Thanks to everyone who is currently reading this my second post on our Institutes blogspot. It means a lot to me and my team of bloggers. In case you are just joining us on this blog for the first time, welcome on board to this revolutionary language learning blogspot which in actual facts go beyond just you learning a spoken language but also knowing how to go about setting your life up for the entire life-long learning process in the schemes of things.
Thanks to everyone who is currently reading this my second post on our Institutes blogspot. It means a lot to me and my team of bloggers. In case you are just joining us on this blog for the first time, welcome on board to this revolutionary language learning blogspot which in actual facts go beyond just you learning a spoken language but also knowing how to go about setting your life up for the entire life-long learning process in the schemes of things.
This is not just a language schools blog that focuses on even a particular language or languages, we explore language eyond people to concepts, notions, daily issues, concurrent ideas, business development and even migration processes.
Indeed, the topic of language can be felt in all human endeavors. Language is universal and yet it is lucrative. You do not suffer or lack opportunities due to the language or languages you speak and in a nutshell that is what this blog post today is about.
I am often faced with several questions from undergraduates,intending language learners and even language tutors about careers they can dive into as a result of the language they either know already or that they are in the process of learning. Some even want to know what the field of linguistics holds for them in terms of job opportunities after school or studies. And others wish to be acquainted with the knowledge behind taking language tests like IELTS, TOEFL, TEF Canada, DELF-DALF, HSK, to mention but a few.
Two Sides of the Coins
To effectively talk about the issue of career opportunities I would like to divide my talk today into two aspects. The first being language and the other being linguistics. Verily, these two concepts are not the same thing. Language is just a means of communication but linguistics is the scientific study of that communication device known as language. To further discuss these concepts, I would also like to divide language into two in relation to its users – the monolinguals (people who speak just one language) and the bilinguals or multilinguals or polyglots (those who speak more than one language).
Under the concepts of linguistics, I would also like to divide my talks into the two halves – the theoretical linguistics (the branch of linguistics that focuses on the internal systems of a language like the sounds, words, phrases, clauses, sentences, literary and contextual meanings) and applied linguistics (the branch of linguistics that studies the practical usages of the knowledge of theoretical linguistics in human life, in the society, clinic, law courts, home, school, office, market, army and so on).Language Careers
I would like to reiterate my claim here again that – One do not suffer or lack opportunities due to the language or languages you speak at one time, one justdo not know the career pathways that one can take in not just making a living but also making a fortune. My people, you are blessed with a gift of understanding even if it is just a language you do speak, all you need to know is how well to make that language serve you, and make you money for you to amass your wealth.
Monolinguals Careers
Speaking just one language can be so useful and income-generating just as speaking more languages if you know where your expertise is needed. Ask yourself this question;
Are all millionaires you know getting their wealth from their knowledge of two or more languages
If your reply to that question is negative, then that stands for positivity and should make you realize that you also can build your career on just one language. Let us take for instance the knowledge of this language I am using now to communicate with you – English Language.
Do you know you can make use of English language in these ways
Social media manager – In the social media world we are today, this personnel is highly required and paid well for directing the course of creating content, making it available to the consumers and making sure there is a constant feedback generation from the readers. This needs no more than a couple of years of experience as a content writer initially followed by track record of constant impressive social media engagement on the part of the person both personally and professionally. So if you want to go into this career, you need to ask yourself questions like how many engagements on social media do I as a person have on my accounts and how have I been able to help people like me get such engagements and for how many years. That is all what brands are looking for today to get the job, have loads of valid proofs and you just landed a well-paying career opportunity. Brands would pay from $41,000 – $59,000 for this skill.
Technical writer – This kind of writer does focus on writing about industry-specific articles and papers. You are the right fit for drafting terms and conditions, privacy policies, user manuals, among other streamlined writings. And of course this line of work pays well enough, especially when you are working for a multinational company.
Librarian – This is somewhat seen as a dying profession already but believe me you can still make a tons of money if you really put creativity into it. Lots of students and researchers still need to go to the library or perhaps get materials where they are in order to carry out their projects and study further so if you can work as a digital librarian bringing about flexibility to the work and the internet as your niche, you can make money just providing books to people and even selling the ones that are really worth it for a good price people would beg to pay. Though, librarian can make less than $10,000 a year but with such innovation $35,000 is just a stone-throw.
Human resources specialist – How well can you communicate with people, hire people for a company and train people on a job. From time immemorial, you have to have gone through a specific training to do this in an institution or university especially on the field you want to specialize on but in the world we live in today, people who self-develop themselves can land such career paths if they just have a track record of successful resource management. A monolingual can fall into this category too if you can really go along with people talking to their hearts and training them to be the best at what they do.
Editor and content manager – There is a slight difference between this profession and social media specialist. You can be just an editor of a newspaper editorial, magazine post, or one particular or more social media posts but you are not responsible for managing its engagements. On the other hand, a content manager can write, edit and publish posts for a brand but not necessarily also manage its engagements. This boils down to defined job roles and duties.
Writer (Ghost or Seasoned writer) – as a ghost writer, you can be employed by a celebrity to write on their behalf about their achievements, life and future aspirations but you would not be referenced or known in their book. Also, as a seasoned writer, you can build your career writing any literary or educational piece like poems, fiction books, language books and so on.
Public relations specialist – This specialist is often responsible for communicating between an organization and its customers or even a government and its citizens. He or she is faced with the responsibility of relating the goals, product line and even dealing with complaints of the company to their clientele. This also is a people business, so such an individual in addition to his or her qualifications must have good people skills.
English teacher – Teaching is one of the main professions of the monolinguals. You can always work as a teacher provided you have an education background. There is always a need for a bachelors degree in education for this post. However, your knowledge of English for instance can help you teach children in preschool, college level or in secondary schools.
Administrative staff – This line of work does not really need much of degrees but you can make a career by working along with other people in managing the affairs of a company. You can be required to just manage an office space, responsible for documenting the day-to-day activities of the company plus dealing with the running errands for the top management personnels.
Receptionist or Secretary – Lots of monolinguals are hired as a receptionist. If truly you are good in the language you speak and are also good with people, you can back a post of a secretary, being the first contact all visitors meet when they visit a company and also be responsible for documenting the times of visit, the registers of staff and the other secretarial duties of that position.Polyglot Careers
On the other hand, your proficiency in using two or more languages can equate to you having wider employment opportunities and much more increasing income if only you apply them in a very good manner, for I have often seen people who speak many languages but still suffer from not monetizing their knowledge.
Let us think in line of the proficiency of English and French languages – just 2 languages which a person like me is opportune to speak. I can confidently pursue careers in the following industries;
Education (as a second language teacher) – As a bilingual speaking English and French, you can build your carry on teaching English speakers the French language like me or vice versa. You work in language institutes, schools, universities to do this.
Public sector (as a country or state ambassador) – Many multilinguals that get the opportunity to work with government parastatals, non-profit organizations and international bodies like UNESCO, WHO, ECOWAS, UN and so on can become their ambassadors from Nigeria for instance to France or any other foreign country.
Translation industry (as a translator or interpreter) – the proficiency of speaking two languages can be ploughed into the translation world. Per page of each script you get, you can be paid within $50-$500 depending on how complex the work is. There are various sites in which you can create a profile and get such works online and earn continuously without leaving your home. Also, as an interpreter, you can be called to make appearance at events, occasions, seminars, conferences, conventions, have fun, and still be paid for helping to interpret one language to another in the midst of various language speakers.
Commerce and industry (as a transaction mediator) – This profession is even available to the lay man in the market and I have often seen people like the Hausas and Fulanis in major abbatoirs at Lagos who earn a living by just serving as a mediator between the customer and seller. You may not want to do that in such places but you can think of high income generating organizations around you where you can tender your resume to help them in such dealings and you can be rest assured of getting a handsome recompense.
Foreign relations (as a foreign correspondent) – In the media world, the role of a correspondent cannot be over emphasized. You can be very useful in bringing the news of what is going on in other countries to the knowledge of the media houses in your own or other foreign country. All you need do is have some other special skill in broadcasting in combination to your language skill.
Immigration (as a study or work or live abroad coordinator) – this is one of my own designations so if I say it really is what you should consider; I know what I am saying. However, you need to have a recognized track record of successful immigration programs applications and visa applications. I recommend you first do yours or those of your family and succeed in it before trying to do those of others. Where the language comes in play in this profession is when you need to converse with people from other nationalities like embassies, migration agencies, travel and tourist representatives among others.
Marketing (as customer service representative) – Imagine working in a telecommunications outlet in a country like Nigeria where at least the three major languages – Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa – are highly spoken by people as first language and you have to communicate with such people about the tariffs, products and services of the company, indeed you having additional language skills would always be a plus to securing that job.
Military (as a Operational Air Intelligence Analyst) – After my university days, I knew of a friend of mine, who got into the Nigeria Army though not as an Operational Air Intelligence Analyst because he did not speak more than one language but my point here is you can serve in the military in the intelligence unit if you are vast in two or more languages.The second part of this blog article would be sent in next week by God’s grace, I hope you all enjoyed the first. If yes, kindly comment, rate and share the video on your various social media platforms via the links and hearts icon below this post. Thanks a lot. Talk to you all soon.