Regulatory Open Forum

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

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Anne LeBlanc
United States
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Hello Anne,

I would not say its a huge factor for success in regulatory profession, but could say it helps.  Doing audits around the world it would certainly be helpful.  My own personal opinion is knowing another language could just help get a job in another country, but would not necessarily be needed.  For auditing yes, for compiling regulatory submissions maybe not.  I do not have an affinity for learning languages and always wished could be like some people have met over the years being able to speak, read, understand 2+ languages.  From what I have seen the job description or job posting stated requirements of linguistic ability mostly because the position was in a country where the native language would be needed.

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Richard Vincins RAC
Vice President Global Regulatory Affairs
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Original Message:
Sent: 26-Jun-2021 09:56
From: Anne LeBlanc
Subject: language skills

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

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Anne LeBlanc
United States
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I guess it depends on how you define "the regulatory profession" and how you define success.

As soon as you go international (so out of a single language environment) being proficient in more languages is useful, because you run into the situation that you cannot rely on other persons speaking your language. Unless English is an official language in the country concerned, authorities are under no obligation whatsoever to converse with you in English. This is something native English speakers routinely seem to forget. I have seen meetings between Americans and national authorities in the EU go completlely wrong just because the Americans did not even consider the courtesy of the authorities having the meeting in English because meeting in a non-native language always puts you at a potential disadvantage. Also, the bonus points you can score in human relations by being able to just have some basic chit chat in the language of the other person can be enormous. Having lived in several other countries I could for the life me not see why you would not put in the effort to learn the local language as it makes your life and integration in local environment so much easier and you will be able to pick up things that you would otherwise miss. 

More HR speaking, I personally favor people that speak multiple languages because it shows a mindset of cultural curiosity and dedication to learn relevant skills. We require flawless native language skills, working profiency in English and additional languages are bonus points.

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Erik Vollebregt
Partner
Amsterdam
Netherlands
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Original Message:
Sent: 26-Jun-2021 09:56
From: Anne LeBlanc
Subject: language skills

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

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Anne LeBlanc
United States
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Hello Anne,

if you are not a native English speaker and work in RA, you definitively need good skills in English. English is the least common denominator in many parts around the world.

KR Britta

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Britta Cyron
Quality Manager
Dorsten
Germany
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Original Message:
Sent: 26-Jun-2021 09:56
From: Anne LeBlanc
Subject: language skills

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

------------------------------
Anne LeBlanc
United States
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English is the language of business throughout Europe and Asia. While the fluency level can vary dramatically, I have never been in a foreign country for work reasons without the hosting company having adequate or more than adequate English-speaking skills, or at minimum, an interpreter. I have yet to be in South America or Africa for work-related trips, but on a recent vacation in Ecuador virtually everyone understood enough English to communicate with their customers/guests.

All that being said, being multi-lingual is never a bad thing, and often quite useful to one's career.

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Arvilla Trag RAC
Principal Consultant
CMC Compliance Services
Iron River MI
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 28-Jun-2021 03:09
From: Britta Cyron
Subject: language skills

Hello Anne,

if you are not a native English speaker and work in RA, you definitively need good skills in English. English is the least common denominator in many parts around the world.

KR Britta

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Britta Cyron
Quality Manager
Dorsten
Germany

Original Message:
Sent: 26-Jun-2021 09:56
From: Anne LeBlanc
Subject: language skills

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

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Anne LeBlanc
United States
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This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I agree. My knowledge of languages helps a lot when I am communicating with business partners in other places, as well as when I'm searching for regulations and guidance. But no, it's not written in my job description, and doesn't seem to be recognized by management.

Original Message:
Sent: 14-Apr-2023 08:16
From: Arvilla Trag
Subject: language skills

English is the language of business throughout Europe and Asia. While the fluency level can vary dramatically, I have never been in a foreign country for work reasons without the hosting company having adequate or more than adequate English-speaking skills, or at minimum, an interpreter. I have yet to be in South America or Africa for work-related trips, but on a recent vacation in Ecuador virtually everyone understood enough English to communicate with their customers/guests.

All that being said, being multi-lingual is never a bad thing, and often quite useful to one's career.

------------------------------
Arvilla Trag RAC
Principal Consultant
CMC Compliance Services
Iron River MI
United States

Original Message:
Sent: 28-Jun-2021 03:09
From: Britta Cyron
Subject: language skills

Hello Anne,

if you are not a native English speaker and work in RA, you definitively need good skills in English. English is the least common denominator in many parts around the world.

KR Britta

------------------------------
Britta Cyron
Quality Manager
Dorsten
Germany

Original Message:
Sent: 26-Jun-2021 09:56
From: Anne LeBlanc
Subject: language skills

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

------------------------------
Anne LeBlanc
United States
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"My knowledge of languages...doesn't seem to be recognized by management."

Patience. It will be when you are the only person on the company (or the only available person) that can speak/read a specific language when it is really needed.  

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Arvilla Trag RAC
Principal Consultant
CMC Compliance Services
Iron River MI
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 14-Apr-2023 12:23
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: language skills

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I agree. My knowledge of languages helps a lot when I am communicating with business partners in other places, as well as when I'm searching for regulations and guidance. But no, it's not written in my job description, and doesn't seem to be recognized by management.

Original Message:
Sent: 14-Apr-2023 08:16
From: Arvilla Trag
Subject: language skills

English is the language of business throughout Europe and Asia. While the fluency level can vary dramatically, I have never been in a foreign country for work reasons without the hosting company having adequate or more than adequate English-speaking skills, or at minimum, an interpreter. I have yet to be in South America or Africa for work-related trips, but on a recent vacation in Ecuador virtually everyone understood enough English to communicate with their customers/guests.

All that being said, being multi-lingual is never a bad thing, and often quite useful to one's career.

------------------------------
Arvilla Trag RAC
Principal Consultant
CMC Compliance Services
Iron River MI
United States

Original Message:
Sent: 28-Jun-2021 03:09
From: Britta Cyron
Subject: language skills

Hello Anne,

if you are not a native English speaker and work in RA, you definitively need good skills in English. English is the least common denominator in many parts around the world.

KR Britta

------------------------------
Britta Cyron
Quality Manager
Dorsten
Germany

Original Message:
Sent: 26-Jun-2021 09:56
From: Anne LeBlanc
Subject: language skills

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

------------------------------
Anne LeBlanc
United States
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Being able to read French ( and understand what I am reading...) is a real advantage for me when I need to review Frech translations of the English Product Monographs.
We still need to use certified translators due to regulations, but sometimes there are fine nuances that need to be captured properly in the translation and that's where knowing that language really helps.



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Sorin Alb RAC
Project Manager, Regulatory Affairs
Scarborough ON
Canada
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Original Message:
Sent: 26-Jun-2021 09:56
From: Anne LeBlanc
Subject: language skills

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

------------------------------
Anne LeBlanc
United States
------------------------------

In Russia you need to have Intermediate English skills to work in RA in a foreign company. Most of our professionals working at Expertise centers and MoH don't speak/read any foreign language. I find that this situation really slows our whole health  industry down, and makes us too slow to catch up on new standards and global trends. If you can't read at least in English you will miss out on a lot of things that are happening in the world as very little is translated.
I myself can read French and sometimes I find things in French sources that I don't see in English sources. Moreover, learning languages is really developing your memory. As a matter of fact I've started to learn Japanese recently and I feel like my brain sort of "woke up", so I never had felt that it was sleeping before). ​​

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Oksana Kolosova
Moscow
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Original Message:
Sent: 26-Jun-2021 09:56
From: Anne LeBlanc
Subject: language skills

Just wondering...  Many of us speak more than one language, or at least can read several. We sometimes work with professional translators. We may use machine translation to help make sense of foreign regulations.

Do you find that having some language skills is important for success in the regulatory profession? And if you have a formal job description, does it say anything about linguistic ability or knowledge?​

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Anne LeBlanc
United States
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