Why study a language?
Hear from language majors and minors on the importance of studying a language, and the benefits of doing so at NMU!
Career Preparation
INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY TO…
- understand and synthesize information quickly
- communicate in a clear way to clients or upper management
- grasp the big picture and solve problems quickly
- interact effectively with diverse colleagues and clients
- generate new approaches to solve problems with critical thinking skills
- turn creativity into innovation
Academic Excellence
BOOST YOUR SKILLS FOR…
- improved problem-solving, communication, analysis, listening, concentration, multitasking, decision-making and memory
- increased creativity and the ability to deal with abstract concepts
- enhanced testing abilities
- better grades
Mental Health
STAY BALANCED BY…
- setting achievable goals to avoid stress
- building community with fellow language learners
- learning to thrive in ambiguity
- discovering new cultures and literatures
- traveling and exploring the world
And, if you’re thinking of the future… language study has been shown to slow down cognitive decline.
Skills and Competencies
Google surveyed its own employees. They found that of the 8 most important qualities of Google’s top employees, tech expertise came in last. What are the top 7 characteristics?
- Being a good coach
- Communicating and listening well
- Possessing insights into others (including others’ different values and points of view)
- Having empathy and being supportive
- Being a good critical thinker
- Being a problem solver
- Being able to make connections across complex ideas
You learn and practice all of these skills while studying language and culture!
Double Major Options
Our language majors often pair their language proficiency with:
- Political Science
- History
- English
- Environmental Sciences
- Business
- Marketing
- Biology
- Economics
- Criminal Justice
- Pre-Law
- Pre-Med