A language’s degree - what’s in it for you?
A language’s degree - what’s in it for you?
Hi everyone!
I’m Rebecca, a Modern Languages and Cultures student at Durham University, about to go into my final year after a somewhat rocky pandemic-filled year abroad. If you are considering a languages degree but not sure what you can get out of it, or are already set on studying languages but looking to find out a bit more about what you’re getting yourself into, then this blog post is for you!
Having grown up in France before moving to the UK and having always had an interest in different languages and cultures, it was the obvious choice for me. However, there are so many good reasons to study a languages degree, so keep reading to find out a few of them.
MLAC - What exactly will I be studying?
With a languages degree, there is no set curriculum that is the same across the board, and specific modules and options differ from one university to another. First of all, different universities offer different language options, so for instance although you can study Portuguese at Bristol, this isn’t on offer at Durham. If you want to study French, Spanish or German, you can safely assume all universities will offer these, but for more niche subjects it is a good idea to double check whether they are on offer at your chosen university. In addition, the focus of your degree may change depending on your university. For instance, at Durham I have the opportunity to study a range of modules touching on literature, cinema, or translation, but other courses may focus more on linguistics or other areas. Off the top of my head, when I applied to Oxbridge I chose Cambridge over Oxford because of the modules on offer. At Cambridge, I could have focused more on culture and cinema than interpreting and translation, which was what I preferred. I would highly recommend checking out the module choices at your chosen university before you apply. Not only will this help you ensure you pick the right course for you, it will also help you tailor your personal statement. With this in mind, a languages degree, broadly speaking, can be incredibly varied. You will be able to study literature and cinema from across the world, as well as touching on politics, race, gender, history, anthropology, and so many other topics.
What job opportunities does a languages degree offer?
You may be thinking, or may have heard people ask: “So you’re studying languages, do you want to be a French teacher?”. And yes, you may well want to be a French teacher, but whilst this may be true, a modern languages degree by no means limits you to the world of education. Due to the broad nature of a languages degree, and because of the ever-present demand for graduates with foreign language skills, international experience and a capacity to understand other cultures, language graduates are very popular with employers. Jobs that are directly related to a languages degree include translating, interpreting or teaching, amongst others. However, the skills you will gain from your degree will also put you in great stead for jobs in areas such as hospitality, law, diplomacy, publishing, journalism, consulting and business services. In other words, the transferable skills you will gain from the degree are invaluable and the possibilities are endless. Furthermore, speaking one or more foreign languages at an advanced level will open doors for you abroad, as well as within the UK.
The year abroad
As you will probably be aware, most modern languages degrees include a compulsory year abroad. Although this can be daunting, it could also be the best year of your life. A year abroad will place you well ahead of your peers in terms of experience before you even graduate. This year provides you with the opportunity to take some time out of university, experience another culture and country, and improve your language skills, amongst many other things. There are so many options for what you can do on your year abroad. From teaching to studying, working or volunteering, the possibilities are endless. Because of this, it would be impossible to cover it all in this post, but fear not, I have a post dedicated specifically to the year abroad in the works so keep your eyes pealed if you are interested in knowing more!
On my own year abroad, I lived in Barcelona for a month training to get my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language qualification), then moved to Munich for a month and studied at Ludwig Maximilian University with a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service. Following this, I moved to a small town outside Stuttgart and worked as a language assistant in a school with the British Council for 6 months, after which I moved to Madrid for 6 months for an internship with PSA Group (which I timed perfectly with the start of a global pandemic).…
and finally
Although I could not recommend a languages degree enough, whichever degree you do choose, make sure it’s something you have a genuine interest in and actually enjoy, because you’ll be spending at least three years of your life doing it!