Exploring the Specific Nuances of Multilingual Proficiency and its Impact on Social Skills and Employability

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of multilingualism in a globalized world, examining its impact on social skills and career prospects. In an increasingly interconnected world, learning multiple languages beyond English is considered a necessity for global competency and addressing complex global issues. The research aimed to determine if there are differences in multilingualism based on gender and age, and to identify the relationships between social skills and job prospects with multilingualism. A quantitative survey was administered to 170 Bachelor of Counselling (Honours) students at Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS), utilizing simple random sampling and analyzed with SPSS. Results indicated no significant difference in multilingualism based on gender or age, suggesting similar potential across these demographics. Crucially, a significant positive relationship was found between social skills and multilingualism (r = .534, p < 0.01), and between job prospects and multilingualism (r = .565, p < 0.01). These findings support Affordance Theory, positing that individuals pursue multilingualism for enhanced social interaction and career advancement. The study underscores that multilingualism provides significant benefits in the job market and travel, highlighting the need for educational institutions and governments to bolster language education to foster global competitiveness.