When being multilingual helps break down barriers, build confidence at work

Young polyglots say their language skills have helped them bridge cultural divides

- Rosalind Ang

Being able to speak four languages has helped OCBC Bank customer service executive Vicky Ng connect with clients from different cultures and backgrounds.

Ms Ng, 29, who speaks Tamil, Mandarin, Malay, English and some basic Cantonese, was born into a multicultural and multilingual family – her father is Chinese and her mother is Indian. Ms Ng started learning Malay in preschool at four years old.

“My siblings and I speak in a mix of many of these languages, which is why I got used to using them,” said Ms Ng.

Her multilingual ability has helped her engage with customers from different races, which has come in handy in her role, which involves a lot of daily human interactions.

“As a customer service executive, if the customer is unable to speak English well, I become a one-stop centre for them to speak the language they’re more comfortable with,” said Ms Ng.

She also found that customers who start a conversation angrily usually become more amiable when they realise she can speak their language.

In her social life, knowing so many languages also means that she is able to blend into groups easily and express herself more effectively.

Language skills will continue to become more vital in a highly globalised business landscape, said Mr David Blasco, country director at recruitment firm Randstad Singapore.

“As companies engage in more frequent cross-border work, multilingual job seekers have a significant advantage compared with candidates who speak only one language, as they can help organisations manage important stakeholder relationships and break into new markets more effectively,” said Mr Blasco.

In remote and hybrid work settings, understanding multiple languages can foster clearer collaboration, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen team cohesion, he added.