Why Study Languages Adapted from a presentation by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies …When Everyone Speaks English?

Why Study LanguagesWhy Study Languages

Adapted from a presentation by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies

……When Everyone Speaks English?When Everyone Speaks English?

Sex Goda Skäl FörSex Goda Skäl FörAtt Studera Språk…Att Studera Språk…

Did you understand?

Du kan få ett jobb

Du har nytta av det ute i världen

Du kommer att träffa mycket folk

Du lär känna dig själv bättre

Du kan uppleva nya kulturer

Det är spännande

Six Good Reasons forSix Good Reasons forStudying Languages…Studying Languages…

It’ll get you a job

It’s exciting

It gets you places

You’ll meet loads of new people

You’ll find out more about yourself

You can enjoy new cultures

It’ll Get You a JobIt’ll Get You a JobA few facts about language

graduates and employability

But first – which of the following subjects do YOU think have the best job prospects?

Physical Sciences German

Law Computing

Biological Sciences English

Education Business Studies

French Engineering

Media Studies Medical Sciences

It’ll Get You a JobIt’ll Get You a Job“Being able to speak other

languages is a skill that gets you ahead”

The UK trades with over 200 countries worldwide (Source: Trade Partners UK, 2002)

Businesses – large, medium and small – need employees with foreign language skills

They also need people who are happy operating across cultures

It’ll Get You a JobIt’ll Get You a JobIt’s not just

language skills either

Employers say they value the key skills developed by language learners – these include:

communication skills • team working skills interpersonal skills • presentational skills problem solving skills • organisational skills good learning strategies…

…can you think of any more?

It Gets You PlacesIt Gets You PlacesLiving abroad is an

experience…

“Going to university was amazing but going to Mexico was the best experience in my entire life – it was absolutely fantastic.

It was the Mexican culture and generally being in such a fantastic country – it was just so different to being in the UK”

It Gets You PlacesIt Gets You PlacesYou learn so much…

“You arrive and you have to learn about new customs and where people live. You learn to deal with new people. You have to think about every word you speak until suddenly you are fluent.

It makes you appreciate home too”

Says Suzanne, who is going back abroad after her final year to marry her Mexican boyfriend

You’ll Meet You’ll Meet Loads of New PeopleLoads of New People“I’ve made lots of new friends,

it’s really widened my horizons”

Using a language is a social activity and language learning leads to encounters with people from many backgrounds

You’ll Find Out You’ll Find Out More About YourselfMore About Yourself

Most people find their experiencesvery rewarding at a personal level

“It’s a challenge”

“It’s enriching – you develop yourself”

“It opens your mind to understanding other people but it also affects you in your own life”

“You learn to get on with your surroundings – you become less judgemental”

You Can EnjoyYou Can EnjoyNew CulturesNew Cultures

You find out about and experience different cultures

… whilst reflecting on your own

“I really enjoy meeting people with different perspectives on life – with different values – different traditions”

“Meeting other cultures, you start to think about your own country and background”

“You don’t realise that even the most basic things can be different”

It’s ExcitingIt’s Exciting

• French • German • Italian

• Portuguese • Spanish

• British Sign Language

• Japanese • Arabic • Chinese

…and many more…

Languages you can choose include

And If You Still Need Convincing…And If You Still Need Convincing…

Maximum Career ProspectsYou will be very employable

Maximum ExperienceThere are lots of personal benefits

Maximum ChoiceThere are many languages and courses to choose from

Maximum FunIt’s certainly not all work and no play

Studying languages means