Executives don't want to be left speechless; development of language skills provides vital business edge. (Business Travel)

Crain's Cleveland Business, July, 1993 by Schrimpf, Paul

Business travelers might be able to walk the walk on international business trips -- but can they talk the talk? A handful of local companies are beginning to use local resources to prepare executives for the cultural and language differences they will encounter on international trips. What companies will need in cultural and linguistic skills depends largely on what they wish to accomplish, according to the experts.

Some executives looking to the future are turning to schools such as Baldwin-Wallace College. The school's graduate degree in international management masters offers liberal arts courses that teach the culture, geography, ethics and languages of various countries. Robert Ebert, professor of economics at Baldwin-Wallace, said the program has included...

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