A common thread among international education job descriptions is the need for their employees to be able to speak at least one foreign language. Whether you are applying for job s in the U.S. or elsewhere, having this skill can greatly increase your chances of getting your foot in the door, and can open up so many more doors to careers you never thought imaginable.
So, my goal for the remainder of 2012: begin learning Mandarin Chinese. Chinese is an excellent language to try to master if you are considering entering the field of IE, simply because there are so many students from China who study around the world, and those numbers are only going to increase.
But Chinese isn't the only valuable language that could be learned. I have also seen in these job descriptions the need for Spanish, German, French, and many more. There are many programs that are established in Latin American countries, so the need for Spanish seems to be very high, alongside Chinese. Indeed, any second language will greatly increase your chances of finding a job, as it shows your awareness and interest to a world outside of your home country.
So how does one go about learning a foreign language? I have heard Rosetta Stone is quite good (this coming from native speakers of Chinese) but also check out classes in your area for beginning courses for adults. Here in Birmingham a semester with a Chinese language school is 250 dollars, not a bad price considering the amount that you would learn over 4 months.
Consider learning a foreign language, not just to increase your chance of getting a job, but also to expand your worldview!
Rule #15 for Breaking into the Field of International Education: Learn a Foreign Language!
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/zack-wright/49/b26/265
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