Need a Job? How’s Your Spanish?
¿Se habla Espa ñol? 你说普通话吗？ 日本語を話しますか。? هل تتكلم اللغة الإنجليزية /العربية؟?
If you don’t, new reports indicate that you may be at a distinct disadvantage in procuring a new job. An El Paso, TX news affiliate sheds light on the difficulties that black non-Spanish-speakers face finding work, particularly in border cities. The trend toward bi- and multilingual hiring is only expected to grow in the future. The 2010 U.S. Census revealed that the Latino population has quadrupled since 2000, making Latinos America’s largest minority group, at 50.6 million residents or 16 percent of the U.S. population.
According to The Grio, this should be particularly noted by black college students and job seekers, who are less likely to study foreign language:
According to doctoral research she conducted at Louisiana State University, Katrina Watterson found that black college students take fewer foreign language classes and major or minor in foreign languages less frequently than their white counterparts. Further, African-Americans do not participate as often in foreign exchange programs. There is simply a lack of interest, in her view. And in the case of Spanish, part of the problem is that the language often is taught in a vacuum, where black students are unaware of the linkages between African and Hispanic culture, the Spanish and Portuguese slave trade, and the contributions of Afro-Latino people.
While a grasp of conversational Spanish remains one of the most immediate ways to distinguish oneself in the job market, Mandarin, Japanese, and Arabic (as listed, respectively, in the first line of this post) are also in increasing demand.
Are you multilingual? Has it helped you find employment? Do you actively use a second language at your job?
The participating in foreign exchange programs has to do with money, and other members of the family not wanting the student to go (particularly if no one else in the family has left the country). It certainly isn’t about black students being less interested.
I’ve definitely seen examples of your comment. Personally, I didn’t have the funds to pay for an exchange program, but really wanted to participate in one.
@ dirtychai,
Your name reminds me of Dunkin Donut’s vanilla chai!!—–>so YUMMY!
I just want me some masala tea and samosas!
yES!!!!
“There is simply a lack of interest, in her view. And in the case of Spanish, part of the problem is that the language often is taught in a vacuum, where black students are unaware of the linkages between African and Hispanic culture, the Spanish and Portuguese slave trade, and the contributions of Afro-Latino people.”
And THAT, ladies and gentleman, is what I like to call “over-intellectualization.” Not a real word, but fits perfectly. Money is definitely the main issue.
Also, as someone who speaks fluent Spanish, I believe that this rumor that it’s “necessary to speak Spanish to get a job” is completely false! For most positions where it is absolutely necessary to hire a Spanish speaker, a Latino is hired. There are A LOT of native Spanish speakers in the US and companies have their pick- why pay for the non-native who learned doing worksheets at university with 4 months spent in Spain and doesn’t always get colloquialisms? Even with my so-called “fluency” I still can’t understand little kids, critically sick people, or jokes very well.
Unless you want to be a professional translator or do business with Spanish countries, it’s not that serious. But it’s a cool skill to have and studying abroad is awesome b/c it’s really just constant partying it up in another country with a couple hours of easy classes during the week. I highly recommend!
It most likely depends on the location and type of job. Here in the Southwest Spanish is a definite plus. I have to brush up on my Spanish to make myself more marketable.
I am multilingual. But African languages are not in high demand. The day they start appreciating I will be sooooooo happy!
African languages aren’t very widespread in the US, while Spanish is the second most common language in the US. It’s all about business, there are millions of people in the US that only speak Spanish, so it only makes since that many companies would need people that can communicate with them.
I was actually talking more from a global perspective. Don’t nobody care for my native! Its all good.lool!
Chiilleee! this is my life story! i’m fluent in spanish because of the area i grew up in…things are HORRIBLE out here..even for me. usually “spanish required” is codeword for “latino only”. when they say bilingual it’s total BULLSHIT! they are quick as hell to hire people in damn drive thru windows who speak absolutely no english and only spanish but make would never consider an english speaker who speaks minimal spanish, when bilingual means you speak TWO languages fluently in the first damn place. smh
I agree with you on the latino hires. Makes sense. If you have natives of the country available who speak the language, why hire us? Which is why I disagree with pushing Spanish language training. The author says it herself that the latino population is exploding. Good news for the bilingual latinos not us.
Besides, learning the languages that few people know is the best way to compete. Bryant Gumble went from reporter to anchor on the Today Show because he was the only one at NBC that spoke Russian when a head of state came to be interviewed. You can practically write your own ticket when you learn less popular languages like arabic, japanese & chinese.
I also think this applies to the African sista. Believe me there are plenty of companies looking for bilingual Africans. The jobs tend to be in larger metro areas, however and require quite a bit of travel.
Wendy’s got it. There are tons of native Spanish speakers in the US. You’ll def get farther with a not-to-common language if you have a certain field targeted.
what i mean by it being codeword for “latino only” is because they will hire a NON SPANISH SPEAKING latino in a heartbeat… but i’m black and speak more spanish than my spanish speaking friends (i know right?) yet they try to find any excuse to deem me as unqualified. if i say something that SOUNDS wrong because of my accent in spanish then people would say “well good try. take some more spanish classes.” i hate when i mix up a word and people say “haha see i knew you didn’t really speak spanish. nice try though”
i see hispanic people working at these “spanish speaking required” places and they don’t even know how to say basic ass words in spanish or when if someone asks ” how do you say___” they’re like ” idk. hehehe”. they never believe me when i say i speak spanish which is ignorant as hell of them because their asses should know better. they should know that people with brown skin and long silky black hair aren’t the only ones who speak spanish. i’m sick of older people getting hellishly surprised when i speak spanish and saying “oh! te hablas espanol? por que? eres una negra!” (oh you speak spanish? why? you’re black) how are you 60 going on 70 and you don’t know about the demographics of your own damn country? SMH
i hope you know that even in MEXICO there are veracruz and costa chica, those are afro mexican parts of mexico. SMH