The ability to speak a language is the most important. When listing a language on your CV you could categorise your competency as: > Basic or beginner > Conversational or intermediate > Advanced or proficient > Fluent, native, or mother tongue I really don't think there is much to choose from between mother tongue and native language. You must log in or register to reply here. Pro Tip : Some people have put their years of language use when describing proficiency, but this is a big no-no. I use 'first language', 'native language' and 'mother tongue' in the same way, but you might get some people who try to link 'native language' and 'mother tongue' to ethnicity, whereas this is less likely for 'first language'.
When listing a language on your CV you could categorise your competency as:You could also seek inspiration from LinkedIn, which classifies language aptitude levels as elementary proficiency, limited working proficiency, professional working proficiency, full professional proficiency, and native/bilingual proficiency.If your language skills are likely to resonate with your target employer, show them in action throughout your CV. For example, you could detail cost savings achieved through negotiations with German-speaking suppliers, or explain how you attracted 10 new prospects at an international trade show.Don’t oversell your language skills, as this could place you in a very embarrassing situation and, what’s more, compromise your integrity. [/COLOR] She has 15 years of experience gained delivering interview-winning CVs and cover letters for professionals at all levels, helping individuals to stand out from the crowd in a highly competitive job market. You can also use "native language" as in, "the native language of China is ...". Think about how language skills will be useful in your target role, then assess whether your skill level would equip you for that task. Globally understood descriptions of language proficiency. You can also use "native language" as in, "the native language of China is ...". The following terms are commonly used in English job applications to describe language proficiency, starting with the highest level of proficiency. I would say "Native French speaker" (under "skills") or if you have a section listing your languages you could just say:I can't recall "mother tongue" being used much at all in American English.
In today’s global work environment, language skills are a draw for employers. I use 'first language', 'native language' and 'mother tongue' in the same way, but you might get some people who try to link 'native language' and 'mother tongue' to ethnicity, whereas this is less likely for 'first language'.I can't recall "mother tongue" being used much at all in American English.

If it doesn’t, you may opt to leave them off, or state an intention to develop the required skills through specific training in a defined timescale. Mother tongue is more a literary term while native language is more a formal term. The best way to indicate language knowledge on CV´s is by using a table or diagram. I also list the foreign languages that I speak. If they have offices in the target country, and you happen to be fluent in that language, list it. The requirement for professional translators is that they only translate *into* their mother tongue/native language OR their language of habitual use Some other candidates might be French teachers as well but not French native speakers, so that is why I think it is important to emphasize it Yes, that's definitely more appropriate for a resume. Actually, I need to put it in my resume as I work as a French as a Foreign Language teacher.

There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule about how to denote language skills. As others have said, I think 'first language' works best for a CV. For example, if applying for a role based in Paris, stating that you have enrolled in a three-month Business French course is probably more informative than laying claim to conversational French.If you have some language skills, but don’t wish to use up vital space on your CV, you could always save your language skills for LinkedIn, where a dedicated section is provided.

Terms like native language or mother tongue refer to an ethnic group rather than to the first language. There is no significant difference between mother tongue and first language since both refer to a person’s native language.However, in some contexts, mother tongue refers to the language of one’s ethnic group, rather than one’s first language. If your languages will be really important to your next role, you could highlight your skills in your profile section by describing yourself as ‘fluent’, ‘multi-lingual’, or ‘bi-lingual’, for example. LinkedIn should reflect and enhance the information provided on your CV, so it’s good to give a little more depth here.There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule about how to denote language skills. Instead, as mentioned before, show commitment to securing the necessary skillsets by listing an appropriate ongoing training course.What is the level between Conversational or intermediate and Advanced or proficient called?Lis McGuire is a professional CV writer at Giraffe CVs. JavaScript is disabled. Mother tongue or first language is the language a person has been exposed to from the birth. The first language or mother tongue plays an important role in sociolinguistics, as it is the basis for many people’s sociolinguistic identity. In your Experience section, give examples of your language skills in action, bringing them to life. Technically, you can be a native speaker who is fluent in their mother tongue, but not proficient (so you speak smoothly, but your vocabulary is somewhat limited.) On the other hand, if you are considering noting fledging language skills gained from a GCSE course studied a decade or two ago, think twice.