Rewarding Careers That Language Skills Build
http://www.educationbuzz.net/articles/349/1/Rewarding-Careers-That-Language-Skills-Build/Page1.html
Michael Gabrikow
Michael Gabrikow has spent all his life learning languages, he knows all about language learning. http://www.InternetPolyglot.com - find out how you and your children can expand your
horizons in language learning. By Michael Gabrikow
Published on 03/8/2008
There are worlds of opportunities that will open up for you should you decide to dedicate your time and attention to the study of a foreign language.
Have you ever wondered what you could do with your knowledge if you were to learn a foreign language? There are worlds of opportunities that will open up for you should you decide to dedicate your time and attention to the study of a foreign language.
Here are a few of the careers you could explore were you to learn to speak a foreign language fluently:
1) International Organizations. There are organizations that provide everything from first aid and emotional support to serious medical treatment and lifeline support in regions that are torn by natural disasters, wars, and civil unrest. The more languages you speak fluently the more assistance you can provide to organizations such as this.
2) Translators. While the common misconception is that translators all work at the UN or for foreign dignitaries and are forced to travel or be on call at all times. This is simply not true. Translator's work on books (such as Harry Potter), news, magazines, and many other print mediums. Because translators need to be current with newspaper and magazine jargon in both languages, and because time is often of the essence, many translators will specialize in specific fields for their translations rather than being jacks-of-all-trades.
3) Interpreters. This is perhaps the most demanding position you could take with your foreign language skills. This position requires that you are able to translate without even thinking about the words you are hearing. Some people, no matter how long they've been speaking a language still mentally translate from the foreign language to their own and back when formulating responses. When translating verbally, there is no time for this. You must be confident and comfortable with both languages. This is an exciting field, but very demanding and competitive.
4) Teaching. For some this is the most rewarding career path they could take with their language skills, others find it the most thankless. But I think all will agree that when they find that one student who has a spark of excitement at the prospect of learning to speak an entirely new language, that is really all the thanks they need.
No matter what your career goals are, learning to speak a foreign language is a very rewarding process. Even if your future job doesn't specifically require you to speak a foreign language, it will always look better in the CV than not having it at all. Stating that you can speak a foreign language fluently attests that you are a smart, ambitious person that can and wants to adapt to new situations. If you can make the process of learning this new language a series of fun and entertaining steps designed to improve vocabulary and build language skills in not only the language you are learning but your own language as well, then you've enjoyed the best of all worlds.
Here are a few of the careers you could explore were you to learn to speak a foreign language fluently:
1) International Organizations. There are organizations that provide everything from first aid and emotional support to serious medical treatment and lifeline support in regions that are torn by natural disasters, wars, and civil unrest. The more languages you speak fluently the more assistance you can provide to organizations such as this.
2) Translators. While the common misconception is that translators all work at the UN or for foreign dignitaries and are forced to travel or be on call at all times. This is simply not true. Translator's work on books (such as Harry Potter), news, magazines, and many other print mediums. Because translators need to be current with newspaper and magazine jargon in both languages, and because time is often of the essence, many translators will specialize in specific fields for their translations rather than being jacks-of-all-trades.
3) Interpreters. This is perhaps the most demanding position you could take with your foreign language skills. This position requires that you are able to translate without even thinking about the words you are hearing. Some people, no matter how long they've been speaking a language still mentally translate from the foreign language to their own and back when formulating responses. When translating verbally, there is no time for this. You must be confident and comfortable with both languages. This is an exciting field, but very demanding and competitive.
4) Teaching. For some this is the most rewarding career path they could take with their language skills, others find it the most thankless. But I think all will agree that when they find that one student who has a spark of excitement at the prospect of learning to speak an entirely new language, that is really all the thanks they need.
No matter what your career goals are, learning to speak a foreign language is a very rewarding process. Even if your future job doesn't specifically require you to speak a foreign language, it will always look better in the CV than not having it at all. Stating that you can speak a foreign language fluently attests that you are a smart, ambitious person that can and wants to adapt to new situations. If you can make the process of learning this new language a series of fun and entertaining steps designed to improve vocabulary and build language skills in not only the language you are learning but your own language as well, then you've enjoyed the best of all worlds.