We actually had management address this a while ago. Basically they said that all communication within the Calgary office had to be conducted in English. The problem that came up was some business related emails had been sent in another language, and when an employee was terminated quickly and the work emails were needed, they had to get somebody to translate for them.
It's one thing for talk around the water cooler to be in another language, and for the odd little bit to be explained if needed. But our company had to put their foot down with respect to business communications.
I also tend to agree that the best way to get better at a language is to have to use it. I've experienced this myself both with visiting Germany and France.
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