As the United States becomes more diverse and as the market place becomes more global, the workplace of tomorrow will encompass many languages and cultures. In-depth study of another language helps students develop a sense of cultural pluralism, an openness to and appreciation of other cultures, and an ability to work with culturally diverse partners. An individual who commits to acquiring a deep understanding of another language and culture will always have a competitive edge.
Taking your foreign language study to a high level will:
- enhance your opportunities in government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry, marketing, and other careers
- help you develop skills that are vital to success in any career:
analytical skills, cognitive flexibility, and critical thinking
transferable skills in public speaking, writing, and collaborative problem solving
- enrich your international travel with a deeper level of cross cultural understanding
- enable you to function multiculturally, an essential and marketable asset in the globalized world
Learning a global language like Russian will:
- open doors to work and travel in broad geopolitical areas: not only Russia, but also Central Asia, the Far East, and other areas
- enable rapid acquisition of many other Central and Eastern European languages, such as Ukrainian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and others
- facilitate acquisition of any other language, either during your studies at UCLA or in response to future job needs
- make you competitive for a career in diplomacy and national security; see this December, 2015 Washington Post article on the need for Russian specialists
- prepare you to respond to emerging demands of the international markets, as the majority of new jobs in the United States are created as a result of foreign trade
