3/13: Careers with language

As a student interested in languages, you've may have had a conversation with another student in the past who said something like: "I'd love to learn another language, but I just don't have time," or "Learning languages is fun, but I won't use it in the future - so what's the point?" Though attempting to learn another language is challenging and usually requires years of effort, it is often seen by students and professionals as auxiliary or superfluous—a hobby, instead of a real focus. 

Of course, most language learners have a sense of the inherent value of being able to communicate with more people around the world, to develop intercultural competence and empathy, and to express oneself in more than one language. However, there are also many often-overlooked opportunities and experiences available for students who are interested in continuing language study and using their language skills as part of their career. We discussed some of them in our Language Opportunities panel last semester, talking with Brown students who taught English in Taiwan, worked abroad in Israel, and much more.

Many students know about the Fulbright Program, a United States scholarshipthat allows students to go abroad and often teach English. Even without this prestigious award, there are opportunities to teach English in other countries—or teach your native language to English-speakers. This type of program allows you to not only develop teaching skills, but also to hone your abilities in the native language of the country where you are teaching. If you are interested in teaching a language as a career, there are also graduate programs in language pedagogy, or the study of teaching languages. 

But language-related careers are not just academically focused; they span many industries. Translation and interpretation are still important roles—despite what AI optimists may suggest—and as an interpreter you could even find yourself employed by the United Nations, helping to facilitate international diplomacy. The crucial nature of interpretation in high-stakes situations, whether in the courtroom, a doctor's office, or somewhere else, makes it a challenging profession with meaningful consequences. And for the writing inclined, literary translation is a gateway into the world of publishing and authorship. 

Most countries need foreign service officials and interlingual diplomats, which is another way to integrate language use with international affairs. And language experts and analysts are not only needed in diplomacy, but in the field of military and intelligence as well, for those interested. Working for the government or military means you will be paid to use and strengthen your language skills. 

There are other careers where language may not be the sole focus, but plays a crucial or indispensable role. For example, conducting anthropological or social research in a smaller linguistic community requires a knowledge of the language spoken there (for examples, look no further than these Brownprofessors); global corporations also hire people to make their products amenable to different linguistic communities worldwide. And if you're interested in medicine or public health, community health advocates often center language as an important part of accessibility for the communities they serve. 

Of course, the list doesn't end here. You could work abroad as an au pair, teaching your native language and learning a new one at the same time; in the age of social media careers, you could even become a language-learning content creator. Even if you don't want language to be the main focus of your career, knowing a second or third language opens doors to work in a myriad of careers, but in other parts of the world, and for other communities. So the next time you encounter a student unsure what the supposed return value of language learning is, you can point them to the evidence—and then to the CLS, for where to begin!