Why the English language is an engine of employment and economic development for Colombia

In an increasingly demanding and challenging labor market, mastery of at least one second language is a key element in the professional aspirations of young people. It is no coincidence that a recent analysis revealed that 70% of international companies in Colombia consider English proficiency as a decisive criterion in their selection processes.

This data shows that learning a second language, especially English, is not only an additional merit, but a fundamental requirement to access a wider range of job opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world. This way, Language training becomes a strategic investment for those seeking to stand out in today’s competitive job market.

In this sense, Sandra Castellanos, director of corporate and personalized programs at Smart, the country’s leading language academy, explains that “English is an essential skill to stand out in a global market. In our experience, having bilingual teams allows us to connect with international markets and improve our competitiveness”.

Thinking about this, academies like Smart have understood the need of the Colombian population to learn new languages ​​and have focused on creating alternatives to make this process easier.

“I had been trying to learn English for several years because it is key for my career as an actress, because it is something that opens doors for me and brings me opportunities. Furthermore, on a personal level it allows me to learn about new cultures and feel strong enough to do business. Today I can say that I feel fulfilled by being able to understand another language.”said Carolina Sepúlveda, Colombian actress, who is an example that when a person has the attitude and willingness to learn and progress, they can achieve it.

In this context, and in an environment where the difficulties in accessing quality education are evident, language learning academies are emerging as a transformative solution for those who want to learn a second language.

“Smart Academia has trained more than 300,000 students and created employment for more than 3,000 people, consolidating us as the largest language academy in Colombia, with more than 60 locations nationwide. Our focus is on transforming lives through education and continuous learning”Castellanos added.

Colombia, with opportunity for improvement in terms of bilingualism

In Colombia the figures regarding bilingualism are worrying. 27 years ago, less than 5% of Colombians were bilingual, and although progress has been made today, 38% of young people consider that their level of English is not sufficient to face current job challenges, according to Dane figures..

Sectors such as tourism, technology and services are those that most request bilingual personnel to integrate their payrolls. However, the percentage of candidates with this requirement is still low.

In this sense, for Castellanos, learning English is a very relevant factor in a person’s professional development. “English not only opens job doors, but also transforms lives”he pointed out.

It is estimated that English is the most spoken language on the planet with more than 1,348 million speakers, including native speakers and people who have learned it as a second language, which opens up a wide range of job opportunities around the world.

In conclusion, learning languages ​​is a key tool to stand out in the workplace, since it expands employment opportunities, facilitates communication in international environments and demonstrates adaptation skills and continuous learning, qualities highly valued in today’s market.