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Why foreign language?

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Language and Culture Learning Center

1) Learning a foreign language at UIC can expand your career prospects as jobs for interpreters and translators are expected to grow 42% by 2020 according to the Department of Labor. 2) Speaking additional languages can increase your earning power, with studies finding workers earn 1.5-3.8% more for speaking Spanish, French, or German. Fluency in Portuguese, Russian, or Chinese can lead to a 10-15% pay increase. 3) Becoming multilingual helps develop cultural competence and allows you to understand different cultural perspectives, making you a more global citizen. It provides understanding beyond just words to entire cultural frameworks.

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Why Learn a Foreign Language at UIC?
Between 2010 and 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the number of jobs for interpreters (who focus on spoken language) and translators (who focus on written language) will grow by 42%. Expand your career prospects. The higher pay for Foreign Language and Literature majors reflects the fact that demand for their skills in the marketplace exceeds the number of individuals who can supply those skills. Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014 /05/15/the-liberal-arts-majors-that- pay-the-most/ Source: http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/30/news/economy/job-skills-foreign-language/
Increase your earning power. According to an article in The Economist, workers earn an additional 1.5% for Spanish, 2.3% for French and 3.8% for German. This translates into big differences in your bank account: your Spanish is worth $51,000 of additional earnings, but French, $77,000, and German, $128,000. Source: http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2014/03/l anguage- study?fsrc=/slideshow/why-foreign-language/46869234/scn/tw/te/bl/ed/SpeakingInTongues Individuals entering the workforce in 2014 with second language fluency [in Portuguese, Russian, or Chinese] can expect an additional 10 to 15 percent pay increase, according to Ryan McMunn, language expert and CEO of BRIC Language Systems. (Source: http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2014/01/29/the- business-benefits-of-learning-a-foreign-language)
Cultivate cultural competence to become a global citizen. ¡°Speaking different languages means you get different frames [of reference], different metaphors, and also you¡¯re learning the culture of the language so you get not only different words, but different types of words.¡± George Lakoff, professor of cognitive science and linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley (Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/more-languages-better-brain/381193/) ¡°Language learners understand diverse cultural perspectives and use appropriate socio-linguistic skills in order to function in diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.¡± (Source: https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/21stCe nturySkillsMap/p21_worldlanguagesmap.pdf) Example: The dictionary defines the Russian word ¡°dacha¡± as a ¡°summer cottage,¡± which only begins to describe the role of the dacha in Russian cultural life.
Enhance your overall smarts and academic achievement. Multi-linguals: 1. tend to score better on standardized tests, especially in math, reading, and vocabulary; 2. are better at remembering lists or sequences, likely from learning grammatical rules and vocabulary; 3. are more perceptive to their surroundings and therefore better at focusing in on important information while weeding out misleading information; 4. are more resistant to conditioning and framing techniques, making them less likely to be swayed by such language in advertisements or political campaign speeches; 5. are more self-aware spenders, viewing ¡°hypothetical¡± and ¡°real¡± money (the perceived difference between money on a credit card and money in cold, hard cash) more similarly than monolinguals; 6. have better listening skills and working memory, and a longer attention span; 7. can better avoid cognitive decline and dementia. Sources: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/more-languages-better-brain/381193/ http://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/2015/03/21/money-dream-jobs-a-better-brain-why-everyone-should-learn-a- second-language/

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Why foreign language?

  • 1. Why Learn a Foreign Language at UIC?
  • 2. Between 2010 and 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the number of jobs for interpreters (who focus on spoken language) and translators (who focus on written language) will grow by 42%. Expand your career prospects. The higher pay for Foreign Language and Literature majors reflects the fact that demand for their skills in the marketplace exceeds the number of individuals who can supply those skills. Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014 /05/15/the-liberal-arts-majors-that- pay-the-most/ Source: http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/30/news/economy/job-skills-foreign-language/
  • 3. Increase your earning power. According to an article in The Economist, workers earn an additional 1.5% for Spanish, 2.3% for French and 3.8% for German. This translates into big differences in your bank account: your Spanish is worth $51,000 of additional earnings, but French, $77,000, and German, $128,000. Source: http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2014/03/l anguage- study?fsrc=/slideshow/why-foreign-language/46869234/scn/tw/te/bl/ed/SpeakingInTongues Individuals entering the workforce in 2014 with second language fluency [in Portuguese, Russian, or Chinese] can expect an additional 10 to 15 percent pay increase, according to Ryan McMunn, language expert and CEO of BRIC Language Systems. (Source: http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2014/01/29/the- business-benefits-of-learning-a-foreign-language)
  • 4. Cultivate cultural competence to become a global citizen. ¡°Speaking different languages means you get different frames [of reference], different metaphors, and also you¡¯re learning the culture of the language so you get not only different words, but different types of words.¡± George Lakoff, professor of cognitive science and linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley (Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/more-languages-better-brain/381193/) ¡°Language learners understand diverse cultural perspectives and use appropriate socio-linguistic skills in order to function in diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.¡± (Source: https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/21stCe nturySkillsMap/p21_worldlanguagesmap.pdf) Example: The dictionary defines the Russian word ¡°dacha¡± as a ¡°summer cottage,¡± which only begins to describe the role of the dacha in Russian cultural life.
  • 5. Enhance your overall smarts and academic achievement. Multi-linguals: 1. tend to score better on standardized tests, especially in math, reading, and vocabulary; 2. are better at remembering lists or sequences, likely from learning grammatical rules and vocabulary; 3. are more perceptive to their surroundings and therefore better at focusing in on important information while weeding out misleading information; 4. are more resistant to conditioning and framing techniques, making them less likely to be swayed by such language in advertisements or political campaign speeches; 5. are more self-aware spenders, viewing ¡°hypothetical¡± and ¡°real¡± money (the perceived difference between money on a credit card and money in cold, hard cash) more similarly than monolinguals; 6. have better listening skills and working memory, and a longer attention span; 7. can better avoid cognitive decline and dementia. Sources: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/more-languages-better-brain/381193/ http://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/2015/03/21/money-dream-jobs-a-better-brain-why-everyone-should-learn-a- second-language/