Firms lack English language skills
Research at 120 top French companies reveals many senior executives have difficulty communicating in foreign language
MANY of France's biggest companies are not doing enough to equip their staff with English-language skills, according to new research.
The study, published in Les Echos, found executives in 120 top French firms have an adequate understanding of the English language but lack the practice and vocabulary to communicate fully.
The research by language school GoFluent was carried out over the phone using a random sample of senior employees from each company.
Researchers phoned a senior employee in each of the finance, communication, human resources and sales departments, posing as a shareholder, journalist, job applicant or potential business partner.
They were asked a series of work-related questions in English and given marks out of ten for their comprehension, accent, vocabulary and grammar.
Some companies directed the callers to their German or Italian subsidiaries. Others pretended there was a fault on the line, or quickly read out an email address before hanging up.
Overall, the employees called had a good grasp of English grammar but their ability to communicate remained limited.
The average score across all 120 firms was 6.7 out of ten. Among the best performers were market research firm Téléperformance and the Crédit Agricole bank.
The firms with the most trouble dealing with English-speakers on the phone included Aéroports de Paris and global advertising agency Havas.
