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Why Study Another Language?

What can a student expect to learn after two semesters of French, German, or Spanish? Although students shouldn't expect to become fluent in a foreign language after only two semesters of study, the benefits of studying a foreign language are significant and could eventually be a student's passport to success.

Gain A Competitive Edge

Having linguistic competence will assist a student in ways he or she did not even know or could not even imagine.

Learning a foreign language can help a student understand English better. It trains analytical and interpretative thinking (e.g., great preparation for the LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, and other graduate school entrance exams). Research has shown that math and verbal SAT scores rise with each additional year of international study. Some students remark that their grasp of English grammar and vocabulary has improved after studying a second language.

If a student is considering graduate school, his or her application will look especially attractive if the student can show that he or she has had several semesters of French, German, or Spanish. Some graduate schools even have foreign language requirements for many of their programs.

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Know Your World and Beyond

Having cultural competence will connect a student to avenues that would have seemed out of reach otherwise.

Greeting people, ordering food, purchasing things, giving and understanding directions, and taking the subway or bus will be possible by the end of two semesters of French, German, or Spanish. A student can also expect to engage in simple conversations when the language is spoken clearly and when the topic is familiar. In simple, written texts, you will be able to comprehend pieces of information.

Studying an international language will dramatically increase a student's cultural awareness, understanding of diversity, and his or her perception of the world in the 21st century. The main indicators of cultural competency are the ability to emphasize with other cultures, the ability to observe and analyze culture, and the ability to communicate in a cultural context.

A student will gain social skills (e.g., interpretation of body language), and he or she will be aware of differences in manners and customs. Students can also expect a heightened understanding of his or her own culture as a result of studying an international language.

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Position Yourself in the Global Economy

Knowing a second language can help a student become an invaluable asset to his or her company on a global level.

Students represent a golden commodity to an employer when they can effectively communicate in another language. Businesses need to prepare for the e-commerce tidal wave, and one aspect of market readiness is developing offerings in local languages. To accomplish this, it is critical that companies have personnel who can serve clients who do not speak English.

Managing international clients is crucial in order for businesses to stay competitive in the world market. That is why students studying marketing, advertising, business, graphic design, or education, for example, will multiply their employment opportunities if they speak more than one language. No matter what career these students choose, knowing a second language is an asset that guarantees their résumé will receive more attention and gives them an advantage in the growing global economy.

A look at job ads shows that many employers look for people who also speak one or more languages in addition to English. Consider the following job postings on an online career Web site:

  • French Translator Specialist/Project Manager, Gap Inc., California
  • French Customer Service, Apple One, New York
  • Search Engine Analyst—French Markets, Shopzilla Inc., California
  • Marketing Project Coordinator with German Language Skills, Florida
  • Financial Data Researcher—German Language, McGraw Hill Co., Colorado
  • German-speaking Tech Support, Apple One, New York
  • Bilingual Print Project Manager—Spanish, Aquent, California
  • Bilingual Marketing Manager, HHS Texas Management, Texas
  • Bilingual (English-Spanish) Advertising and Public Relations Account Supervisors, Company Confidential, Texas

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Follow Through and Across Borders

The department of International Language and Culture Studies is here to help students get the best education possible. Here is how students can gain international language competence at IPFW:

  • Take two semesters of French, German, or Spanish, depending on your academic or career needs.
  • Be a native speaker of any language other than English.
  • Test out of the coursework requirements through a placement exam in French, German, or Spanish.
  • Participate in one of IPFW's many study abroad opportunities.

Get to Know the World

Advance academically, culturally, and professionally by learning a second language.

Learning an international language opens new worlds to you. It fosters an understanding between people and cultures. In fact, today's advanced technologies and globalization have made international communication a necessity.

As one becomes a citizen of the global village, studying a new language will help students achieve a more profound understanding of their own culture. There are 28 million Spanish speakers, 1.6 million French speakers, and 1.4 million German speakers in the United States alone.

The Department of International Language and Culture Studies offers majors and minors in French, German, and Spanish, teaching certification programs in all three languages, and study abroad opportunities. First- and second-year Arabic courses are also offered.

Please contact us with the information provided on the contact page if you have any questions.

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