The Business of Language issue 20 - December 2008
Welcome to the 20th edition of The Business of Language, the free monthly ezine from the Regional Language Network East Midlands. In this issue we review the East Midlands International Trade Awards and catch up on schools and businesses in the region who are working together to raise the profile of languages. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2009!
Mansfield pupils learn the language of enterprise 
Pupils at Mansfield's Samworth Church Academy learnt how to improve their employability recently when they took part in a workshop to raise the profile of languages.
Sally Fagan, Director of Leicestershire-based Rendez-vous Management Consultancy, visited the school in November 2008 to talk to ninety Year 8 and 9 students about the importance of language skills in business.
During an interactive presentation, students explored interesting facts about languages, learnt how to count up to ten in Japanese and watched a video clip of Sally being interviewed live on Tahiti television news in French.
Sally, who has learned no fewer than six languages including Russian and Mandarin as well as working all over the world, spoke with students about the careers they would like to pursue and how languages could help them.
This event was part of the RLN's Business Language Champions programme, designed to bridge the gap between school and the workplace and reverse the decline in the take-up of modern foreign languages.
Sally was only too happy to share her passion for languages:
"I was delighted to be able to enthuse the students about where languages can take them in the future. I am always struck by how many students believe they will never use languages in their career. The truth is that these days they are more likely than ever to benefit in their careers from a language capability, even if it is only at a basic level."
To find out more information about the Business Language Champions programme please visit our website.
Opportunity to share your enthusiasm for languages
The RLN is currently looking for businesses and individuals in the region who can share their experience of languages with local schools. Each month we bring you a new opportunity to get involved in our Business Language Champions programme to help encourage youngsters to continue with their language learning.
This month we are looking for a business or individual who can spare a few hours to work with a school in Coalville, Leicestershire.
The school has a vibrant languages department and believes that pupils would benefit from interacting with business people. They would like to show students how and when languages can be used in a job and engage them in activities to help promote the importance of language skills in the workplace.
To find out more information about this opportunity or to register your interest in working with schools in your area please contact Karen Illsley, BLC Project Manager, at karen@illsley.fsnet.co.uk or visit our website for more details on the programme.
Region's businesses celebrate exporting contributions
Exporting businesses from across the region gathered at the Leicester Marriot hotel last month for the East Midlands 
International Trade Awards.
The awards, hosted by UKTI on 27 November, recognise exporting excellence and celebrate the achievement and contribution of exporting businesses to the region's economy.
Sixteen shortlisted companies were invited to the evening event, compered by TV presenter Suzi Perry, with winners for each category being announced as the celebrations progressed.
The event was a big success with deserving winners in each of
the six categories:
New Exporter Award - Made by Niki Lingerie
International Business Communication Award - Asiana Ltd
Established Exporter China Award - FA-ST
Established Exporter India Award - Web Processing (M/C) Ltd
Established Exporter Worldwide Award - Benoy
International Business of the Year - Casltet Ltd
For more information please visit the East Midlands International Trade Awards website.
Around the World in an alphabet of Christmas greetings!
Whatever you've got planned for the festive season, impress your friends, family and colleagues by greeting them in 
another language as we present to you our A-Z of Christmas greetings from around the world:
Albanian - Gëzuar Krishtlindjet
Bengali - Shuvo Naba Barsha
Chinese - Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Danish - Glædelig Jul
Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
Finnish - Hyvää Joulua
Greek - Kala Christouyenna! - Καλά Χριστούγεννα
Hindi - Shub Naya Baras
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
Maltese - IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Norwegian - God Jul
Occitan - Pulit nadal e bona annado
Polish - Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia
Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Urdu - Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese - Chuùc Giaùng sinh Vui veû!
Welsh - Nadolig Llawen
Xhosa - Siniqwenelela Ikrisimesi Emnandi Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo
Yugoslavian - Cestitamo Bozic
Zulu - Sinifesela uKhisimusi oMuhle noNyaka oMusha oNempumelelo