In the South African context, multilingualism in Primary Health Care is of paramount importance for the successful running of any program or practice. English may be the language of the world, but where the health and well-being of patients is involved, knowledge of the local indigenous language plays an pivotal role in building relationships as well as assessing and sucessfully treating health issues. Today languages are part of workplace diversity and learning another language is more than learning words and meaning, but more about understanding the meaning behind the words to emotionally connect with patients and improve delivery.

Multilingualism is necessary for quality service where people do not speak the same language. Therefore being able to speak your patient’s language assists in boosting the quality of your service delivery and also help you attract new business.

Multilingualism and multiculturalism go hand in hand. Intercultural skills and proficiency in a foreign language help to address the unique challenges of health care practices operating in various domains. Knowing the language well enough to adjust your communication from professional to sensitive can help develop relationships to build a better understanding and rapport with colleagues and patients.

Language skills are valuable because they enable you to interact with patients and make them feel welcome, comfortable and assured of receiving the best treatment. When you are able to speak in a language other than English to your patients, not only do you feel valued and respected, it also gives you a chance to practice your language skills.