Another occupation encourages language-learning

Some careers need people to know more than one language–translators and interpreters for example. But most companies don’t require it; knowledge of a second or third language is simply a small advantage in the workforce.

As you may have seen, we recently wrote about firefighters learning Spanish to further help the community and about companies giving their employees access to Livemocha, an online language-learning system.

And it looks like employee language-learning is becoming a common theme.

Another example of that theme comes from across the pond. The U.K.’s De Montfort University added a sign language course to its midwifery curriculum to teach its students how to communicate with deaf women.

BBC Article: Leicester university trains midwives in sign language

What are your thoughts? Should language-learning in business be encouraged–and funded?