Proficient foreign language skills offer competitive advantages and enable better relationships with international clients and partners. By speaking the language, business professionals gain a unique understanding of cultural and social nuances critical to their success in global markets. IU CIBER and the Institute for International Business recognize the importance of language study for students, and also the study of business concepts by language instructors through continuing development opportunities. Beyond the programs we offer, the CIBER network administers a broad portfolio of resources, workshops, conferences, and other programs to promote and strengthen the study of business language.

Our tutoring program provides a customized approach to assisting business graduate students in essential language skills and the knowledge necessary to study, intern, or work in a global environment. Tailored to each student’s goals, the program features IU foreign language instructors working one-on-one or in small groups with students. Tutoring is offered in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and other languages (upon request). The application is disseminated through the MBA Program Office each semester, with the deadline to apply being the second Friday of the semester. Participants are required to pay in advance per semester for 12 hours of instruction. There are two tiers of tutoring available:

• Private instruction: $20 per hour
• Two-person group: $17 per hour (per person)

The Business Language Research and Teaching grants were established in 2010 by a consortium of 13 Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) who pledged a portion of their Title VI funding from the US Department of Education to encourage faculty and graduate students in foreign language departments to add a business language dimension to their teaching and research. During the 2022–2026 grant cycle, all 16 CIBERs continued support of this important initiative with competitions in 2023 and 2025.

In 2025, two $4,000 and one $5,000 awards were awarded to research or teaching projects in foreign languages (excluding ESL and ASL). The 2025 BLRT recipients will present their research findings at the spring 2026 International Symposium on Language for Specific Purposes to be hosted by Wake Forest University. Recipients will also receive a travel stipend of up to $1,000 to cover costs associated with presenting at this conference. Recipients will also contribute a write-up on their BLRT project for publication in the Global Business Language Journal.

2025 award recipients

Mathias Schulze, from San Diego State University, for Exploring Language Needs in International Business Concepts

Kazeem Sanuth, from Indiana University, for Investigating Business Language Practices in Yoruba: Towards a Culturally Grounded Business Language Curriculum

Linxi Zhang, Ana Flavia Boeing Marcelino, Colin Benert, Xiaorong Wang, Julie Matsubara, and Sylvie Goutas, from University of Chicago, for Enhancing Business Language Education through Domain Analysis: Addressing Global Workplace Needs

The CIBER network is pleased to serve as a sponsor of the International Symposium on Language for Specific Purposes. The biennial event provides an opportunity for educators, scholars, publishers, language policy makers, and leaders worldwide to discuss language education. The conference enhances US business competitiveness globally by linking the human capital and information needs of the US business community with the international education, language training, and research capacity of US universities.

Indiana University’s College of Arts and Sciences offers courses in more than 70 foreign languages, including some that aren’t taught at any other American university.

Summer Language Workshop CIBER Scholarships

The CIBER scholarships support IU's Kelley School of Business students who study in the IU Summer Language Workshop. This scholarship is intended for business students interested in a global profession and will serve as part of their preparation for an international career. Priority is for students not enrolled in IU Flagship Language programs. The CIBER Scholarship application is included in the unified Language Workshop application form.