The Rising Demand for Customized Corporate Language Training

The landscape of corporate learning and development is transforming rapidly, with a pronounced shift toward customized language programs. But what are the driving forces behind this surge in demand? Here are just a few factors behind the significant shift toward tailored linguistic education within the corporate sphere. 

Growth of Video Conferencing Technology

What’s stopping you from taking language classes? For most professionals, the answer is trying to find time within a packed full-time work schedule. Traditional language training requires students to attend classes at specific times and location, which can be impractical for busy professionals. Commuting across town to attend lessons also takes time that could be used for billable hours and cuts into personal time. With the rise of online learning platforms and virtual meeting technologies, however, comes new opportunities. Remote language training allows for more flexibility, eliminating the constraints of time and location. 

It's easy to see how video conferencing has already changed the corporate landscape. 78% of companies report using programs like Zoom and Teams, and usage grew by 62% during the COVID-19 pandemic alone. Technologies that are already familiar to employees allow companies to tailor language training to fit into employees’ busy schedules. The time saved by using these customized virtual programs expands the number of employees who can participate in language training while ensuring maximum engagement and productivity. 

The Rise of the Virtual/Hybrid Workforce   

Video conferencing is far from the only practice that workplaces have adopted since the COVID-19 pandemic. Full-time remote work and virtual collaboration have exploded in popularity. In fact, the percentage of the workforce still working from home all or most of the time has nearly tripled from 10% in 2019 to 28% in 2023. With fewer employees physically present in the office at all times, the classroom teaching model makes less sense. It may no longer be convenient for an entire team to step into a conference room and attend a language training session over lunch. Virtual training programs make it simpler to include remote and hybrid employees and accommodate everyone’s schedules. It stands to reason that demand has grown for customized language training alongside increasingly customized work schedules.  

Finding the Time

What is the biggest barrier preventing employees from taking advantage of traditional language training? Time. In today's fast-paced business environment, employees often face time constraints that make it challenging to schedule in-person language trainings. The demand for flexible training schedules has grown as employees juggle multiple responsibilities and commitments. Whether remote employees living in a different time zone, parents who need to pick up their kids from school, or contractors working with multiple different organizations, not everyone can stick to the same work schedule. In fact, 57.9% of American workers report working on a flexible schedule.  

Customized language training programs can be designed to accommodate all of these schedules and more, allowing employees to learn at their own pace and convenience. Whether your employees prefer early morning sessions, lunchtime classes, or evening lessons, customized virtual training can be tailored to fit into employees' full lives.   

Increase in Personalized Services

Today’s workforce is made up of diverse individuals with unique preferences and learning styles. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all training programs. Employees now expect personalized services that cater to their individual needs and goals.  In fact, 80% of consumers are more likely to do business with companies that offer personalized experiences. 

Customized language training programs can be built to accommodate employees' specific sectors, learning objectives, and practical applications. Language training for employees of an international restaurant chain could include more culinary vocabulary, while IT team members might learn more about technological terms. Aligning course material to fit employees’ individual responsibilities can directly enhance their job performance and productivity.  

In nearly every industry, an upswing in demand for customized corporate language training marks a pivotal shift in the way companies engage employees. As companies’ business practices have changed, so too have employees’ priorities, and nowhere is this more evident than in the learning and development fields. To learn more about the trend towards customized language training, and discover Cricket eLearning’s tailored approach to corporate language learning, download our free resource, “Customizing Corporate Language Training – a Comprehensive Guide.”