Expectations of Organisations Towards Graduate Entrants In Foreign Language Skills and Intercultural Communication Competencies

Abstract

This article primarily aims to examine the expectations of organisations from graduate entrants regarding foreign language skills and intercultural communication competencies. Sixty organisations took part in the survey completing the questionnaire on how satisfied they were with the foreign language skills and intercultural communication competencies of graduate entrants. The results were categorized by four main attributes of organisations: organisational activities, supplied market, headquarters’ location and the size of organisations. The collected data describes types of expected language skills according to the given attribute and presents the necessary language skills for organisational activities. Based on this research, foreign language knowledge most often appears as an expectation at the intermediate level, however occasionally proficiency level may also be required. The most indispensable language is English, for both professional and general language use, while German is almost as important. Other, less commonly expected languages are French, Italian and Spanish. Some organisational activities, such as work placement abroad, contacting with foreign colleagues and international projects generally require language skills to a higher extent.