate.
“Bank Republic provides training in English language for the staff that require English (and whose level of knowledge is not satisfactory. This is a general English course, group or individual studies, three or two times a week carried out by certified professional teachers. In exceptional cases staff are sent on language study abroad,” Tata Shavdia declared to The FINANCIAL.
“As for other training not related to language study: the bank plays big attention to the development of their staff and almost all employees of the bank are trained locally or abroad on a variety of issues on a regular basis, depending on their and he bank’s needs. For selected staff, BR finances MBA studies and also offers an international career. Roughly speaking, about 35% of BR staff speak English. Among them 10% are fluent and the rest range from intermediate to advanced (depending on the position). Top and Middle Managers are generally fluent in English,” Tata Shavdia added.
“Three years ago, ProCredit Academy in Germany was founded for the development of middle managers. Every year in the academy, trainings for around 70 managers from all the banks of the group are conducted. ProCredit’s Regional Academy in Macedonia is focused on the development of managers from Eastern European countries. As all these seminars are conducted in English, mastering English becomes important for participation,” Bakarashvili said.
“Therefore the bank has a team of highly qualified teachers both in Tbilisi and the regions delivering classes to around 65 middle and potential managers. This year the number of participants will increase up to 100. ProCredit Bank provides English classes not only on a local level, but also in a Language School based in Germany. A two month intensive course, daily communication with colleagues and language school staff makes it possible to overcome communication barriers and achieve good results in a shorter period of time,” Bakarashvili declared.
“There is no statistical data on the number of employees speaking English although the number of English speaking staff is significantly increasing as our goal is to overcome any communication barrier within the ProCredit group and any obstacle for further professional development of our staff,” Bakarashvili added.
According to Kate Javakhishvili, Recruiting Manager of Human Capital, mastering English has become a standard demand by staff hiring companies. Human Capital, a member of IPM group. Company takes an active part in the recruitment process.
“Mostly this demand does not coincide with the position an applicant applies for. There is a formal face that applicants must have mastered the English language. Most recently it has been noticed that companies dislike candidates with a high experience in the relevant sphere. Mastering English is not important for all types of professions. English is obligatory for all applicants who are to become members of the company, of which management consists mainly of foreigners,” Javakhishvili declared to The FINANCIAL.
“Mastering English is not a guarantee of finding a job, although a minimal knowledge is very important. Mastering English is a plus alongside other professional characteristics. Mastering English increases a middle manager’s salary by at least USD 200. It is not problem for applicants who are under 25 years old. Although the salary also grows when the candidate is well experienced and their age ranging from 30 to 45,” Javakhishvili added.
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