| AREAS |
EMPLOYERS |
STRATEGIES |
U.S. GOVERNMENT
Translation/Interpretation
Teaching
Journalism/Broadcasting
Linguistics
Diplomacy
Civil Service
Foreign Service
Immigration/Naturalization
Armed Forces
Customs
|
Overseas dependents' schools
Overseas aid agencies
Intelligence and law enforcement agencies
The Foreign Service
Armed forces
Library of Congress
United Nations
Voice of America |
Learn federal, state and local job application procedures.
Plan to attend a specialized school that teaches foreign
languages.
Join armed forces as a way to get experience. |
ARTS,
MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT
Advertising
Translation/Interpretation
Journalism/Broadcasting
Publishing/Editing |
Museums
Foreign news agencies
Book publishers
Hotels, motels, restaurants
TV networks/Radio stations
Film companies |
Learn about the customs and culture of the country in which your
language of study is primarily spoken, possibly by spending time
in that country.
Read international newspapers to keep up with developments
overseas.
|
INDUSTRY AND
COMMERCE
Translation/Interpretation
Customs
Banking
Secretarial Services
Sales/Customer Services
Manufacturing
Market Research
Consulting
Imports/Exports |
Banks, finance-related institutions
Import/Export companies
Foreign firms operating in the U.S.
American firms operating in foreign countries
Manufacturers
Retail/Department Stores |
Find out which companies do business with the countries in which
your language of study is spoken.
Consult resources such as the Directory of Foreign Firms
Operating in the U.S., Directory of American Firms
Operating in Foreign Countries, and American Register of
Exporters and Importers.
Supplement coursework with business classes.
|
TRAVEL
AND TOURISM
Translation/Interpretation
Airline Services
Hospitality Industry |
Tour companies
Travel agencies
Hotels, motels, restaurants
Airlines/Airports
Cruise Lines |
Take courses in hotel/restaurant administration.
Get a part-time job in a hotel or restaurant to gain experience.
Spend some time abroad to learn the traditions of fine dining,
wines, etc.
Brush up on your knowledge of geography.
Contact airline headquarters or call the Future Aviation
Professionals of America (1-800-JET-JOBS) to find employment
opportunities.
Plan to attend a travel school.
Develop office skills such as typing, organizing and working
with computers.
Read international newspapers to keep up with overseas
developments.
|
SCIENTIFIC AND
PROFESSIONAL
Computer Science
Engineering
Law
Medicine
Library Science |
Corporate and research libraries
School and public libraries
Hospitals/Laboratories
Foreign firms operating in the U.S.
American firms operating in foreign countries |
Develop good oral and written communication skills.
Look into M.L.S. Programs (Master's degree in library science)
Develop clerical skills such as typing and organizing.
Work on computer skills.
Read newspapers and magazines to keep up with world events.
|
SERVICE
AND EDUCATION
Translation/Interpretation
Teaching
Educational Administration
Linguistics
Civil Service
Social Work
Library Science
Health Services |
Hospitals
Religious and volunteer organizations
International organizations
Law enforcement agencies
Social service agencies
Universities/Colleges
Pre-schools
K-12 schools
Professional language schools
|
Learn state certification process for teaching.
Develop superior written and oral communication skills in the
English language including proper sentence structure and
comprehensive vocabulary.
Notify local hospitals, schools and chambers of commerce of your
availability to translate or interpret for international
visitors.
Minor or double major in another subject that you could also
teach.
Investigate teaching English in another country.
Plan to get a graduate degree to teach in colleges or
universities.
Get experience by becoming a teaching assistant or teacher aide.
Be familiar with the cultural base of your language (literature,
art, politics, etc.) as well as with cultural traditions.
Specialize in an area of research.
Plan to take both written and oral examinations to become an
interpreter.
Get a part-time job teaching English as a second language.
Volunteer with government programs such as Peace Corps or VISTA.
|
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Choose an additional academic area of study
to supplement the foreign language, preferably one that
requires a high degree of technical skill. Most people
with foreign language ability use the ability to assist them
in a different career field.
- Related courses to study include geography,
history, civilization, foreign relations, international law,
and world economics.
- Decide and choose which language is
necessary for your career. Decide the level of foreign
language ability you will need to acquire for success in
your career. Possible languages to study: Spanish,
German, French, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Hebrew,
Arabic, and Portuguese.
|
- Plan to attend a Berlitz School, a school
that teaches every foreign language and that is located all
over the world, or the Latin American Institute or the
School of Languages and Linguistics in Washington, D.C.
- Travel to a foreign country or study abroad
in international exchange programs to learn different
cultures.
- Study and practice your foreign language
skills by reading foreign newspapers, magazines and books.
- Watch foreign movies and listen to foreign
broadcasts to keep up your fluency.
- Volunteer your language skills to churches,
community organizations, and programs that work with people
who speak your target language.
|
- Participate in summer programs, co-ops, and
internships to improve your skills
- Pen pal with a correspondent from a foreign
country.
- Contact professional associations and read
their publications to find out about job opportunities.
- Look through newspaper want-adds to get an
idea of jobs in which knowledge of a foreign language is
useful.
|
