Forming connections and encouraging self-development are at the heart of what we do at Babbel—which is why we work so well alongside institutions that do exactly the same thing. In this article, we take a closer look at how language learning benefits universities and NGOs, the kinds of organizations that make the world shine a little brighter.
Universities and NGOs have a lot in common. Not only do they give back to the wider community, but they push their own community—students, volunteers, employees—to be the very best versions of themselves.
To attend university is to learn about the world around you, to form connections and push the limits of personal development, and the same applies to NGOs. At their core, charitable organizations make the world a better place—and there’s no purer way of doing so than by learning a new language, building cultural bridges, and forming priceless human connections.
Table of Contents
- Why Is Language Learning Important for Universities and NGOs?
- How Language Learning Benefits Universities and NGOs
- Why Babbel Is the Right fit for Universities and NGOs
- Further Benefits of Language Learning with Babbel
Why Is Language Learning Important for Universities and NGOs?
The importance for universities
Universities are centers of learning, research, and academic excellence, providing students with opportunities for advanced education and specialization in various fields. Language learning benefits universities for a variety of reasons:
- Global Engagement: Universities often have international students, faculty, and collaborations. Language learning enables effective communication, cultural exchange, and international cooperation.
- Diverse Student Body: Students from various linguistic backgrounds attend universities. Language skills promote inclusivity, improve classroom dynamics, and enhance social interactions.
- Research and Publications: Language proficiency allows researchers to access and contribute to a wider range of academic literature, collaborate on international research projects, and publish in reputable journals.
- Study Abroad Programs: Language skills are crucial for students participating in study abroad programs, enabling them to navigate local environments, interact with locals, and immerse themselves in the culture.
- Career Opportunities: Many industries require multilingual professionals. Language learning enhances students’ employability and opens doors to international job opportunities.
- International Relations: Universities engage in partnerships and collaborations with institutions around the world. Language skills facilitate negotiations, agreements, and effective collaboration.
- Cultural Understanding: Language learning fosters cultural sensitivity and intercultural competence among students, promoting understanding and tolerance in a diverse world.
- Language Departments: Universities offer language courses to promote linguistic diversity, preserve cultural heritage, and support language education.
The importance for NGOs
NGOs, or Non-Governmental Organizations, are private, non-profit organizations that are independent from government control. They are typically established by individuals, groups, or organizations to address various social, environmental, humanitarian, and developmental issues. NGOs operate at local, national, and international levels and play a significant role in advocating for positive change, providing services, and promoting social welfare.
Language learning is important for NGOs for a variety of reasons:
- Global Outreach: NGOs often operate internationally, addressing global issues. Language skills are essential for effective communication with beneficiaries, partners, donors, and local communities.
- Local Empowerment: NGOs work closely with local communities. Learning the local language demonstrates respect for local cultures, builds trust, and enables better community engagement.
- Communication with Beneficiaries: NGOs need to communicate project goals, benefits, and instructions clearly to beneficiaries. Language skills ensure that messages are understood accurately.
- Crisis Response: NGOs often respond to emergencies and disasters. Language skills help responders communicate with affected communities, provide aid, and coordinate relief efforts.
- Advocacy and Awareness: NGOs rely on effective communication to raise awareness about their causes and advocate for change. Language skills enable impactful storytelling and engagement with the public.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: NGOs collaborate with local organizations, governments, and other NGOs. Language proficiency facilitates networking, negotiations, and coordination.
- Documentation and Reporting: Accurate documentation of projects and impact assessments requires effective communication. Language skills help NGOs convey their achievements to stakeholders and donors.
- Cultural Sensitivity: NGOs working in diverse cultural contexts need to understand and respect local norms. Language learning enhances cultural sensitivity and helps avoid misunderstandings.
- Capacity Building: NGOs often provide training and capacity-building programs. Language skills are vital for delivering effective workshops and educational sessions.
- Long-Term Sustainability: NGOs working with communities on long-term projects benefit from language skills, as they enable sustained engagement and meaningful impact.
How Language Learning Benefits Universities and NGOs
There’s no degree or field of expertise that doesn’t benefit from language learning. A study by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages shows that language learning correlates with higher academic achievement among university students and is beneficial to the development of students’ reading abilities. Language learning also forms transferable skills, meaning it’s easier for a student to learn a third or fourth language.
There are many cognitive benefits, too—the study shows that a new language helps improve memory and concentration among students and increases their ability to solve problems. As a result, learning a new language will help build a bright and promising future for your students.
These benefits extend to NGOs, too. People who work at charitable organizations often work across borders in challenging and politically volatile parts of the world. As a result, being able to speak a variety of languages is vital to forming strong and trusting relationships, and ensuring your team is always well-equipped to handle unexpected situations.
Why Babbel Is the Right fit for Universities and NGOs
We apply multifaceted learning techniques to work with institutions to complement and support their classroom lessons. With a Babbel membership, students can learn grammar and vocabulary in their own time and revise and practice speaking during classroom lessons.
We tried and tested this method at Babbel and asked a portion of employees to complete a Babbel unit each week. The group would then meet every other Tuesday and would put what they learned into practice with relaxed and low-pressure conversations. The teacher who introduced the concept found that she learned from the experience too, and was able to guide her students through problem areas that she wouldn’t have identified otherwise. It was also a great bonding experience for the students who were able to get to know each other through a new language and build confidence at the same time.
Examples of universities that learn with Babbel
The Swiss Hotel Management School has implemented our blended learning approach and has incorporated Babbel into its language program, creating a seamless experience between online and offline learning. The combination makes language learning very effective as the students benefit from the best of both worlds.
Another example is our work with ESMT. This international business school uses Babbel to encourage their English students to learn German, which helps them integrate into everyday life in Germany and improve their job prospects post-graduation.
Organizations that do not offer classroom lessons can take advantage of our blended learning solution with face-to-face video lessons that give learners space to practice speaking and ask questions — all guided by a professional teacher. This offer reflects in our products:
- Babbel Live with group video classes
- Babbel Intensive with 1:1 video classes
Examples of NGOs that learn with Babbel
NGOs can also benefit from semi-formal or formal language learning. One example comes from our friends at the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). This NGO is formed of 80,000 volunteers who assist in civil and catastrophe protection for people both in Germany and abroad. As a result, language learning is crucial to the success of THW missions — and that’s where Babbel comes in. We’ve provided the volunteer force of THW with full access to Babbel, meaning they can learn flexibly and at their own pace. And, because Babbel is available offline, the team can continue their language-learning journey when in WiFi-free areas or while traveling between disaster zones.
Another example is Doctors Without Borders, an NGO that has successfully incorporated Babbel into the Spanish branch of the organization, who sends employees on missions all over the world. Their team has access to Babbel lessons and online live lessons with a teacher to provide a holistic and effective language-learning experience. Nothing makes us happier than being able to support these worthy causes and share the benefits of Babbel with NGOs and learning institutions.
Further Benefits of Language Learning with Babbel
Babbel for Business offers a wide variety of courses including industry-specific content. For example, there are several Business English courses designed to help students excel in the language used in the fields of journalism, PR, banking, hospitality, management, and more.
Our Babbel memberships are flexible, which means you can transfer access from one student or employee to another, giving new recruits instant access to desktop and mobile Babbel lessons so they can fit our 15-minute courses into their busy schedule from day one. Your students, employees, or volunteers can take the app along on their travels, meaning their language learning will never skip a beat. And, with an agreed flat-rate according to your needs, Babbel is as cost-effective as it is flexible.
We love the fact that language learning benefits universities and NGOs because it means that we can help you make the world a better place.
