In an ideal world, higher education would be a chance to take risks, try new things, and solidify a sense of identity. However, in the US the cost of university study is so prohibitive, that most students and their families feel a need to avoid the unknown that comes with experimentation and search for a safer bet. College is now seen as an investment for the future; a time when money is spent with the understanding that the degree and job that await will have a higher salary, better benefits, and more security. The calculation made by these families is understandable.
It is also one of the reasons that I’m proud to teach in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. The work we do adds value to students’ education. Regardless of a student’s major, studying a language alongside whatever else they are doing makes them a more attractive job candidate, increases their intercultural competence, more creative, and more prepared for the increasingly global world where they will live.
So, if what you’re after is a job when you graduate, take a couple of minutes to see a few ways that language study adds value to your future:
It is also one of the reasons that I’m proud to teach in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. The work we do adds value to students’ education. Regardless of a student’s major, studying a language alongside whatever else they are doing makes them a more attractive job candidate, increases their intercultural competence, more creative, and more prepared for the increasingly global world where they will live.
So, if what you’re after is a job when you graduate, take a couple of minutes to see a few ways that language study adds value to your future:
