The myth of the polyglot

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>There's gossip that a person who knows well more than 4/5 languages has more opportunities than others in the world of careers.</p>

<p>Now, my first thought would be that this also depends on what exactly this person chooses to do. I guess that certain majors and careers may be perceived as a "talent" by a polyglot.</p>

<p>Becoming a translator/interpreter would be the most obvious one.
By knowing many languages, one also knows many cultures, histories, etc.
This may come in handy in careers in the international relations community, NGOs such as UN, etc.</p>

<p>Some insist that also a natural science researcher (my main personal interest) or a brain surgeon who can communicate with people from different nationalities can be "useful".
But don't the latter careers use the language potential only in a vague sense?
Or am I missing something?</p>

<p>What exactly would you consider a well-fit position for a polyglot?
Which paths/careers/majors fully draw from the resource of languages?</p>

2

<p>I imagine that it's used as an indicator if intelligence and dedication, because unless you're born into a multi-lingual family, it takes quite a bit of effort to learn those 4/5 languages.</p>

<p>Random guess.</p>

3

<p>It also takes -years- to master those languages. I've been studying German for 3 and lived there so far for about 5 months and I still haven't mastered it and I get complimented all the time about how good my German is. And Germans do not give compliments easily. But I'd say having even one language other than English mastered (other than perhaps a 'home' language like Spanish, Chinese, Korean, etc.) would be of great benefit.</p>

4

<p>*** is a home language, u got beef?</p>

5

<p>Any job that involves a lot of communicating with people, a person who knows many languages has the advantage in - anything from marketing to international relations to politics to being a waiter or a camp counselor.</p>