Online Language Review

Studying a foreign language is a practical skill with immediate benefits. As the world becomes more integrated, a global community in terms of culture and business, the need to speak more than one language is growing. Learning a foreign language provides students with the proficiency and comprehension necessary for bilingualism or multilingualism in addition to promoting cultural sensitivity and awareness.

The language a student chooses should be one of interest, but also one that will advance his career. Arabic, Chinese and Spanish are some of the “hot” languages to learn for jobs, since there are more places in the world speaking these languages, thus more places in need of foreign language speakers.

Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian, also known as the four “romance” languages, are usually offered at every college or university. Other common language courses include German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Latin, Korean and Arabic, which are considerably more difficult for English speakers to learn. Different schools offer varying languages depending on how developed the foreign language program is at the school and the demand from the students. The larger the university, the more uncommon languages are offered, such as Vietnamese, Swedish, Thai, Czech, Malay, Greek, Hebrew, Persian (Farsi), Hawaiian, Swahili, Croatian, Turkish, Yiddish, Polish, Irish/Gaelic, Finnish, Dutch or American Sign Language (ASL).

Earning a foreign language degree online is not nearly as doable as it is for other degrees, such as business or information technology, since much of learning a foreign language involves working individually with teachers, in groups and in front of an audience speaking, writing and reading the language. However, there are many free foreign language courses online, which can serve as a class by itself or as a useful study aid. MIT, Open University, Utah State University, the BBC and FSI Language offer OpenCourseWare programs with over 100 free online foreign language courses.

Bachelor Of Arts In A Foreign Language:
Earning a Bachelor of Arts in a foreign language involves proving written and oral proficiency in the language the student studies. Some schools require independent courses or a series of classes related to the language, such as Japanese literature, art history and history courses, plus linguistics and other humanities classes. Choosing another academic field of interest, such as linguistics, business, education or sciences will be of tremendous use in the job market. While there are positions available that strictly involve translating, there are far more job opportunities at companies with foreign clients, in the government or in schools.

Many schools offer ways for students to prove their knowledge of a foreign language before taking the require coursework. If a student has scored high enough on the advanced placement examination for that particular language in high school, the credits can carry over. Other students who wish to continue learning a language they started in high school can take placement tests to see if they can skip ahead to an intermediate level. Some schools offer summer intensive courses that teach at an accelerated pace, which is especially useful for students who want to jump ahead or review the language for the fall semester.

Master Of Arts In A Foreign Language:
A Masters of Arts in a foreign language requires a B.A. in that particular language (e.g. French) and involves more in-depth learning of language theory, aesthetics, medieval literature, modern literature, criticism and cultural studies. Some schools offer combined B.A. and M.A. language-intensive programs, which reduces the time spent in school while still earning a higher degree.

Earning A Higher Degree In Foreign Language:
Earning a Ph.D. in a foreign language requires a master’s degree in the chosen language of study first. All students must pass written and oral examinations and complete a dissertation that presents the student’s knowledge of interdisciplinary expertise, critical thinking and interpretation. Some degree programs offer optional emphases on applied linguistics, specific literary periods or cultural studies.

Coursework For Foreign Languages:
Nearly all the coursework for the first two years is the same when it comes to learning a foreign language: reading, writing and speaking. Many of the assignments come from textbook and workbook combinations that require the student to incorporate all three aspects of learning at the same time. After passing beginner and intermediate levels, many foreign language degree requirements are much like English courses in that they involve reading, analyzing and critical reasoning of select foreign literature.

In order to maintain the high level of fluency needed for jobs, students of foreign language studies must be diligent in their studies as well as outside teachings and extracurricular lessons. Reading foreign newspapers and books, watching foreign films and volunteering language skills at local organizations are great ways to utilize skills outside the classroom. Internships and summer jobs are also ideal for practicing the language in a real-world setting.

Traveling abroad is one of the best ways to gain insight and a deeper understanding of the cultural and social perspectives of another country. Going to school in Germany, for example, fully immerses the student into using German on a daily basis. Also, the experience of going abroad, learning and living in another culture led to overall personal growth and intellectual development and appreciation.

Career Opportunities In Foreign Language:
Career opportunities for foreign language graduates may seem bleak in comparison to more stable job markets in the sciences and business. However, being bilingual is a huge advantage over those who cannot speak a second language, especially for any organization that needs someone who deals with non-English speaking people on a regular basis.

The most common jobs for foreign language degree holders involve work in education, such as teaching at any level, or as a translator communicating between two languages, like from English to French and vice versa. The government always needs interpreters and translators, with jobs in the Department of State, Customs Service and CIA or FBI.

Public relations, journalism, communications, advertising and marketing for businesses, foreign news, museums and TV and film companies are hire foreign language specialists, as do banks, import and export companies, foreign firms and American firms operating in other countries. Of course, travel and tourism jobs in hotel management, airlines and resorts are always in demand of foreign language graduates.

Earning Potential For Foreign Language Careers:
The salary for foreign language degree holders varies greatly depending on the language learned, any other degrees or academics and the field of work. A translator can make anywhere from $37,056 to $50,299 on average, while educators tend to start slightly less at $32,839 to $51,976. Foreign exchange traders can make up to $61,200, whereas speech and language pathologists can earn up to $67,500. Jobs in the private sector, government and nonprofit all vary in salary, but are roughly equivalent.