More than career benefits: Being multilingual helps break down cultural barriers, build bonds

SINGAPORE - Being able to speak four languages has helped OCBC Bank customer service executive Vicky Ng connect with clients from different cultures and backgrounds.

Ms Ng, 29, who speaks Tamil, Mandarin, Malay, English and some basic Cantonese, was born into a multicultural and multilingual family – her father is Chinese and her mother is Indian. Ms Ng started learning Malay in pre-school at four years old.