Languages

There are Many Reasons to Study Languages

Personal Interests

Are there certain countries or regions of the world that particularly fascinate you, that you would like to know more about, or that you could see yourself spending time in? Are there important people in your life from other countries or regions of the world with whom you would like to be able to better communicate? The ability to converse in the common language of others can break down cultural barriers and help you understand their history, attitudes, and beliefs.

Academic Interests

Are there certain writers whose work you would like to read in the original?  Is there scholarly literature in a discipline of interest that can only be read in another language? Are there news sources in other languages that you would like to be able to understand?  In every academic discipline, there have been great thinkers, scholars, and artists who have made significant contributions that have either not been translated into English, or whose work is inadequately rendered in translation.  Ask professors what languages they believe are important for further study.

Career Goals

Are there regions of the world where you wish to work?  Are there languages important to the industry or career field where you would like to work? Investigate the desired languages of government agencies, companies, and organizations where you wish to work in the future. 

Ways to Study Any of our Offered Languages

• Declare a minor, major, MA, or PhD in any or multiple of our offered languages or language study programs
• Practice your skills outside of the language classroom and take a CLAC section
• Take courses through the BYU Center for Language Study (CLS)
• Complete a study abroad!

Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC)

The CLAC model is built on the premise that knowledge of other languages affords unique access to multiple cultures and their perspectives.  Often referred to as intercultural competence, this understanding of different cultures, including one’s own, is critical for students to succeed in today’s global world. The ability to communicate in another language and with other cultures is typically associated with foreign language degrees and immersive experiences abroad. However, to make the achievement of intercultural competence possible for all students, CLAC programs integrate different languages and cultures into a variety of curricular contexts beyond the traditional foreign language classroom.  This integration of language and content can take different forms: a content course, for example Democracy in Latin America or The History of Brazil that is linked to a special section, or trailer, in which students read and discuss material in the second language; a class, for example, Rainforest Ecology, taught entirely in Spanish or Portuguese; or a course, for example International Management, in which students complete written assignments in the target language, based on non-English reading materials.

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Learn About the Opportunities that are Available at the U

We offer many career-building opportunities, including international study abroads, research and post-graduation opportunities, internships, and more! You can also click below to see more reasons why studying language(s) makes you a hugh asset in any job field you choose to pursue.

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