The Met Office
languages and science are a good combination
The Met Office, based at Exeter, plays a vital role as a world leader in the provision of environmental and weather-related services. Its role is essential to meet the constant challenges and needs of countries and communities throughout the world from providing specialist advice to industry and governments and forecasts to the general public. Languages and their importance in the work of the Met Office, especially its international role, have brought changes in how foreign language skills and cultural awareness are valued in employees and potential job applicants. Jane Varley, Language Training Manager, comments, "Languages skills are becoming increasingly desirable in applicants for a wide range of jobs. For an international organisation, linguistic and cultural skills are vital in communicating effectively with overseas partners and customers".
Developing language skills and an international focus
It is not surprising that, as much of the Met Office's work has an international focus, linguistic ability and cultural understanding amongst employees are imperative in successfully meeting the demands of its international role.
Its work now brings it into contact with overseas partners and customers in a number of different ways: overseas visits, collaborative projects, training overseas students or international sales. To maximize opportunities with international partners and customers the organisation has introduced a number of initiatives to develop language and cultural skills of employees.
The Met Office currently offers part funding toward language evening classes for staff who want to learn a language. At present, it runs language training courses for staff in French, German and Spanish and has just begun evening classes in Japanese, which are proving highly popular.
Jane Varley views the language courses as a valuable tool in allowing staff to not only communicate more effectively with overseas partners and customers but help build strong and stable relationships with them for the future.
Visit the Met Office website at www.met-office.gov.uk
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