7 Careers With Language and Travel (That Language Learners Should Check Out)

One reason that more and more people all around the world look to learn another language is that being bilingual or even a polyglot can help you in your career.

Being able to say that you are fluent in more than one language looks good in your resume and can open doors that might otherwise have remained closed.

Learning another language can make it easier to get a job in another country where your skills might be in demand. Also, if you want to get a job with a multinational corporation or are angling for a promotion, learning another language can give you a leg up over the competition.

Many multinational companies look to hire people who know more than one language for high positions in different countries because it is easier for them to communicate and to drive the company’s interests in new areas. If you want to get considered for a higher posting in another country, being able to say that you can speak in the common languages in that country will improve your chances.

All in all, learning another language is beneficial because it can improve your mind and it can also improve your career prospects. Also, if you are curious about other cultures and want to experience life in another country, learning a language can help you achieve your goals.

Curious about where fluency in multiple languages can take you? Here are several careers with language and travel that language learners can pursue. 

1. Interpreter

If you are fluent in at least two languages, you might be able to find a job as an interpreter. 

An interpreter facilitates communication between two parties who don’t speak the same language. They translate spoken words and conversations.

For example, an international humanitarian organization based in France, like Médecins Sans Frontières, when they send a delegation to Brazil will look for forspeaks both French and Portuguese. The interpreter will be expected to translate what the French-speakers say in Portuguese so that their Brazilian counterparts can understand them and vice versa.

With the rise of globalization, there are a number of organizations in a variety of fields that are on the lookout for bilingual and multilingual individuals who can work as interpreters. Of course, the field of international diplomacy and foreign service always needs interpreters. 

The tourism sector also needs interpreters, people who can speak to guests in other languages, for a variety of positions. Also, many multinational organizations and companies also look for interpreters who can help them expand their interests by facilitating communication between their people and locals.

2. Translator

One particularly good job for people who know another language or even more than two languages is translating. After interpreting, this one of the most commonly known careers that combine language and travel.

 The job of a translator is similar to an interpreter in the sense that they both facilitate communication between people who do not speak the same language, the difference is that while interpreters deal with spoken conversations, a translator deals with written documents.

A translator can find themselves employed with a multinational company, translating letters, memos, contracts, and other documents into a variety of languages. International organizations also produce a lot of written documents that need to be translated into different languages. 

Translators can also find themselves hired in publishing, translating the work of authors from all over the globe. There are also legal translators, who work in the field of law, translating legal documents such as contracts and depositions. Another interesting field of translation is a medical translation where you translate doctor’s diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, and the like in different languages.

3. Tour Guide

The tourism and hospitality sector will always have positions for people who can speak multiple languages. Being able to communicate with people from all around the globe is always an advantage. 

One particular tourism job position that is always open to people who are fluent in more than one language is that of the tour guide. Most tourism-oriented industries, such as hotels, resorts, or local tour agents and operators are always looking for ways to make sure that their guests enjoy their stay. One of the best ways to do that is to provide them with tours and experiences that will give them something to talk about when they go home.

One of the best ways to ensure that a foreign tourist enjoys a tour is to make sure that they can understand what is being said and what is going on around them. One way to ensure that this happens is to have tour guides who speak their language.

Tour guides who speak several languages can also be employed by other institutions that cater to tourists such as museums, libraries, historical sites, and even government institutions that allow tourists to tour the premises.

4. Customer service role

Customer service is a vital role in any business. You need people who can talk about your company’s products and services and who can communicate with your customer to field questions and even answer complaints.

One of the most important skills that are needed for a career in customer service is the ability to properly communicate with other people. You need to be able to understand what they are asking and answer their questions clearly and comprehensively.

Again, the rise of globalization makes knowing another language a skill that can help you in this particular career. While an English customer service representative can find a job in almost any country, companies also look for customer service representatives who can speak in other languages which might be more common in the other countries that they do business in.

5. Au Pair

If you like children as much as you like languages and travel, you might want to look into becoming an Au Pair. An au pair is someone who lives in a foreign country with a host family. They have been hired by the host family to provide child care services.

An au pair usually gets room and board as well as a salary. They care for the children while the parents are at work and occasionally provide the kids with assistance with homework. They get days off to explore the area and also get a chance to immerse themselves in culture.

Language skills are, of course, a plus for someone looking for work as an au pair. After all, if you are going to be working for a family where the main language is French, for example, you are going to need to be able to communicate with them in French.

6. Foreign language teacher

Some language learners just love learning new languages, if you are one of those, then you might want to spread the love and the learning by becoming a foreign language teacher.

If you decide to be a foreign language teacher, you should be able to find a job in a school or language learning center. You might also find yourself hired by a company or organization to train their employees to speak in another language.

Take note, however, that many foreign language teaching positions might require you to get other certifications before you begin teaching. Better look into that before starting your teaching career. 

7. Online language tutor

For many people who want to teach but prefer a little more flexibility in their work schedule, online tutoring is a great field to look into. 

With the rise of the internet and the growing popularity of remote or online learning, online tutors in almost any field of study are in growing demand. One particular field of online study that is particularly in demand nowadays is language learning.

It’s long been known that the best way to learn a language quickly is to be exposed to it on a regular basis. Working with an online tutor who is not only fluent in the language that you want to learn but is also a native speaker is a great way to not only learn the language but learn about the culture of people who use that language as a primary.

Because online learning is effective and convenient, online language tutoring can be a lucrative career for people who speak multiple languages. Online language tutors connect with their students online which gives them better control of their schedules and their lives. 

Teaching languages online also gives you access to a wider market as you aren’t dependent on finding pupils in your immediate vicinity. You could be a German-speaking tutor in Europe and have students in South America and even Asia.

One of the best ways to get started in your career as an online language tutor is to join an organization like JustLearn. JustLearn is an online community that connects language learners from all over the world with online tutors in a variety of languages. It makes the process of finding tutors easier and, for the tutor, finding reliable steady tutoring jobs easier.