Despite not being the most spoken language in the world, English has become a global language where it is widely spoken and become an official language in cross country communication. A good amount of content posted online is posted in English. Professionally, English is the language used widely in the global workforce. It is known that English competency is a very important skill for one’s survival and development in today’s world. English skills include reading, listening, speaking, and writing.

A lot of professions or jobs ask for English proficiency these days. It is no longer just an added language skill, it is now a necessity. If someone does not possess the skill, it is very likely that employer would not put him/her in a contention to be selected in the recruitment process. It shows how much the competency is regarded as one of the most important skills to have.

For a PR professional or practicioner, a communication skill is a must to have. Not only they have to be able to speak well in a good manner, but also to listen attentively to others. On top of that, written communication skill is proved to be just as important. A PR professional needs those skills to be able to build relations and maintain it with other parties. Furthermore, communication to develop one’s own brand cannot be forgotten.

In today’s global environment, English skill is especially needed when interacting with colleagues or clients from another country. Because communication does not happen only face-to-face or by phone but also through online media these days, one is expected to be able to improve their skill.  Managing to converse both casually and professionally in English is an advantage. Understanding the subtle cues in English language and recognizing how certain phrases can mean different thing or use in different situation, however, is even more crucial. No one wants to create misperception or misunderstanding due to the lack of awareness of the language barrier. In PR, it is the thing you would want to avoid due to its effect to personal image and reputation.

One cannot be a good PR professional if their communication skill is lacking. English proficiency is just one part of it. The ability to be sensitive to the different culture and aspects of the language itself is essential in order to ensure every interaction in various media across different places goes well and the objective is achieved.

By: Anindya Widita,B.A.,M.A