In the 21st century, knowing a second language is not only beneficial, but necessary for the local and international job market. In fact, some local employers are now seeking bilingual employees to meet the growing communication demands of the multibillion-dollar oil and gas sector.
In light of this, Entrepreneur and Linguist Michael Graham is of the firm belief that a second language is a great asset for anyone desirous of increasing their market value as well as their access to opportunities in the world’s fastest growing economy.
Graham’s viewpoint is deeply rooted in his learnings from being the founder of Fluency Express, a language school that caters for learners of all ages. But before Graham became a teacher of foreign languages, he had dreams of being a Diplomat.
Graham, an Alumni of the recently destroyed Christ Church Secondary, grew up in North Ruimveldt, Festival City, Georgetown. He was always brilliant and knew from a very young age that he would make a difference in the world.
He told Guyana Standard that after completing High School, he decided to pursue studies in the field of International Relations. After four years, Graham graduated with a bachelor’s degree.
The Birth of Fluency Express
Fluency Express was birthed in 2019, just months before the world was brought to a standstill with the COVID-19 pandemic. But before its conception, Graham found that the need for interpreters was greater in the oil and gas sector. Graham speaks and writes fluently in Spanish, French and Portuguese. He’s currently adding German to his portfolio.
“I started teaching (foreign languages) to a few people and then I started providing language services for families of workers in the oil and gas industry. I realized that through teaching, I can help alot of people to learn a foreign language and that’s when I decided to open my own school,” Graham said.
Graham noted that because his business was started just about four months before the pandemic in 2019, there was fear that with the imposed restrictions at the time, his efforts would have been in vain.
“But it actually worked out really great… The interest to learn a foreign was enormous and it began to grow. I know you go into these things thinking you’re going to be successful but then the pandemic happened. In a way it was a blessing for me,” Graham said. The school now has in excess of 50 students and is growing.
Foreign language should be mandatory
Graham is of the opinion that learning at least one foreign language should be mandatory in schools. He noted that while it is taught at the level of Secondary Schools, a fundamental curriculum can be created for young minds, especially at the Nursery level, with the effort of encouraging and fostering better learning.
“I would also love to see it be introduced at the level of Common Entrance (Secondary School Entrance Examination). You often find that students learn a language at the CXC level because they want to pass the exam, or secure a grade, but after they do there is no interest in it. I think if we teach them from young, when their minds are perhaps more receptive, they can develop a love and appreciation for it,” Graham said.
He implored the Ministry of Education to formulate a plan that could see, in the future, the introduction of Foreign Language studies at the Levels of Nursery, Primary and Secondary.
As it pertains to adults, there is often a challenge. Graham explained that there is enthusiasm to learn the language among older learners, but never patience. He added that learning a foreign language takes patience and practice.
“It’s not about learning a language, it’s also about committing to that effort to learn. I find that a lot of people want to learn but they lack the commitment. This is not something you learn overnight. You have to be open to new things as well,” Graham said.
Foreign Languages and the Oil and Gas Sector
As it was mentioned before, effective communication has already begun to become a vital part of the oil industry. Graham said that with companies from all over the world coming to Guyana’s shores to do business, the need to effectively communicate is important.
Most importantly, with the surge of visa free access provided to Guyanese by several countries around the world, Graham believes that Guyana will soon become a multi-diverse society in which learning at least a second language will be paramount.
“We are the only English-speaking country in South America. We are surrounded by countries that can speak Spanish, Portuguese and even Dutch. We have to be open to the reality that a second language will set us apart from the rest of the world. There are many countries where their citizens know more than one language, we have to be ready to evolve,” Graham noted. 
In conclusion, he implored Guyanese to be more open to change. He expounded that an important component of success is to think outside the box. Graham said, “I know when people hear a foreign language, they think it’s beautiful. There are benefits to this. But you have to be committed to the task of learning.”
