Significance of Learning a Foreign Language for IT Graduates in the IT Industry in Sri Lanka: with Special Reference to German as a Foreign Language

Abstract

In a rapidly developing world, technology plays an irreplaceable role in the socio-economic growth of a country. Speaking of Sri Lanka, the field of Information Technology is a front-line player in the development process. Moreover, the industry has started a trend with the application of foreign languages in the industry, especially German as a Foreign Language. In the present context, for many careers in the field of IT, knowledge of a foreign language is of remarkable value. Thus, this study was conducted among IT graduates and employees in the IT industry in Sri Lanka to identify the significance of learning a foreign language and its usage with special reference to German as a Foreign Language. Data gathering for the study was conducted by distributing a structured questionnaire to the IT graduates in the IT industry, which ultimately helped in identifying the experiences, challenges, and perceptions regarding the use of German as a foreign language in the IT industry. The descriptive analysis of the results obtained by identifying the above-mentioned points showcased that, most of the IT graduates in the IT industry are not aware of the significance of learning a foreign language like German for the growth of their career in the industry yet their interest in studying German as a foreign language is high, which also proves that there will be a competitive demand in the future for IT graduates with foreign language proficiency in the IT industry in Sri Lanka.