ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the need to reconsider learning objectives to introduce what could be called ‘a multilingual turn’ in the context of today’s business schools, moving away from the framework previously formulated in terms of distinct national languages and cultures. It presents the theoretical background and the key terms of the debate around language learning and communication competencies for managers. The chapter then shows how the cultural and linguistic diversity of the student body favours a ‘multilingual approach’ in the educational context, reinforcing real-world contexts of interpersonal exchanges that increasingly take place in a variety of languages. Preparing students to recognize, understand and acquire the competencies to negotiate the multiple levels of linguistic and cultural diversity must become a core objective of management education. Scholars in the field of international business education have stressed the need for educational and pedagogical strategies to exploit the potential of language diversity, which enhances learning outcomes and broadens the cognitive range of individuals.
