I read with interest the article, 'English test for foreign front-line staff? Bosses say 'no'' (The Sunday Times, May25).

As a front-line staff member at a prominent arts venue here, I do see the importance of the English language in the service industry. But there are also other factors to consider. Product knowledge, tact and a good disposition account for excellent service, too.

We live in a cosmopolitan society where various races and languages co-exist. And as Singapore becomes more global, knowledge of just English may not suffice.

Thus, to stay competitive, we must also be versatile and eloquent in languages non-native to us.

Which is why, after mastering French, I plan to learn Spanish.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on Jun 1, 2008