Linguistics and jobs involving languages - Advice needed

zhanglihua
July 21, 2008, 01:10 PM posted in General Discussion

Today, I'm turning to you for some sound advice on behalf of a student of mine. She will graduate from High School next year, but hasn't made up her mind yet whether to study engineering or something involving languages. Since a lot of CP users are language enthusiasts and there are also some real experts here, I think you can help us.

She is really good at learning languages and enjoys it a lot. (Same with engineering, though she's a little afraid she might not be able to cope with maths)

The problem: It seems that the propects for linguists are not particularly good. She does not want to become a secretary, translation is not appealing either because you would have to a freelancer and the market seems to be satiated already. The only options available appear to be teaching (if you don't study education, in which settings could you teach nevertheless?) and research, but that's probably difficult to get into. Are there other fields in which she could work? Apart from the job situation, she doesn't want to restrict herself to one language (which would be the case if she studied anglistics and the like), rather work in optimization of foreign language acquisition, classification or education.
What prospects are there (internationally as well as domestically) and which degrees are available?

I (and she!) will be immensely grateful for any reply.

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tvan
July 21, 2008, 01:29 PM

zhanglihua, I'm an accountant and, hence, no expert.  However, my daughter currently is an undergraduate linguistics major at UC Berkeley.  Her career counsellor told her that a linguistics degree had little value in itself outside education.  (Even then you need a teaching credential.)  However, it serves as an excellent springboard into fields ranging from computer science to business to government. 

Bottom line, the counsellor advised my daughter to study linguistics, but with the understanding that she would likely need a Master's degree that would focus in on a specific career such as foreign affairs, teaching, foreign language, or business.  Either that or get a Phd.

Obviously, this applies to the North American market, but the advice to seek multidisciplinary degrees seemed sound nonetheless.

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RJ
July 21, 2008, 01:29 PM

Im still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up but the obvious thing here is that the combination of the two can be very powerful. As far as job prospects go, I would choose engineering, but being technically competant and able to speak other languages can open doors for you. If you had an engineering degree and a degree in Chinese law while being fluent in Chinese and English, you could write your own ticket I would think. Even a degree in international business or finance, with or without a graduate law degree coupled with English and Chinese would work. Language alone offers less opportunity I think. Keep in mind I have no real data, maybe someone who does can add something here.

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kimiik
July 21, 2008, 01:48 PM

Except for translating, teaching or studying linguistics, I wouldn't recommend to major only in anglistics.

PS: That's interesting to see how the german word Anglistik is now used in english to speak about english studies.