Kansas State University

Benefits of learning a language while in college and beyond

While in college:

According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, learning a foreign language supports overall academic achievement, improves cognitive and communicative abilities, and affects attitudes and beliefs about other cultures.[1] Learning another language will help you develop and enhance your communication skills both in English and in the target language. It will teach you to work with a diverse group of people and adapt to differing worldviews. Learning a language takes time, patience and practice, so it also teaches you to be organized and to set realistic goals.

• Key factors behind learning a foreign language
• Being bilingual rewires your brain
• Cognitive benefits of learning a language
• Being bilingual is mental gymnastics for your brain

In your future career:

Research by economists Albert Saiz and Elena Zoido also shows that the benefits from learning another language translate to the workplace: “individuals who speak a second language are more productive and earn higher wages.”[2] Their study suggests that the income of college graduates who speak German, Italian, Russian, or Chinese can be higher by 4%, with a difference of 2.7% for speakers of French and 1.7% for Spanish speakers. Specifically, they observe, “individuals in personal services, business support, and management positions are the ones who are more highly rewarded in the labor market for their foreign-language skills.”[3] iSeek, Minnesota's career, education and job resource, indicates that the most sought-after languages are “Spanish, German, French, Italian, Russian and Japanese, with a growing emphasis on Mandarin, given China's booming economy.”[4] 

• Certain minors universally beneficial

• There Aren't Enough Spanish-Speaking Doctors to Serve California's Latino Population

What can you do with a second language?

• Salary offers for K-Staters in Arts & Sciences
• Career Center (information includes Salary offers for K-Staters in Arts & Sciences, examples of employment of some K-State graduates by major)

You can travel and work in a different country. But what if you want to stay in the U.S.? Speaking another language is a valued skill when working in the following fields: 

• Health care: nurses, paramedics, physician's assistants and home health aids
• Hospitality: concierge, resort/hotel manager, desk clerk
• Education: teacher, guidance counselor
• Law enforcement: police officer, security guard, investigator, probation officer
• Customer service: sales clerk, store supervisor, customer service representative
• Social service: social worker (family, substance abuse), social work administration
• Finance: teller, financial advisor, investment banker, accountant
• Communication: translator, interpreter, public relations specialist, journalist, media relations officer

For more information on careers, contact Kansas State University Career and Employment Services.