Students

Your Future, Your Career
Exchanges, Scholarships and Bursaries
Career Opportunities

Your Future, Your Career

Albertans with second language skills hold a key to our province's economic well being through their ability to connect with markets, governments and people around the world. Employers demand good communication skills, flexible thinking, problem solving and the ability to understand people from other countries and cultures—all skills that are developed when people learn other languages. Increasingly, employers are looking for individuals who are able to communicate and interact in at least two languages.

As a student, it is important that you consider your future career path. There is demand for qualified speakers of languages other than English in the fields of science, technology, medicine, economic development, communication, global commerce and trade. Knowing a second language can open the door of opportunity for you and give you the competitive edge needed to succeed in our global economy. In addition, it will help to enrich your educational experiences, promote personal growth and cultural understanding.

Exchanges, Scholarships and Bursaries

You may wish to further develop your language skills. Many study and exchange experiences, as well as scholarships and bursaries, are available for students. Students are encouraged to visit:

High School students have exchange opportunities in a variety of languages.

Junior high school students may be interested in World Youth Fest.

Contact your teacher for additional information and help.

There are a number of language learning opportunities for students.

Career Opportunities

Knowing another language can open up a world of job possibilities! Here are just some of the employment opportunities that await you:

  • There is a growing demand in business for employees who speak more than one language in areas such as the import/export sector, marketing, computer software development and technical support, public relations, investment, management and transportation.
  • The education field—in Alberta, across Canada and abroad—increasingly requires teachers and researchers with skills in other languages.
  • The service sector offers opportunities for multi-lingual individuals in travel and tourism, sales, customer service and clerical positions.
  • Communication and media opportunities include international advertising, radio and television, writing (including technical, commercial and sports writing), translation, publishing, and film making.
  • Libraries, museums, foundations and governments require researchers with skills in other languages.
  • Many organizations require translators, interpreters and researchers.
  • More and more employers recognize that people develop many skills when they learn another language, including problem solving, self-discipline and the ability to understand and appreciate cultural differences.
  • Employers are looking for staff who are self-confident, adaptable and able to travel within and/or move to other countries.

Some jobs and potential careers for which second language skills are an asset:

Accountant
Actor
Advertising executive
Agricultural specialist
Airline reservation agent
Announcer (radio/television)
Anthropologist
Area studies specialist
Bank officer
Broadcast technician
Budget Analyst
Call centre agent
Clergy
College/university professor
Consular officer
Counselor
Collection agent
Credit agent
Credit analyst
Engineer
Exporter/importer
Export manager
Film producer
Financial analyst/officer
Flight attendant
Foreign correspondent
Foreign services officer
Geographer
Graphic designer
Guide/tour operator
Health/hospital worker
Historian
Home economist
Hospital administrator
Hotel information clerk
Hotel manager
Hotel/motel desk clerk		 Housekeeping supervisor
Immigration officer
Interpreter
Insurance agent
Journalist
Law enforcement officer
Lawyer
Librarian
Loan officer
Management analyst
Manager
Marketing specialist
Missionary
Nurse
Parks service officer
Personnel officer/manager
Physician
Pilot/flight engineer
Political scientist
Public health specialist
Public information officer
Realtor
Receptionist
Restaurant captain/manager
Sales engineer
Sales representative
Secretary
Social worker
Stenographer
Switchboard operator
Teacher
Technical writer
Telephone operator
Translator
Travel agent
Website designer

As you can see there is a world of study and career options you may explore. If you have a love for languages and you are interested in teaching, you may speak with your teacher about the exciting career possibilities. The Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) Web site also provides information about programs available at Alberta's post-secondary institutions, which may be useful as you explore requirements for various career opportunities.