Posted by admin on December 20th, 2009 in College, Education

Liberal arts used to be the place college students would land if they didn’t really know specifically what they wanted to do or be upon graduation.

After reading this article in the New York Times, it looks like things are increasingly worse for those who decide to major in language or literature.

Foreign Languages Are Not Created Equal

According to Rosemary Feal, executive director of the M.L.A., the world’s largest association of scholars and professors of language and literature, “Students thinking of going to graduate school in English should understand that right now their chance of landing a job that provides them a livable wage is 50-60 percent.”  Ouch.  Does that mean we don’t need any translators in the future?

It was also interesting to see the job opportunities they mentioned in order of importance:

Spanish (35%), French (16%), Chinese (9%), German (4%), Arabic (3%) and Italian (2%)

I thought Chinese or Arabic would represent more importance than this list reflects.  Granted this is only one source and point of view but it’s interesting nontheless.  Things to think about when you’re advising your teenager about college and the hereafter..