"Languages and Leadership" [Minjok Herald Feature Writing 2nd draft]

Learning how to make audiences dazed with their mouths open

Languages and Leadership

Kim Seung-Jun

Junior Feature Writer, 16^th Wave

             In the presidential election of 2008, distrust and resentment were at an all time high. However, President Obama mesmerized the crowd with a simple word “change”. Whenever he faced hardships during his presidency, he pacified the roaring crowd with the magical power of speech. This is exactly why leaders need language abilities and shows how simple words can bring forth great changes. Let look at why languages are required to foster leadership and how students from Korean Minjok Leadership Academy (KMLA) learn languages.

            To begin with, language skill for leaders is important for the survival of corporations in a global economy. Nowadays, overseas partners are looking for people who can communicate fluently with foreign counterparts. This is because only companies are able to break down language barriers can acquire new contracts and commercial opportunities in the global economy. In fact, many of the able-graduates of KMLA are receiving love calls in the United States. Even several months ago, good news that a 10^th waver was employed by the Bank of America made us proud.

             Moreover, great speeches improve productivity of a group or organization. In bureaucracy, ‘just tell them approach’ hinders effective communication between the administrative branch and the executive branch of a corporation. Often times, miscommunication have caused serious problems. On the other hand, if a leader has storytelling (language) ability, it becomes much easier to convey the exact views and vision of a corporation. Also, direct storytelling of a leader outweighs all other alternatives. Charts, for example, leave listeners bemused and dialogue is just too laborious and slow. Mind-numbing cascades of numbers or daze-inducing PowerPoint slides won’t have the same effects as direct storytelling of leaders either. This reminds us of KMLA’s student council election process. All candidates are required to give speeches that appeal to the students. Plus, they have to write their manifestoes in an orderly manner to persuade and give credit to the voters. Without coherent language ability, even assuming a president of KMLA is something unimaginable.

             Finally, language ability of leaders enables the society to be united. When there are only abstract numbers that exist to explain about the future, people are often not willing to accept what leaders say. Why? It’s because certain numbers aren’t effective at showing a clear vision and people inevitably feel uncertainty about their future. However, storytelling of a leader changes dry and abstract numbers into compelling pictures of a leader’s goals. Although visions of good businesses are mainly conveyed through the use of numbers, they should be approved on the basis of a story in order to unite people into one. Especially, when a certain corporation faces the task of persuading a group of managers or front-line staff in a large organization to get enthusiastic about a major change, storytelling is the only thing that works.

             So, what does KMLA students do to improve their language abilities? First, they take regular sessions of language classes. Students are encouraged to participate actively in in-class discussions regarding pieces of literature, video and various sources. They learn how to express their opinions in a logical manner and how to interact with their audiences. English debate and public speech classes enable students to be confident in giving speeches just like leaders are.

             Second, after-class activities foster the language ability of students. Students are required to finish piles of homework which includes writing essays, reading several pieces of writing, and watching news clips. Classes such as AP Language, for example, even allow students to enjoy greater challenges such as writing several synthesis essays. What’s more, students individually participate in language related competitions such as English Debate competitions and DELE, a Spanish proficiency test.

             Students in KMLA are certainly striving to get the most out of their language classes. In fact, many students have already acquired the necessary ability to become a leader. That is, they are learning how to make audiences roll in the isles, cry and inspire them. I believe incessant efforts of KMLA students are bringing them closer and closer to becoming a respected global leader who can change the world.