Conjugating verbs not a thankless task

It's 1:37 a.m. and there are hours of studying to do. There are irregular subjunctive verb forms, gerunds and imperative form -- not to mention cultural history of the late 19th century.\nAt times like this, some students might find themselves asking, "Is a minor in (insert your foreign language here) really worth it?"\nYes.\n"Anybody who has the mindset that only what is in the United States matters is hurting themselves in the long run," said Clancy Clements, director of undergraduate studies in Spanish and Portuguese. \nThe Career Development Center and language department fact sheets show statistics that prove that foreign language knowledge in the working world is becoming increasingly vital. In more than 160 occupations, primary or ancillary foreign language skills are essential. About 60,687 positions, out of 1,261 companies surveyed, require a second language.\nStudents with foreign language skills possess an advantage in an array of careers, not just a few. Increasingly, all spectrums of professions are finding communication with the world a necessity. There are opportunities in publishing, graphic arts, health care, retail, education, politics, journalism, federal agencies, the postal service, business, bankers, import/export firms, and the list just keeps going.\nAndrea Ciccarelli, chairman of the department of French and Italian Studies, said languages are imperative for a job in the international business market, with worldwide chains such as McDonald's restaurants and Ford Motors; almost any business firm in the United States has a role in international affairs. \nA major industry in the U.S. tourism, as the United States is one of the leading destinations. That breaks down into a need for bilinguals in travel agencies, tourist attractions, waiters and waitresses, tour guides, resorts and hotels.\nIn countries around the world, English has become a critical skill to learn, with a large percentage of income coming from U.S. tourists.\n"Twenty years ago, no one knew English (overseas), now, even the street vendors know some," Ciccarelli said.\nFor many U.S. companies, East Asian languages are essential because of business with Japan and China.\n"More and more U.S. companies are establishing themselves overseas. Students with experience of (East Asian) language and culture will be in a better position for hiring," said Richard Rubinger, department chair of East Asian language and studies. \n"America is moving towards a pacific base. Trade and business in East Asia have grown exponentially in the past ten years," he said.\nJan Van Dyke, senior assistant director for career resources, recommends researching opportunities, such as internships, that accommodate a student's major. Besides the traditional job possibilities, he also cites the National Security Agency, U.S. embassies, U.S. State department and the Peace Corps as having excellent foreign language careers for minors and majors.\nBut there is more than just comprehending words in studying a language. There is the culture; understanding the people and their way of life. The most effective means of learning this is by overseas study.\n"Studying abroad is vital if you want to learn a culture," Clements said. "You can't learn that from books, or even if you speak a language perfect."\nClements said usually the students who don't end up using their language directly sometimes go into English as a second language or English as a foreign language.\n"There is the practical reasons for learning a foreign language, such as career possibilities, but there is also the theoretical reasons," Ciccarelli said. "Learning a language is learning a culture and diversity. Living one place your entire life creates biases without even knowing it."\nIU offers all kinds of overseas programs, even for those who have little or no foreign language background. From working summers abroad, to living overseas for an academic year, to internships in Japan, it is possible for students to experience a new world, enjoy themselves, and find part of themselves. \n"(Studying abroad) changes your life. That's kind of scary, but it's also very cool," Clements said.\nForeign language skills give students advantages in the job market, but they also create an open mind, providing knowledge of something other than American society. \nAll the pains of memorizing, reading, writing compositions, and studying can become painless sacrifices as compared to the gift of another land, another people, and endless opportunities.