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Table 3 A profile of 8 Taiwanese companies requiring English among some employees according to interviews from representatives of each company

From: Consequences of test use: a case study of employers’ voice on the social impact of English certification exit requirements in Taiwan

Industry

Employees

English language requirement

Positions that need English

Insurance (1)

30,000

The ability to maintain contact with staff from the head office in the U.S.

Positions including and above vice-managers

Banking & mortgage (1)

7,000

An ability to write and read is required more than speaking in suburban branches, while speaking skills are also required in city branches.

The foreign exchange division, where they have to deal with letters of credit that are all written in English.

Accounting & finance (1)

2,000

Strong command of English because employees must frequently contact overseas companies, and they need to adequately answer the majority of their correspondence in English

Professional divisions such as financial services

Human resources service (1)

600

not mentioned

Those who must deal with foreign clients

Retail (1)

600

The ability to serve foreign visitors and respond to their inquiries

The supervisors of each floor, telephone operators, and those who work at information desks

Hospitality & travel, restaurant & food service (2)

50–250

The ability to speak, read, and write English in order to answer foreign customers’ inquiries about services, fax them, and prepare information for their meetings

Those contacting guests, such as receptionists or room service managers.

Education and training center (1)

10

Basic English language knowledge for beginners

Those who teach English