Skills you can develop Languages
Language skills are increasingly valued by employers. Particularly in international sectors such as manufacturing, banking, finance, and insurance.
Language students also develop many transferable and work-related skills that increase their employability. These include the ability to:
- draw together, analyse and critically evaluate information
- use your knowledge about how language works in a range of settings
- communicate effectively, clearly and accurately with others
- put together reasoned arguments and question assumptions
- manage time and work independently
- use technology effectively
- understand contemporary global issues and appreciate cultural diversity.
Discover other employability skills you can develop through study on the Prospects website.
To learn more about how to identify your strengths and develop your employability skills take a look at Analysing your skills and qualities.
To see specific learning outcomes related to your Open University (OU) study, look at the OU language courses.
Student stories
I did my level 3 French oral exam in the back office of a shipyard in Nova Scotia, having begged the manager to let me use their WiFi as our boat was docked in the area!
Tracy - Modern Languages
The company I work for has customers and distributors all over the world, so the fact that I can communicate in French and Spanish was one of the key factors that made them offer me the job in the first place.
Donna - Modern Foreign Languages
The Open University had a big impact in terms of having the confidence to start my own business. Studying with The Open University gave me tools that have transferred across to what’s needed to work on your own for yourself.
Lindsay - Modern Languages
OU qualifications
You can find out more about undergraduate study in Languages.
The OU offers two masters degrees in this area. The MA in Translation lets you develop as a professional translator. The MA in Linguistics offers two specialist routes; Linguistics (Applied) or Linguistics (Artificial Intelligence).
Find out about all OU undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications at OU Courses.
