Empowered talent begins with communication : Virtual classrooms, mobile and e‐learning are perfect blend for language learning

Purpose – This paper aims to observe that, as globalization increases the need for businesses to communicate across borders, more HR and learning and development specialists are recognizing the link between communication skills, talent mobility and improving business productivity. Design/methodology/approach – It underlines the need for a unified language‐training system integrating the “perfect blend” of virtual classrooms, mobile learning and e‐learning. Findings – It argues that one seamless, standardized blended‐learning system can be a powerful tool for organizational talent succession mobility. With a unified approach, management can better categorize the current profile of employees, identify their level of language skills and determine potential successors for different jobs. Practical implications – The paper urges the need for a combination of global delivery and local support, especially for corporate language training. Social implications – It highlights the need for proper language training in an increasingly globalized business world. Originality/value – The paper advances the view that a truly collaborative, adaptable approach for social and mobile learning will harness its benefits to the maximum.