By Prosper Mene
A Nigerian woman has shared her experience of leaving Germany for the United Kingdom due to language barriers that hindered her professional goals. In a recent discussion on Social Media, she detailed how her struggles with the German language prompted her move to an English-speaking country where she could thrive.
Nicky Sommy Ugom explained that despite moving to Germany for career opportunities, her limited proficiency in German made it difficult to secure roles that matched her qualifications. “Language can delay your goals,” she stated, reflecting on how the expectation of fluency in German restricted her access to job opportunities and slowed her progress.
Seeking to overcome these challenges, she relocated to the UK, where English, her primary language, allowed her to communicate effectively and pursue her ambitions without linguistic barriers. Since moving, she has reportedly found better alignment with her career goals.
Her story sheds light on the broader challenges immigrants face when navigating language barriers in non-English-speaking countries. Observations made across the X platform shows that many Nigerian professionals prefer destinations like the UK due to linguistic familiarity, a trend supported by a 2024 migration report noting the UK’s popularity among Nigerian migrants.
Nicky’s experience brings forth the role of language in integration and economic mobility.
