Introduction
Amber Hoye
In the world of majors, we often encounter two types: those with clear career paths, like accounting or nursing, and others, such as language studies, that offer a wide range of options. Language studies stand out for their versatility, which allows them to stand alone or complement other fields. This flexibility enables language majors to explore various career paths, from international business and diplomacy to communication and technology, making them valuable assets in our global world.
Since the spring of 2016, I have gained insights into the diverse interests and aspirations of our French, German, and Spanish majors through teaching WORLD 300: Career Exploration and Portfolio Creation. Some students have clear career goals, while others are still exploring their options. This diversity inspired me to create this course project and book, as a way to team up with students to uncover the many different career paths available to language majors.
The resulting book is a collaborative effort from Boise State students who, through research, interviews, and personal reflections, have explored the world of career opportunities awaiting language majors. We hope this book serves as a resource for students navigating their next steps after graduation and educators guiding them along the way.
Attributions:
“Careers for Language Majors Graphic” created by Amber Hoye using Sketchify icons included under Canva’s free license.
“Globe Watercolor Illustration” by Iryna Palonna from SweetRenie included under Canva’s Pro license.
About the author
I presently serve as the Director of the World Languages Resource Center at Boise State University, where I support faculty implementing educational technologies and practices, including open educational resources (OER). In this role, I supervise a team of 20-30 students each semester who engage in open pedagogy to publish OER and teach a required course for language majors to prepare them for life after graduation, whether that be graduate school or the workforce, including the creation of an ePortfolio.
My current projects include co-directing the design and publication of OER French curriculum, supporting open education efforts at Boise State and supervising the creation of ancillary language teaching materials for the Pathways Project.
