Most universities will offer a number of different languages including French, Spanish, Italian, German and Russian among others. Moreover, recent graduates with liberal arts degrees face an unemployment rate of 9.2%. However, these are not the only career options open to those who study languages. (Note, however, that a dual STEM degree typically brings in the most cash.) Not everyone who studies a language wants to sit around all day translating business manuals or interpreting at conferences. A much larger percentage (40-45%), however, say that it is desirable to hire someone with a foreign language and that language graduates can bring … What are some reasons you shouldn’t major in a foreign language? Language study Johnson: What is a foreign language worth? The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. This is a pretty obvious reason, but if you're not passionate about the language you’re learning and don’t intend to use it after college, don’t major in it. Don’t be under any illusions though, these graduates are in such high demand because the degrees require dedication and hard work. A 2015 study conducted by Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that the median salary for those who majored in a foreign language was about $52,000. Finding time to study on your own is what will ultimately help you keep up your language skills and stay sharp. Some graduates will also choose to pursue further education to improve their fluency with their chosen language or will choose to study or work abroad. Although you can learn a lot with four years of college-level language instruction, it’s generally not enough to make you truly fluent in a language. Learning culture is just as important as learning language. In essence most language degrees will focus on improving fluency and the ability to read, write and speak in another language. Such a major proves that you are familiar with both the language and culture. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? However, there is no definitive list of subjects that could be studied alongside languages. However, some schools use slightly broader names for their foreign language majors. Whether academic, aspirational or a combination of factors, there is a multitude of reasons why you may be considering learning a new language or taking a degree in a foreign language. While Spanish is the most common language taught in these programs, some schools focus on other languages … If one of your goals is to work and live in another country—in particular, an area where your target language is spoken—a major in that language is a logical choice. If you enjoy learning a foreign language but are more interested in other fields, consider minoring in the language. If you’re studying Korean or Spanish, you could apply for the EPIK program in Korea or the Auxiliar de Conversación Program in Spain. Part of fluency also depends on the language you're studying and what your native tongue is. And what are the reasons you shouldn't? Think carefully about your career and educational goals. Find out what you will learn on an art degree, what you should study to get a place on a university course, and what jobs you might get once you graduate, Why study a history degree? Although liberal arts degrees have a reportedly harder time landing well-paying jobs, recent reports show that many liberal arts majors earn about as much as, if not more than, STEM majors do. My language of choice was Japanese. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. Why did I choose this language? Foreign language majors can be lots of fun—but they're not typically the most lucrative. 3 thoughts on “ For Programming, Is College Worth It? Get expert advice in our guide to choosing a college major, and learn the five main factors to consider before you declare a major. Clearly, majoring in a foreign language not only teaches you how to speak a language but also how to communicate effectively with people (and potentially business partners!) Learning a language is tough—sometimes it feels impossible. This will be supported through seminars, regular assessments, encouraged independent study and presentations. So what’s the good news? The reason you take CS classes in college is so you actually learn *CS*, which is … This platform matches you with a native speaking language coach for one-on-one teaching, rather than learning in a lecture hall with 300 other students. Here are six ways you can further improve your language skills after college (note that you can do most of these tips during college, too!). She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. Many US colleges offer undergraduate majors that focus on a specific language and the main region/culture it's spoken in. Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe completed a degree in French, German and economics while author John le Carré also has a languages degree. Once again, here are the four best reasons to major in a foreign language: That said, majoring in a foreign language isn't for everyone. But what is a critical language exactly? If you're still on the fence about pursuing a language major, as, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, University of Michigan's Romance Languages and Literatures major, East Asian Languages and Cultures with an emphasis in Japanese, many liberal arts majors earn about as much as, if not more than, STEM majors do, there are tons of mental benefits of being bilingual, such as improved memory and better multi-tasking skills, an article posted on Trinity Washington University’s website, might even result in higher pay in the long run, this combination offers the biggest potential for high earnings, encourage students to double major in STEM and a foreign language, your potential for high wages will be lower, Data released by the Foreign Service Institute of the US Department of State, non-technical majors have higher unemployment rates than STEM, business, and health care majors do, the median salary for those who majored in a foreign language was about, the median annual wage for translators and interpreters in May 2016 was, the projected growth rate for interpreters and translators from 2016 to 2026 is 18%, Auxiliar de Conversación Program in Spain, Foreign Languages and Area Studies (FLAS) program, the types of languages that will be most in demand, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Our guide tells you which college majors are likely to bring in the most cash, Commercial art and graphic design: $51,000. Finally, some majors have college language requirements but are not specifically focused on the language (or area) itself. I know, this probably sounds horrible—you spend four years learning a language and I'm calling that a starting point. Even on conservative estimates, speaking another language translates into a big … Not sure what to major in? So if your major is French, you’ll likely learn about France. If, after graduation, you want to have an easier time finding a job with a high salary, consider avoiding these 26 majors. What can you do with an archaeology degree? When I felt that my spoken Japanese was getting worse, I decided to look for a language group in my area using the website Meetup. What can you do with an English language degree? Imagine a class of 200 people studying medicine or dentistry and all but one have managed to land a job. If you want to practice speaking and listening but can’t find anyone to do this with in person, try looking for a language partner or tutor online. In essence most language degrees will focus on improving fluency and the ability to read, write and speak in another language. But the reality is that language learning is a lifelong process. 9. As I briefly mentioned at the beginning, I majored in a foreign language (and in English—what can I say? We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. Other subjects that could complement a languages degree are other humanities and arts subjects such as English literature or language, history or politics. This is what you must do to keep up your communicative skills and be able to use the language consistently in both your career and social life.