Ryan Wertz and Kathy Shelton, Education Program Specialists for World Languages and Cultures, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Unlocking Career Connections in World Language Classrooms

In the ever-expanding global landscape, the role of world language educators must move beyond traditional language instruction and promote the benefits of multilingualism and multiculturalism to students, families, caregivers, and school administrators. As the demand for multilingual proficiency and intercultural competence grows, it is imperative that teachers incorporate real-world and relevant career connections within their language classrooms and their school culture. With language skills in high and rising demand, language learners have a distinct competitive advantage over their monolingual peers in the job market – no matter which field they choose.

ACTFL’s 2019 report, Making Languages Our Business, indicates an urgent and growing demand for language skills across sectors. Key findings include:

• 9 out of 10 U.S. employers rely on employees with language skills other than English.
• 56% say their language demand will increase in the next 5 years.
• 47% state a need for language skills exclusively for the domestic market.
• 1 in 3 language-dependent U.S. employers report a language skills gap.
• 1 in 4 U.S. employers lost business due to a lack of language skills.

Within Ohio, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from international companies is an integral part of our state’s economy. According to the JobsOhio website:

• JobsOhio and its partners have completed 600+ international corporate projects involving $18 billion in capital investment and over 45,000 jobs.
• JobsOhio and its partners provide service to companies from 35 countries: approximately 46% from Europe, 37% from Asia, and the remaining 17% related to Canada and other international markets.
• JobsOhio includes international teams for Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Spain.

With these statistics in mind, there are myriad resources available to Ohio world language educators and other content educators within the Department’s World Languages and Cultures Career Connections pages to support the inclusion of relevant career connections into classroom instruction:

• A Career Connections Toolkit with strategies for local and global outreach, classroom activities, and a five-lesson unit, “World Languages as Career Skills.”
• Career lessons in the target language based on real-world use of marketing, working and living abroad, and global service opportunities.
• PBS career videos of interviews with Ohio companies that highlight multilingual and multicultural connections, as well as accompanying activities for middle and high school learners.
• International Corporate Investment in Ohio Operations, a 2022 report with a breakdown by country of the international companies in Ohio, their locations in Ohio, and the number of employees in each organization.
• Additional career connection information from ACTFL and the Language Connects Foundation; the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy; OhioMeansJobs and the Career Readiness Seal; and non-profit organizations that sponsor travel and study abroad for teachers and students.

It is important that learners, families and caregivers, and school administrators understand and experience firsthand the why behind world language and intercultural learning. These experiences will enable them to better articulate the role that language and intercultural skills play in the professional world after high school. Ultimately, they will be more motivated and prepared to implement and maintain longer sequences of language learning opportunities that produce more career-ready students.

References:

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). (2019). Making Languages Our Business. https://www.languageconnectsfoundation.org/uploads/files/general/MakingLanguagesOurBusiness_FullReport.pdf

JobsOhio. (2024). https://www.jobsohio.com/why-ohio/doing-business-here/international-investment 

Ohio Department of Development. (2022). International Corporate Investment in Ohio Operations.
https://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Learning-in-Ohio/World-Languages-and-Cultures/Model-Curriculum-for-World-Languages-and-Cultures/Career-Connections/International-Corporate-Investments-in-Ohio-Operations-Report-2022.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US

Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. (2024). https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Learning-in-Ohio/World-Languages-and-Cultures/Model-Curriculum-for-World-Languages-and-Cultures/Career-Connections