Major In A Foreign Language

Well, you’ve made it to college in the 21st-century congratulations. Cars aren’t flying yet but science sure is making some major headway. You wonder if there is any worth in majoring in anything BUT a science. There is a common misconception that every major outside of the sciences is “lesser”. However, that is simply not the case in a world that is quickly approaching a global sense of recognition.

I entered college as a Numerical Computation, Computer Science double major, switching to Art/Computer Science, then switching over to Natural Science… and finally, I settled down with an Asian Studies major with a focus in Japanese.  People always ask me just what in the hell am I planning to do with that. More specifically these three questions:

1. How are you going to pay your rent?
2. How are you going to pay your student loans?
3. Where are you going to work?

How the world sees foreign language majors

The Reality

Just for the record, foreign language majors are in huge demand…I mean HUGE demand.  To give you a quick fact check, the total number of Mandarin Chinese speakers in the world equates to 14.4%. The international value placed on a language is PRICELESS. The globe is quickly becoming more tight nit. The amount inter-cultural exchange that will take place within the next decade will be unprecedented.

The Possibilities Are Endless

1. UN Interpreter, UN Editor, UN Translator
2. Language Teacher
3. Translator
4. Diplomatic Work
5. Immigration
6. Flight Attendants
7. Court Room Interpretation ( Providing you have some background in the law of course)
8. Medical Interpretation (Providing you have some background in medicine)
9. Full Time Language Learning Blogger
10. Full-Time Traveling Blogger
11. Work at a Pre-School
12. Peace Corps Volunteer Work
13. Italki Tutor
14. Wyzant Tutor
15. Develop Language Learning App (Background in software may be required)
16. International Student Recruiter
17. College Admissions Representative
18. CIA
19. FBI
20. NSA

Maybe even translate documents for the CIA, FBI, NSA??

My Ten Year Plan?

• May 2018 – Graduate with a B.A in Asian Studies/ Japanese
• October 2018 – Monbukagakusho Research Student – Topic: Second Language Acquisition 
• October 2020- 2022: Obtain Master’s Degree in International Communication (Japan)
• October 2022-24: Obtain Doctorate’s Degree in International Communication (Japan)
• October 2024- 25 : Translation / Interpretation School (Japan)
• October 2025- 2027: Freelancer Translator/ Interpreter ( For Experience)
• October 2028 – Join the United Nations as either an Interpreter or Translator for multiple languages ( Japanese, Spanish (Mexican), English, Swahili, Mandarin Chinese, French, Portuguese)

Disclaimer Alert:

With all of the jobs listed above, you need to have a pinpoint accuracy and comprehension of the language. There is little to no room for mistakes, as this is your SPECIALTY of course. So practice, practice, practice and answer your calling!

Here is a video from one of my favourite polyglot channels Langfocus, here he explains just exactly what you can do with a foreign language.

https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/

http://www.vistawide.com/languages/top_30_languages.htm

https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/

https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=SJ&vacancy=All