Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Education
Article published in the Study International
5 ways to improve your MBA abroad experience with a second language
There’s no denying the benefits of pursuing an MBA abroad. It has been proven that acquiring knowledge in a foreign environment can open several doors that lead to a wide range of sectors. Another key benefit is that the exposure could also mean picking up a new language in the process and oftentimes, fluency can boost your chances of employment in the country once you graduate.
Language skills in general are becoming a very valuable asset among admissions officers and global organisations.
“Can be a prerequisite for client-facing roles”
For a career abroad, while many countries do not consider fluency in the local language to be a prerequisite, it is definitely an asset. “The level of proficiency required depends on the nature of the work,” says Marie José Beaudin, executive director of career services at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management in Montreal – a bilingual city where a majority of the population speaks both English and French. “It can be a prerequisite for any client-facing roles,” she shares.
Becoming an MBA graduate who knows the local lingo shows employers you made the effort to be able to understand your clients, customers, and peers on a different level. Not just in terms of interaction, as you will also be able to better grasp the country’s business culture, its nuances, practices, and ultimately an organisation’s ethos.
So how do you go about doing it? Start now, if you can. Many study-abroad aspirants are currently awaiting the reopening of borders by using their time to stay productive with upskilling. Here are some ways you can incorporate learning a second language into your daily schedule:
1. Find your learning material
Your first step should be sourcing your learning material. Duolingo is one of the most popular free apps in the world and with an optional paid subscription you will be able to access additional benefits – although many users have stated the free version is more than sufficient. There are currently 36 language courses that provide instructions in English.
2. Set your goals
Once you’ve identified your sources, start focusing on specific, tangible outcomes. Figure out what you plan on achieving instead of how much time you will spend a day doing it. Instead of allocating 30 minutes a day to learning, try remembering the meanings of 15 new words.
3. Learn the right words
Languages are made up of a shocking number of words. English, for example, has between 600,000 and a million words! Luckily, you don’t need to learn anywhere near that many words to gain proficiency. The top 100 words make up about 50% of English language texts, and the top 1,000 words make up about 90%. By focusing on the top 1,000 words of any language, you will be able to communicate in a new language in no time.
4. Learn about the culture
Picking up a new language is about far more than understanding words. It’s important to remember that understanding the culture and history associated with these words is just as crucial for your development. Research has found that children learn to read in a second language better when they understand the culture and context behind the pieces they read. Even if it involves reading and watching documentaries in your native language, learning about culture will never be a waste of time. This knowledge could also prevent you from making embarrassing or offensive mistakes in conversation.
5. Consume content
Here’s the fun part. Follow people on Instagram, start a series and watch videos on YouTube that are in other languages. Pair this practice with your daily lessons and you’ll be turning off the subtitles for your new favourite show in no time.
Career
5 great Data Analytics courses for beginners
Excerpts from article by Timothy King in Best Practices. Also published in solutionsreview.com
Data analytics is a data science. Its purpose is to generate insights from data by connecting patterns and trends with organisational goals. Comparing data assets against organisational hypotheses is a common use case of data analytics, and the practice tends to be focused on business and strategy.
Data analytics deals less in AI, machine learning, and predictive modeling, and more with viewing historical data in context.
Here’s a list of the best data analytics courses on Udemy if you’re looking to grow your skills for work or play. Udemy is one of the top online education platforms in the world.
1. Python Data Analysis & Visualization Bootcamp
Description: Learn how to analyse data using Python. This course will take you from the basics of Python to exploring many different types of data. You will learn how to prepare data for analysis, perform simple statistical analyses, create meaningful data visualisations, predict future trends from data, and more! GO TO TRAINING
2. Power BI – Data Analytics Essentials with Power BI
Description: This Power BI course is designed to arm participants with knowledge on using the most highly-rated data analytics tool. Participants will quickly learn from a Microsoft Certified Trainer and MVP, the bolts of the key concepts required to be a Power BI expert. Complex concepts are described in a simplified manner. GO TO TRAINING
3. R Level 1 – Data Analytics with R
Description: All the important aspects of statistical programming ranging from handling different data types to loops and functions, even graphs are covered. Your journey will start with the theoretical background of object and data types. You will then learn how to handle the most common types of objects in R. Much emphasis is put on loops in R since this is a crucial part of statistical programming. In the graphics section, you will learn how to create and tailor your graphs. GO TO TRAINING
4. Beginner Statistics for Data Analytics – Learn the Easy Way!
Description: Instructors will teach you the fundamental statistical tools to be successful in analytics, without boring you with complex formulas and theory. In a few short hours, you’ll have the fundamental skills to help you immediately start applying sophisticated statistical analyses to your data. By the end of the course, students will be able to create visualisations, apply basic descriptive statistics, combine descriptive and inferential statistics, and utilise regression analysis. GO TO TRAINING
5. Complete Introduction to Data Analytics with Tableau
Description: In this course, you will build 5 separate dashboards depicting real-world problems. You will learn how to connect to various data sources from Excel files to cloud servers. You will also learn how to build interactive dashboards and publish them to Tableau Online. By the time you complete this course, you’ll be a highly proficient Tableau. GO TO TRAINING
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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