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French people feel that they've missed out at work due to their poor level of English, according to a new survey of English language students carried out by the ABA English school.
Just under one third of all age groups believe language barriers impeded their ability to rise up through the ranks at work, the survey found.
The stats were even higher among those aged 20 to 45, with 55 percent of respondents saying they felt their lack of language skills meant they missed a chance to boost their professional development.
The baby boomers, in contrast, weren’t so pressed to learn to speak the language of Shakespeare. Nearly three quarters (73 percent) of French workers over 45 think their grasp of English played no part in their professional success.
“This generational difference can probably be explained by the internationalization of work and the growing importance of English in all the professional areas associated with the internet and new technologies,” an ABA spokesperson said.
Meanwhile 66 percent of respondents felt that English was becoming increasingly important in the French workplace.
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