2008 Woodie Awards
Multilinguals get better jobs
Ashley Bates
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: Lifestyles
Some college students have a hard enough time mastering English, but now the days of speaking one language may soon be over. Some professors at Florida A&M University say speaking a different language is beneficial because it helps students to be more marketable in the job market.
Karen Mitchell, education abroad coordinator, speaks Spanish fluently and has a working knowledge of Brazilian, Portuguese, Italian and French. She said speaking a different language makes one more profitable.
"Speaking other languages has helped me to be more marketable in my jobs, and it has helped me to make friends and acquaintances that live in other countries and are part of other cultures," Mitchell said.
Cindy Peters, also an education abroad coordinator, who speaks Dutch, French and Spanish, said speaking different languages is beneficial to blacks.
Peters said black people who speak different languages will expand their horizons in the job market.
"If black people who are born in America learn how to speak different languages, it will help them break down cultural barriers within the school, doing business and throughout the community," Peters said.
Mitchell said it is important for blacks to learn more then one language.
"The world does not expect a black person to be multilingual, particularly if you are a dark-skinned person," Mitchell said. "So whenever I am in multicultural settings people are surprised that I can speak, read and write many languages."
Mitchell said blacks learning another language can be an asset for the entire black community.
"The black community can increase or expand the different natural coalitions that the black community has." Mitchell said. "Speaking others languages can help us get together with communities for social purpose, business purpose and help us meet the goal of peace in the world."
For Johanna Ramos, an assistant professor who teaches Spanish, speaking different languages can help students get well-paid jobs.
Karen Mitchell, education abroad coordinator, speaks Spanish fluently and has a working knowledge of Brazilian, Portuguese, Italian and French. She said speaking a different language makes one more profitable.
"Speaking other languages has helped me to be more marketable in my jobs, and it has helped me to make friends and acquaintances that live in other countries and are part of other cultures," Mitchell said.
Cindy Peters, also an education abroad coordinator, who speaks Dutch, French and Spanish, said speaking different languages is beneficial to blacks.
Peters said black people who speak different languages will expand their horizons in the job market.
"If black people who are born in America learn how to speak different languages, it will help them break down cultural barriers within the school, doing business and throughout the community," Peters said.
Mitchell said it is important for blacks to learn more then one language.
"The world does not expect a black person to be multilingual, particularly if you are a dark-skinned person," Mitchell said. "So whenever I am in multicultural settings people are surprised that I can speak, read and write many languages."
Mitchell said blacks learning another language can be an asset for the entire black community.
"The black community can increase or expand the different natural coalitions that the black community has." Mitchell said. "Speaking others languages can help us get together with communities for social purpose, business purpose and help us meet the goal of peace in the world."
For Johanna Ramos, an assistant professor who teaches Spanish, speaking different languages can help students get well-paid jobs.
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