1.4 Sample professions

Listed below is a small selection of possible careers in which languages could come into play. Have a think about whether these would be areas you would enjoy working in.

• Localiser: Someone who takes a product, like software, and adapts it to a specific locale, target market or language group.

• Voice-over: The language professional's voice adds a re-voicing that is a type of narration, commentary or dialogue.

• Assistant Volunteer Coordinator: This person would report to the volunteer coordinator, responsible for further developing, managing and evaluating the volunteer program, both domestic and international.

Activity 8 Case studies

Timing: You should allow 15 minutes

Have a look at the case studies below. These present professions that you may be interested in yourself. In both cases, the professionals didn't know what they wanted to do while they were still in education. They had an interest in languages, which they pursued. Then, once they acquired the skills, they did a bit of travelling, taught English and figured out what they actually wanted to do with the skills and knowledge that they had acquired.

Having looked at the case studies, and reflecting on what you've learnt in this section, try think of a few more possible professions that would be enhanced by knowing of a language.