Connecting Through Language: Enhancing Multilingual Communication in International Education
Let’s create a better future by fostering multilingual communication among international students. Join us in building a diverse and inclusive community of learners today.
How do we build connections between people who speak different languages?
Many universities aim to create inclusive, diverse, and globally aware learning environments.
At the heart of this effort lies the challenge of multilingual communication.
Beyond simply offering translation or language support, institutions must embrace a broader, more strategic approach to communication—one that acknowledges linguistic and cultural diversity as a powerful asset.
In this article, we explore how multilingual communication enhances recruitment, supports learning, and fosters deeper intercultural understanding.
Reaching prospective students across languages
One of the primary challenges in international education is engaging prospective students who may not speak the institution’s primary language. Rather than seeing this as a barrier, it is an opportunity to design a multilingual communication strategy that meets students where they are.
Here are two main approaches:
- Multilingual outreach and content: Develop recruitment campaigns in multiple languages, ensuring your website, application processes, and promotional materials are accessible in key target languages. This extends beyond translation—it involves cultural adaptation to ensure messaging resonates.
- Global partnerships and exchange networks: Establish partnerships with institutions abroad to co-create multilingual content and student engagement strategies. While this creates reciprocal benefits, it also ensures communication standards reflect the diversity of the audiences involved.
Building understanding through inclusive communication
True engagement goes beyond initial outreach. Good communication helps students feel included, understood, and supported at your institution.
- Multilingual accessibility: Provide course materials, campus resources, and administrative information in formats that are accessible to students with varying language proficiencies. This might include translated documents, audio versions, subtitled videos, and visual summaries.
- Language proficiency mapping: Offer multilingual assessments to understand where students are on their language journey. Use the insights to recommend support pathways that facilitate academic success and social integration.
- Cultural immersion through communication: Encourage students to engage with media, cultural references, and peer interactions in their target language. Share curated content—films, podcasts, readings—that allows them to explore language in context.
Best practices for multilingual engagement
Successful multilingual communication in educational settings requires intentional design. Below are practices that have proven effective:
- Multichannel messaging: Engage your audiences through social media, email, video, and events, using their languages and cultural preferences.
- Community partnerships: Collaborate with cultural organizations and community leaders to create culturally relevant messaging and events.
- Language clubs and peer networks: Establish spaces where students can connect in their native or target languages. Encourage language exchange partnerships that foster communication and friendship.
- Intercultural events: Organize multilingual, multicultural events where language is a bridge rather than a barrier. These may include international food festivals, storytelling nights, or bilingual guest lectures.
Case study: Boosting enrollment through strategic multilingual communication
A U.S.-based university sought to increase enrollment in its Chinese language program. Despite having skilled faculty, it struggled to attract students.
The institution implemented a multilingual communication strategy. It collaborated with Chinese-American associations, offered presentations in Mandarin and English at local schools, and created social media content in both languages. By showcasing the personal stories of current students and alumni, the messaging became more relatable and culturally resonant.
As a result, interest and enrollment in the program grew significantly. The university didn’t just translate materials—it reimagined how it communicated.
Proven programs that embrace multilingual communication
Several international programs have excelled by making multilingual communication central to their approach:
- Erasmus Programme (EU): Promotes student mobility and encourages multilingual collaboration among European universities.
- Middlebury Language Schools (USA): Uses full language immersion and strict communication policies to help students gain fluency.
- AFS Intercultural Programs (Global): Offers cultural exchange experiences supported by multilingual materials and support staff.
- CIEE (Global): Provides multilingual support and orientation to participants across its global study abroad programs.
Conclusion: Communication as a bridge, not a barrier
International education succeeds when students are not only welcomed but fully engaged—linguistically, culturally, and academically. By embracing a multilingual communication strategy, institutions move beyond transactional language services to create truly inclusive environments.
With the right mindset, tools, and partnerships, multilingual communication can transform how we recruit, teach, and connect students from every corner of the globe.
