Doing business internationally
Today more than ever we need to be able to communicate and work with people from a wide range of countries and cultures. We have identified a number of websites to assist you when you are dealing with colleagues and contacts worldwide. The particular value of online resources is that they provide access to information "just in time" - just before you make a phone call to Singapore, or plan a business trip to Sweden or organise an event for a delegation from Dubai.
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Cultural awareness
Culture, and its impact on international communication, plays a significant part in the success and failure of any international venture. With international growth representing a key strategy for business in these tough economic times, it is critical that we understand and respect different cultural rules and behaviours and reduce the inherent risks involved in working internationally.
Below are links to a number of sites which provide guidance on various aspects of doing business in different countries. They are broadly similar in content but use different approaches and styles. Browse the sites to find which one appeals to you or contains the specific information you are looking for:
Language
Learning some key phrases and quick fixes, developing existing language skills further or learning a new language from scratch may enable you to transact business with international contacts and colleagues more effectively.
The BBC website offers a range of courses for beginners and more advanced speakers. Simply click on the language you are interested in and choose the course which most appeals to you.
Language Services Direct offers links to useful websites for language learners, including learning English as a second language as well as French, Spanish, German and Japanese.
Translation services
If you require simultaneous translation services, two companies that offer this service are: London Translations Ltd and Westminster Sonus.
There are a number of online document translation services:
Ashurst does not endorse any linked sites and assumes no responsibility for the contents of any other website to which this website offers links.