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Career Opportunities with a Major in Modern Foreign Languages

Many jobs require a college educated individual. College graduates can use their education in a wide variety of occupations.

Foreign Language graduates have a variety of career options in both the public and private sectors. Most professionals who deal with the public, such as teachers, law enforcement agents and social services professionals, benefit from having foreign language knowledge, especially when these professionals serve foreign language speaking communities. Additionally, multi-national corporations increasingly need employees with foreign langauge skills to process documents and work as translators. With a major in Modern Foreign Languages individuals have the ability to communicate, develop cultural awareness and sensitivity, expand general knowledge and promote more apprecation for other cultures. Proficiency in more than one language is becoming an increasingly valuable skill and enhances one's occupational possibilities.

 

SKILLS RELATED TO MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

  • Ability to read and write articulately and analytically

  • Comprehensive command of grammar and vocabulary

  • Good listening, clarifying, questioning, and responding skills

  • Ability to practice for long periods of time

  • Ability to organize and memorize detailed information

  • Proficiency in phonetics and ability to imitate sounds

  • Ability to think logically / quickly make analogies

The following list is a representative sample of job titles for individuals with a Modern Foreign Languages major. The list represents some, but certainly not all, careers which Modern Foreign Languages majors may consider.

Some of these jobs also require education beyond a bachelor's degree.

 

Announcer Anthropologist Audiologist
Author Bilingual Teacher Buyer
Civil Service Worker Customs Inspector Diplomat
Foreign Language Teacher Foreign News Correspondent Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Student Advisor Health Administrator Historian
Hotel Manager Immigration Inspector Import / Export Clerk
Human Resources Director Interpreter Journalist
Librarian Linguist Missionary
Special Agent - FBI Speech Pathologist Technical Writer
Textbook Publisher Tour Guide Translator
International Relations Director Travel Agent  

 

EMPLOYERS IN MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

  • Magazines

  • Newspapers

  • Museums

  • Professional journals

  • Hotel chains

  • International service organizations

  • Labor unions

  • Public relations firms

  • United Nations

  • Banks/Investment firms

  • Law firms

  • U.S. Immigration Service

  • International airlines

  • Military services

  • Foreign language textbook publishers

  • Colleges/Universities

  • Transportation agencies

  • Libraries

  • International trade organizations

  • Non-profit organizations

  • U.S. Travel Service

 

WEB SITES RELATED TO MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Metro State Modern Foreign Languages Department Website

 

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS FIELD

The above information is collected from alumni surveys of numerous colleges, professional associations, and multiple print and online resources.