Slide 1: Why Study Languages …When Everyone Speaks English? Dr Annette Kratz Head of Centre for International Exchange & Languages Produced by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies Endorsed by Languages Work
Slide 2: Sex Goda Skäl För Att Studera Språk… Du kan få ett jobb Du har nytta av det ute i världen Du kommer att träffa mycket folk Du lär känna dig själv bättre Du kan uppleva nya kulturer Det är spännande Did you understand?
Slide 3: Six Good Reasons for Studying Languages… It’ll get you a job It’s exciting It gets you places You’ll meet loads of new people You can enjoy new cultures You’ll find out more about yourself
Slide 4: It’s Exciting Languages you can study for Complementary Studies at Keele are: • French • German • Japanese • Russian • Spanish
Slide 5: It’ll Get You a Job A few facts about language graduates and employability But first – which of the following subjects do YOU think have the best job prospects? Physical Sciences Law Biological Sciences Education French Psychology German Mathematics English Business Studies Agriculture/Forestry Medical Sciences
Slide 6: It’ll Get You a Job Average unemployment rates for new graduates in the UK 1996-2002 Medicine / Dentistry / Vet Science Education Law German French All Modern Languages Mathematics Physical Sciences English Biological Sciences Psychology Business / Administration Agriculture/Forestry 0.44% 3.19% 3.65% 4.67% 4.85% 5.51% 6.21% 6.25% 6.49% 6.61% 6.64% 6.66% 6.70% Source: Keith Marshall, 2003
Slide 7: It’ll Get You a Job The jobs new UK graduates really did in 2002 Business Services Banking / Finance Wholesale / Retail Manufacturing Public Administration Community / Social Services Education Transport / Communications Health/Social Work Hotels & Restaurants International Organisations Other Areas 25.3% 10.8% 11.5% 9.0% 9.2% 6.9% 8.0% 6.9% 5.3% 4.4% 0.2% 2.4% Source: Keith Marshall, 2003
Slide 8: It’ll Get You a Job “Being able to speak other languages is a skill that gets you ahead” The UK trades with over 200 countries worldwide (Source: Trade Partners UK, 2002) "UK businesses need people with language skills, to operate at all levels." (Languages Work Handbook for Languages and Careers, CILT 2004) “Overseas inward investment into this country means that multilinguals are needed in the UK” (Higher Education Advisory Panel) “Communication barriers lead to missed business opportunities” (Plasberg, U. (1999) ‘Building bridges to Europe: languages for students of other disciplines’ in the Language Learning Journal, No. 20, pp. 51-58)
Slide 9: It’ll Get You a Job “Being able to speak other languages is a skill that gets you ahead” “One in every five British exporters (Statistics from Metra Martech) knows it is losing overseas business through its inability to overcome language and cultural differences.” Ref: BCC Language Survey: The Impact of Foreign Languages on British Business - Part 1: The Qualitative Results (British “The rapid expansion of opportunities for ebusiness within a shrinking world is driving a need for languages ability. Customer expectations and the high stakes of winning or losing business require competence to deal in a customer's language.” Ref: Scottish Executive, Ministerial Action Group on Languages (2000) Citizens of a Multilingual World: Key Issues (www.scotland.gov.uk-library3-education-mwki-07.asp)
Slide 11: It’ll Get You a Job “Being able to speak other languages is a skill that gets you ahead” Sixth form students say: “A language allows entry to the European marketplace.” “A language gives you a competitive edge over an opponent.” “It’s an unusual qualification that employers respect.” “Being successful at another language shows good communication skills and shows employers you are willing to learn new skills and welcome a challenge.”
Slide 12: It’ll Get You a Job “Being able to speak other languages is a skill that gets you ahead” University students say: “A language degree is almost like a gift. It's an amazing advantage over other graduates. They're going to be working in Englishspeaking countries whereas you have the flexibility to go and work in a foreign-speaking country.” “In today’s world companies do a lot of business with foreign companies. They need to be able to communicate with them. They need people with languages.”
Slide 14: It’ll Get You a Job It’s not just language skills either Employers say they value the key skills developed by language learners – these include: communication skills • team working skills interpersonal skills • presentation skills problem solving skills • organisational skills good learning strategies…
Slide 15: It Gets You Places Studying a Language usually means some time working or studying abroad This might involve living in a European country… or further afield in Africa, Asia or North America Nearly all Keele students on nonlanguage degrees can choose to go abroad on student exchanges or spend a month studying the language.
Slide 16: You’ll Meet Loads of New People “I’ve made lots of new friends, it’s really widened my horizons” Using a language is a social activity and language learning leads to encounters with people from many backgrounds “Learning a language develops your interest in other people”
Slide 17: You’ll Find Out More About Yourself You find out about and experience different cultures … whilst reflecting on your own “It opens your mind to understanding other people but it also affects you in your own life” “You learn to get on with your surroundings – you become less judgemental” “Meeting other cultures, you start to think about your own country and background”
Slide 18: You Can Enjoy New Cultures You find out about and experience different cultures … whilst reflecting on your own “I really enjoy meeting people with different perspectives on life – with different values – different traditions” “Meeting other cultures, you start to think about your own country and background” “You don’t realise that even the most basic things can be different”
Slide 20: It’s Exciting Languages you can study for Complementary Studies at Keele are: • French • German • Japanese • Russian • Spanish
Slide 21: It’s Useful & Fun Levels Offered at Keele are: •French – Beginners to Post A-level II • Japanese – Beginners to Advanced • Russian – Beginners & Intermediate • Spanish – Beginners to Post A-level •German – Beginners to Post A-level
Slide 22: It’s Useful & Fun Complementary Studies are courses you take in addition to your two main subjects For example: History & Politics with Beginners Spanish in the first year
Slide 23: It’s Useful & Fun Complementary Studies are courses you take in addition to your two main subjects Or: Biology & Chemistry with Intermediate French in the first year, Advanced in the second then spend a Leonardo placement in France in the third year And get a Certificate in Competence
Slide 24: It’s Useful & Fun “Japanese is such a unique language to learn” Take a language option as an element of your degree in your first year as part of Complementary Studies. Study a language for 2 hours per week Go to Kyoto for 3 weeks in the summer
Slide 25: It’s Useful & Fun “German is such a useful language to learn” Take a language as part of your degree in your first year via Complementary Studies. “I had GCSE German and slotted into the Intermediate course in my first year.” “ I then continued with Advanced in my second year and on graduation got the Certificate in Competence.”
Slide 26: It’s Useful & Fun “French is such a Useful language to learn” Study French together with related modules in areas such as drama, literature, history and combine this with over 30 other subjects ranging from Chemistry, Politics, Sociology, Business Administration to Music Or having done A-level continue for two years in parallel to your 2 other subjects and obtain the Certificate in Advanced Competence.
Slide 27: It’s Useful & Fun Other ways of improving your language skills • Language Exchange • Satellite television • Web-based exercises • Exchange students • Mentor Programme • Resource Room
Slide 28: And If You Still Need Convincing… Studying languages means Maximum Career Prospects You will be very employable Maximum Experience There are lots of personal benefits Maximum Choice There are five languages to choose from at Keele at various levels Maximum Fun It’s certainly not all work and no play Produced by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies