Foreign Languages & Literature

What is Foreign Language?	Related Career Titles
Related Major Skills	Job & Internship Search Links
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Miscellaneous Resources Links	UNCW Dept. of Foreign Languages & Literature

What is Foreign Languages & Literature?

Language plays a unique role in capturing the breadth of human diversity. We are constantly amazed by the variety of human thought, culture, society, and literature expressed in many thousands of languages around the world. We can find out what people think only through their language. We can find out what they thought in the past only if we read their written records. We can tell future generations about ourselves only if we speak or write to them.

Studying a foreign language can improve your cognitive and critical thinking abilities. Recent surveys indicate that more than 80 agencies of the federal government rely on professionals with intermediate to high-level competence in foreign languages. Foreign language study provides the ability to gain an understanding of the cultures of US trading partners. American multinational corporations and nongovernmental organizations need people with foreign language abilities. U.S. ability to compete effectively in global markets means that more and more businesses deal with companies in other countries. They need employees who can communicate in foreign languages and understand other cultures. An employer will see you as a bridge to new clients if you know their language.

Related Career Titles

Accountant	FBI Agent	Investment Analyst
Advertising Manager	Filmmaker	Journalist
Advertising Copywriter	Finance Director	Laboratory Technician
Air Traffic Assistant	Financial Planning Assoc	Lawyer
Archivist	Foreign Diplomat	Library Technician
Art Dealer	Foreign Correspondent	Linguist
Auditor	Foreign Exchange Trader	Media Specialist
Banking Correspondent	Foreign Service Officer	Missionary
Bilingual Officers/Clerks/Tellers	Foreign Service Peacekeeper	Multi-Lingual Port Receptionist
Bilingual Educator	Foreign Service Specialist	Museum Curator
Bookkeeper	Foreign Social Worker	Musician
Civil Service Employee	Fund-Raiser	National Security Agent
Commercial Loan Officer	Human Resources Director	Negotiator
Computer Systems Designer	Importer/Exporter	Overseas Personnel Manager
Consultant	Intelligence Researcher	Overseas Plant Manager
Copywriter	Intelligence Specialist	Paralegal
Court Interpreter	Intn'l Account Manager	Peace Corps Volunteer
Cultural Attaché	International Banking Officer	Performer/Video Artist
Cultural Officer	Intent'l Conference Planner	Pharmaceutical Rep.
Customs /Immigration Officer	International Consultant	Pharmacist
Drug Enforcement Agent	International Hotel Admin.	Police Officer
Editor	International Trade Economist	Politician
Escort/Interpreter/Guide	Intern'l Trade Specialist	Production Supervisor
Travel Agent Tour Organizer	Scientific Transl/Interpreter	Proofreader
Translator	Senior Credit Analyst	Public Health Administrator
Transport Equipment Manager	Sports Agent	Publishing Specialist
Travel Writer	Teacher	Quality Control Supervisor
UNESCO Official	Telecommunications Sales	Radio/TV Announcer
Writer	TESO/ESL Teacher	Reporter
Professor	Theme Designer	Salesperson
Interpreter		Scientific Linguist

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Related Major Skills

Speaking to groups	Reading/writing another language
Clarifying ideas	Writing clearly
Understanding historical language change	Explaining complex concepts
Reading critically	Interpreting data
Evaluating information	Evaluating evidence
Comparing translations interpretations	Gathering information
Working with original sources in many fields	Organizing materials/information
Summarizing ideas	Compiling/recording data
Evaluating results	Collaborating as part of a team
Determining the needs of others	Acknowledging value systems
Listening carefully	Interviewing non-judgmentally
Designing instruments	Reporting and editing
Establishing hypotheses	Reading for content and structure
Working with research subjects	Communicating between cultures
Understanding cultural diversity	Assessing needs
Adapting to other cultures	Weighing values