This Week's Herman Trend Alert Navigating the Next Year

The Herman Trend Alert September 19, 2007 Sharing Language Resources in a Flat World One interesting development of our increasingly flat world (thank you, Thomas Friedman) is the global expansion of business. we learned long ago the value of using the local language when speaking or training in a foreign country. Even the attempt to speak the local language (except perhaps in France) establishes an audience connection which, particularly for a speaker, is very valuable. When we visited Malaysia recently to speak for ETELS, we learned some Malay, the language of Malaysia, and used it in our workshop. While not everyone is a polyglot, anyone visiting a foreign country will benefit from learning the language before departing. Until now, your choices for learning were Rosetta Stone or other digitally based programs or finding a local tutor. Now, there is an alternative, and the best part is---it's free. Enter emerging web sites like http://www.italki.com and http://www.freelanguage.org. The reason is simple: as globalization spreads, so does the need to communicate with people in their native languages. Though both sites offer rich resources for anyone wanting to learn a language, italki.com features the more innovative approach. Here's how their "Language Exchange" works. Through the web site, you choose someone who is a native speaker of the language you want to learn. Of course, that individual must also want to learn the language that is your native tongue. You communicate via VOIP (Voice Over IP) on Skype, MSN, Yahoo, or Talkbox---all free services via the web. You agree to communicate at a specific time. For one-half the time, the two of you speak in your native language and the other half, you speak in theirs. Not surprisingly, both web sites offer lots of resources for people willing to pay. Italki.com offers lists of tutors and seems to offer more languages for which there are resources. Both web sites offer courses, podcasts, blogs, etc. The development of this new genre of web sites is a direct reflection of our "flattening" world. Expect to see more opportunities for people to use technology to share across the globe further increasing cultural understanding and forming valuable bonds for citizen diplomacy. © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." RESOLVE TO ADDRESS EMPLOYEE TURNOVER IN 2009 If you knew just how much money turnover is costing your company, you would have handled it ages ago! Turnover costs A LOT and it comes right off the bottom line. Let The Herman Group and its team of very experienced consultants help you address your turnover issues right away. We have an impressive track record and stand ready to help you. Call Carol at 800-227-3566; international, call 336-210-3547 for a no-obligation conference call. EMPLOYEE RETENTION BEGINS WITH GOOD SELECTION If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. To read this Herman Trend Alert on the web: http://www.hermangroup.com/alert/archive_9-24-2008.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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