Hey everyone, I’m coming at you with a fresh take from my recent Hackathon experience which really got me thinking about the language skills needed in today’s professional world.

Just last weekend, I was part of a pretty cool event organized by HINT (that’s our uni’s innovation team) at the chic Hotel De Baak in Noordwijk. The catch? It was all in Dutch. Now, despite living in the Netherlands for three years and dabbling in Dutch classes, following a full-on Dutch-speaking event was daunting!

Being invited as a representative for international students, I assumed my English would suffice. Spoiler: it didn’t. It’s one thing to know a language academically, and another to swim in it for 24 hours straight. Everyone there could switch to English, but Dutch was clearly where everyone’s comfort lay.

This whole situation reminded me of the “Delftse Methode” used by TU Delft, which is super unconventional. Instead of bogging down with grammar, they throw you into the deep end — learning in context right from the get-go. It sounds intense, but guess what? It actually works. You’re picking up nuances and phrases within weeks without the usual grind.

So, why does this matter for us, especially if you’re like me — a Gen Z UX designer trying to make it in a crowded field? Well, it’s simple.

English isn’t the showstopper it used to be. It’s just the baseline now, like being able to use Photoshop or Illustrator.

In Europe, and anywhere you might end up working, knowing the local language isn’t just about getting by without Google Translate. It’s about connecting with your team, understanding user needs better, and feeling the culture.

More and more, companies aren’t just looking for great designers; they want people who can seamlessly blend into diverse teams.

From what I’ve seen and where things are heading, knowing three languages might just be the next big thing. It’s not just about being able to translate user surveys or localize apps — it’s about deeper insights and connections. And isn’t that what UX is all about?So, maybe it’s time to dust off those language apps or sign up for a class. The world’s connecting faster than ever, and our language skills need to keep up. Here’s to being tri-lingual in 2024 and beyond!

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