A new survey has further reinforced the view that speaking a foreign language could improve employability.
The study from Rosetta Stone found that 75 per cent of bilingual businesspeople believed that speaking a second language had furthered their career prospects.
The most common languages spoken by respondents were French (58 per cent), Spanish (47 per cent), German (31 per cent) and Italian (24 per cent), with 71 per cent claiming that learning a second language had improved their communication skills and made travel more enjoyable.
Marketing manager at Rosetta Stone UK, Michael Lefante, said that being able to speak a second language had both social and psychological benefits for the individual.
He said: "As the world becomes more globalised, employers are placing increasing value on candidates who can speak additional languages.
"These employees - who are in demand as they can communicate with clients, suppliers and colleagues abroad - find that they have more opportunities available to them."
A study from the National Centre for Languages last year found that many British businesses risked being overshadowed by continental competitors who were more willing to communicate in other languages.
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