Many business schools around the world require their students to study a second language and have some sort of proficiency in that language by the time their graduate. The idea is that this creates more ‘global’ graduates that are able to work across cultures. But understanding a language or culture goes beyond simply knowing the right words. Require students to write a paper about a country or city where that language is spoken, that explores a number of elements including business culture, economy, local culture, environmental issues, challenges, strengths etc. This acts as another opportunity to learn about the world around them, and in particular a location they may have the opportunity to visit or work in given that they are learning the language.
