Career Paths

Modern Language Career Paths

WHY A DEGREE IN MODERN LANGUAGES IS BENEFICIAL

Choose an additional academic area of study to supplement the modern language, preferably one that requires a high degree of technical skill. Most people with modern language competency apply it in a variety of career fields (e.g. business, education, journalism, law, etc.)
Choose which language and culture appeals to you most. Consider the level of modern language ability you will need to acquire for success in your career.
Possible languages to study: Spanish, French, Japanese, and Chinese. Some languages will offer more job opportunities than other languages in various industries or geographic locales.
Related courses to study include geography, history, civilization, foreign relations, international law, and world economics.
Travel to a foreign country or study abroad through our international exchange programs to develop your language skills and international/intercultural competency.
Study and practice your modern language skills by reading foreign newspapers, magazines, and books online.
Seek opportunities to interact with international students on our campus or members of our local community. Host international students, join relevant student organizations, and participate in international campus events.
Watch foreign movies and listen to foreign broadcasts to maintain your fluency.
Volunteer your language skills to churches, community organizations, and programs that work with people who speak your target language.
Correspond with someone from a foreign country.
Contact professional associations and read their publications to learn about job opportunities.
Research job postings on the Internet to get an idea of jobs in which knowledge of a modern language is useful.
Participate in summer programs, co-ops, and internships to improve your skills.
Network with others in the field to learn about job opportunities.
In general, international positions are competitive and difficult to obtain. Be very proactive in developing the skills and experiences international employers
seek.
Get your foot in the door in domestic positions because many international employers promote current employees into international ones.