As a student graduates, they face the daunting task of the first job search. Imagine yourself in a position competing for your dream job. The position comes down to one other person and you. One of you has extended language experience, studying abroad and greater understanding of international culture. Which one of you will receive the position?
All these factors can make the difference between getting that dream job or continuing the search for what could make due.
Studies have shown that those who have experience abroad are more creative, have higher GPAs and have greater success in business. In an article posted on Science Daily, researchers have found that students who experience culture abroad are overall, more open-minded when it comes to culture, which leads to increased creativity in multiple forms of testing. Culture also heavily affects the way the brain acts and responds. In another study from Science Daily, depending on where a child grows up can directly affect the way they perceive and react to information. This study supports the malleability of the brain to accept differing views, especially after spending an increased amount of time around a different culture from your own. The ability to move between multiple cultures and their accepted lifestyle is an important and valued trait for employers.
Even though studying abroad has increased among students continually in recent years, still only one percent of the eight million students in the United States study abroad every year, said the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA). “By virtue of power, the United States is the world’s leader,” an advocate said as part of NAFSA’s article. “But we can’t lead a world that we don’t understand.” Educators call for an increased number of students to study abroad, opening doors for themselves and the United States into the changing global economy.
For students around the world, grade point average (GPA) is the most common link between educational success and their success for the future. “Recent studies have shown that students who go abroad are more likely to graduate,” said Brock Price, Study Abroad Program Assistant at the University of Northern Iowa. “Student’s who go abroad also have higher GPAs upon graduation in comparison with students who stay in the United States. USA Today finds the same data. In the past, educational representatives have claimed that studying abroad can deter the focus of students and lower their GPA. In the research claimed from USA Today, that’s not the case. The project, called GLOSSARI, found that students GPAs before going abroad were a cumulative 3.24, while their return GPAs were 3.30. In many cases, a GPA requirement does exist for study abroad programs. In the GLOSSARI study, students with the lowest of SAT scores, had their GPAs raise with their experience abroad, supporting new evidence that students with lower academic success may experience an educational intervention of some aspect, to motivate and enhance their academia when coming stateside. This study also supports greater knowledge of international issues, world geography and cultural context for students who study abroad.
While creativity and GPA are just a few aspects that are positively affected by experience abroad, one of the greatest abilities in the working world and when studying in another country is language experience.
“We should have every child speaking more than one language,” said President Barack Obama in one of his campaign speeches in 2008. “If you have a foreign language that is a very powerful tool.”
President Obama is just one of many advocates for foreign language fluency. Amy Tan, Maya Angelou and numerous others also include themselves as language advocates. Educators are also actively advocating for language experience at a young age. In addition to educational purposes, the global market continues to expand and companies continue to look for language experience when hiring new employees.
"At a time when the global economy is becoming more interconnected than ever, the demand for truly global businesspeople---individuals who can work seamlessly in various parts of the world---is growing exponentially,” said Jim Holtje, a professional speechwriter and international communications expert. “A critical part of building the workforce of the future will be more individuals studying and gaining fluency in foreign languages. When I was a student, internationally oriented individuals mostly studied European languages including French, Spanish and German. Today, however, as the BRIC [Brazil, Russia, India and China] economies and others gain increasing importance in a shrinking global marketplace, it includes Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Hindi, Russian and other languages.”
Holtje’s experiences with international business and foreign language have made him an asset with Siemens. He is fluent in German and English, with working knowledge of Italian and Spanish too. His fluency takes him to Munich frequently, where Siemens’ international business delegation is centered.
“Americans bring many advantages to the table when it comes to international business---our can-do spirit, our culture of innovation as well as our ability to change and reinvent ourselves,” he said. “But we could bring one additional advantage to the table if we only tried harder---namely, do not accept the stereotype that Americans are poor in foreign languages and instead re-double our efforts to learn.”
Holtje’s experience in International Client Services gave him further insight into the importance of speaking a foreign language. “More than likely, they [non-Americans] already speak English. That's nice, but it's not enough,” Holtje said. “We should make the effort to learn their language--or at least learn basic phrases because there's no better way to build trust than to speak to someone in their mother tongue. And there's no way to conduct lasting business if you don't have trust."
Martha Abbot, the Director of Education for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) agrees. “Knowing other languages and understanding other cultures is a 21st Century skill set for American students as they prepare to live and work in a global society,” Abbot said. “No matter what career students enter, they will be interacting with others around the world.”
In addition to Holtje and Abbot’s input, part of a survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) also shows that the ability to understand global context, the role of the United States in the world and the cultural diversity of America and other countries are all top answers from executives in hiring companies today. Not only do companies look for teamwork and clear communication from their new hires, but are now looking for key roles with an international outlook.
With all the benefits that come with international experience, it’s astounding that such a small number of students go abroad each year. With help from financial aid, scholarships and volunteer programs it actually can be affordable to study abroad. With such a tough market for jobs today, students increase their chances for employment with extra benefits like language experience and time abroad.
Don’t know how to get started? Start by looking into your options. A great place to start in locally is at the UNI Study Abroad Center located at 28 Gilchrist Hall. You can also visit them online at www.uni.edu/studyabroad to find a list of programs and courses. Also there are great opportunities to get involved with language immersion early. Branch out and volunteer with immigrants in your area, strike up conversation with the foreign exchange students on campus or even enroll in a language course before you go abroad.
Just remember that there are options to length of time and place; whether it be taking a summer course for three weeks in Argentina, or a year long study in Greece, you can find the right program for you. The benefits of studying abroad go beyond the classroom and boardroom. Studying in a foreign country allows students to not only understand a new culture, but to understand themselves. This process is the best time for reflection and learning, and those skills are invaluable.
As for the job you interviewed for, you were the one with extended language experience, study abroad and greater understanding of international culture. The skills you acquired while studying another country and it’s language set you apart from the rest. You’ve landed your dream job. Congratulations, you start in three weeks…in Barcelona.
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