| Many people love learning languages or would like to | | | | restaurants receive large numbers of foreign visitors, |
| learn a language and use their language skills in a job. | | | | speakers of foreign languages are needed to offer |
| In today's global economy the demand for language | | | | good customer service. |
| skills continues to grow as governments, businesses | | | | Translation & Interpreting |
| and organisations build relationships with foreign | | | | Once language skills have reached a good level, |
| interests. | | | | translating and interpreting become an option. |
| Learning a language is beneficial in employment for | | | | Translators deal with written materials and typically |
| two reasons; 1) it offers those in established careers | | | | translate texts from a source language into their own |
| the chance to progress either through gaining | | | | native language. Translators usually need qualifications |
| promotions or international travel and experience, and | | | | or accreditation, but once this is achieved it is easy |
| 2) it opens doors to new careers and employment | | | | to register with a number of translation agencies that |
| opportunities. | | | | pass on work to freelancers. After some time many |
| This article will look at the range of jobs learning a | | | | translators become specialised in certain fields such as |
| language can offer. | | | | software, law or social sciences. |
| International Organisations | | | | Similarly, interpreters, who deal with spoken language, |
| International organisations such as the United Nations, | | | | also need qualifications and most importantly |
| World Trade Organisation, the Red Cross, and | | | | experience. Interpreters can also register with |
| Amnesty International will always need people with | | | | agencies that use them for interpreting projects. |
| language skills for a range of functions from | | | | Interpreters work in two ways: |
| administrative work to management. Most will need a | | | | 1) Simultaneous - the interpreter translates in real |
| cross section of language skills plus many speakers in | | | | time such as in conferences. |
| the main international languages such as English, | | | | 2) Consecutive - the interpreter listens to a section |
| French, Spanish and Arabic. | | | | of speech, waits for the speaker to pause, then |
| The Foreign Service | | | | translates such as in business meetings. |
| National governments demand huge numbers of | | | | Teaching |
| foreign language speakers for their Foreign Service | | | | Many speakers of foreign languages go into teaching. |
| departments. Working for the Foreign Service could | | | | Teaching not only offers the chance to pass on |
| mean living and working abroad in an embassy, liaising | | | | knowledge of a language, but also to constantly |
| with counterparts in other countries, listening to | | | | practice it. |
| intelligence reports in foreign languages and translating | | | | Teachers can work at a variety of different |
| them and conducting research in foreign languages. | | | | institutions such as private language schools, |
| The Foreign Service is usually a challenge to get into; | | | | government schools or adult education colleges. |
| however, it is well known that language skills help | | | | Languages are taught to a range of age groups from |
| bolster applicants' profiles. | | | | kindergarten to adults. Once teachers have |
| Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industries | | | | developed their skills they may also gain more |
| Speaking a foreign language makes you a good | | | | qualifications and/or specialise in areas such as |
| candidate for positions within the tourism and | | | | Business French or Spanish and law. |
| hospitality industries. | | | | The above examples of jobs are but a few of the |
| Many companies send staff to man local offices | | | | possibilities available to speakers of foreign languages. |
| abroad, which means speakers of the native | | | | The variety points to the fact that learning a |
| languages are required. In addition, the international | | | | language opens up many doors in relation to |
| nature of such companies usually means they have a | | | | employment and careers development. So if you |
| global presence and that staff with language skills are | | | | would like to advance in your career or considering a |
| critical to their day to day operations and future | | | | new line of work, why not consider learning a |
| expansion. | | | | language? |
| Even at home, where hotels, leisure complexes, | | | | |