Alexandra, Administrative Manager, Mitgo
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is German.
2. Tell us something interesting about your language
In German, there are many regional dialects. Mine is Swabian.
3. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
School, courses, online translators and especially my colleagues – they are learning my mother language and speak it with me, and I try to speak English with them in return.
4. Do you have a lifehack for working in a multi-lingual company/team?
A lot of practice and a positive mindset will help you adapt to an international team, even if your English is not perfect.
Diksha, Junior HR Manager, India, Mitgo
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is Hindi.
2. Tell us something interesting about your language
Hindi is very popular globally, being the fourth most-spoken language in the world. The majority of Hindi speakers are found in the northern half of India.
The Hindi language has various rare features, including a unique sentence structure and distinct, autonomous sound.
3. What do you like most about your mother language?
Hindi is the language that keeps us connected to our roots. It is a language of unity, with various dialects and a wide variety of speakers.
4. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
I enjoy learning new languages because they reveal so much about people and their worldviews. Studying new languages is something I enjoy doing – understanding why we speak in a certain way and others speak differently is interesting to me.
5. Do you have a lifehack for working in a multi-lingual company/team?
Managing international teams can be challenging yet extremely rewarding. When creating a multicultural team, work to break down differences, traverse language barriers and respect one another’s cultures.
Multicultural teams help create a forward-thinking, diverse and inclusive business.
RAWAN, SENIOR PUBLISHER RELATION MANAGER MENA, ADMITAD
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is Arabic.
2. Tell us something interesting about your language
With more than 422 million speakers worldwide, Arabic is the 6th most widely-spoken language. It is an official language of the United Nations and one of the oldest languages still spoken today, dating back to the 6th century.
3. What do you like most about your mother language?
I think it’s one of the most beautiful languages written right to left.
4. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
Experiencing life in different countries and adapting to new cultures has definitely helped me to learn new languages. I have fun while I’m doing it, too.
5. Do you have a lifehack for working in a multi-lingual company/team?
Practice, practice, practice. Connect with people, speak, try not to be shy, make mistakes, learn and improve. Just go for it!
Maria, Customer Success Manager, Tapfiliate
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is Dutch.
2. Tell us something interesting about your language
Dutch has many funny and weird sayings, for example: “make that the cat wise”, “now the monkey comes out of the sleeve” and “watch a cow in the butt”.
3. What do you like most about your mother language?
I love the pronunciation of the “G” in Dutch, although the whole world thinks it’s ugly. And I love the word “Gezellig/Gezelligheid”, which cannot really be translated into English, but means having great fun.
4. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
Visit places where you are forced to speak the language you’re trying to learn.
5. Do you have a lifehack for working in a multi-lingual company/team?
Be honest, kind and positive, but mostly be yourself. You’re awesome!
Alexander, Head of Publisher Success Brazil, Admitad
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is Ukrainian.
2. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
The most important thing is to set clear goals to keep yourself on track. You should find the learning methods that fit you best (the best idea is usually to combine a few).
I recommend watching movies, chatting with native speakers, reading and listening to music. And remember: practice makes perfect! So practice as much as you can, and you’ll definitely see an improvement.
3. Do you have a lifehack for working in a multi-lingual company/team?
Coming to the team with an open mind and an understanding that every country has its own culture. It’s important to be able to think from the perspective of another person and to accept our differences.
Sometimes it can be very challenging, but working in a diverse team gives us unlimited opportunities for growth and development.
Zarif, Publisher Relation Manager Brazil, Admitad
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is Portuguese.
2. Tell us something interesting about your language
A peculiarity of Portuguese is that each state has its own expressions and slang words that only the natives from that state can understand – it’s really funny to hear.
3. What do you like most about your mother language?
I like the power that some words we use in Brazil have. Certain words and expressions really make you feel better and help you to express your feelings. I can speak other languages but no other allows me the same power as the words I use in Portuguese.
4. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
When I want to learn a new language, I like watching movies and series and listening to music and podcasts.
Mateusz, Country Manager Poland, Mitgo
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is Polish.
2. Tell us something interesting about your language
It is one of the Top 10 hardest languages to learn and, according to some, it sounds like rustling leaves.
3. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
When I want to learn a new language, I need the chance to use it on a regular basis, otherwise it will get rusty. Also, I find it important to have a defined need behind learning it, e.g. work or relocation – that’s always the best accelerator.
4. Do you have a lifehack for working in a multi-lingual company/team?
Being open-minded and curious – there’s a lot to learn from colleagues from different parts of the world. It’s not often you get such a chance to spend time and exchange thoughts in such an international environment.
Evan, Managing Director USA, Mitgo
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is English.
2. Tell us something interesting about your language
Strange spelling rules! “Threw”, “thru” and “through” all sound the same!
3. What do you like most about your mother language?
I like the directness and efficiency of English, especially in business communication.
4. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
Reading and speaking it everyday, getting comfortable with conveying ideas even if you make mistakes.
5. Do you have a lifehack for working in a multi-lingual company/team?
Speak with simple and direct words and phrases – many Americans use slang and phrasal verbs that they assume are well known but in fact are not.
Iván, Business Development Manager, Fairsavings
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is Spanish.
2. Tell us something interesting about your language
The great geographical variety of places that speak Spanish, having the “Ñ” in the alphabet and being one of the fastest languages in the world to speak.
3. What do you like most about your mother language?
It’s a very diverse language that gives you the possibility of connecting with more than 490 million native speakers worldwide.
4. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
Practice makes perfect. The best thing you can do is to immerse yourself in the culture of the country where the language is spoken.
5. Do you have a lifehack for working in a multi-lingual company/team?
Get as much practice as possible and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. If you do make one, ask to be corrected – you’ll soon smooth those mistakes out.
Alina, C&B Specialist, Mitgo
1. What is your mother language?
My mother language is Russian.
2. What do you like most about your mother language?
Russian sounds different in every region of this big country. For instance, in the city where I was born, we have a bunch of words which are not used anywhere else. When I meet new people from other parts of Russia, I enjoy saying these words and watching for their reactions.
3. When learning a new language, what helps the most?
I have been watching movies and TV series in English for almost 3 years now. It has helped me to improve my skills drastically. It’s a great way to hear how real native speakers talk and which words they use. It is one of the reasons why I recently passed my IELTS exam!