Spanish Careers
Key information
Language graduates have the potential to get good jobs as, by studying Spanish, you acquire a whole range of skills that can be applied to a great variety of professions. In particular, you will have very good communication skills, which are highly valued by employers. Learning a language gives you another way of looking at, analysing and interpreting the world, so you are automatically more attractive to potential employers. As a result, language graduates can explore a variety of careers and professions, for example:
- Teaching (Professional Masters of Education required)
- Public Service (because you have shown language learning potential you may be recruited to learn another language)
- Media
- International Business (Marketing, Finance, Personnel)
- Translating
- Localising and Interpreting
- Tourism
Follow-on study
- MA International Studies
- MA Applied Linguistics International
- MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
- Professional Master of Education (Modern Languages)
Student profiles
Muireann Galvin
I am a final year Bachelor of Arts student studying Gaeilge and Spanish. Although I always knew that I wanted to be a post-primary Spanish and Gaeilge teacher, after completing my Leaving Certificate I still wasn’t sure which path to take so I decided to take a year out. During that year, I heard a lot of good things about UL so I put it down for my top two CAO choices. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my first choice and I was quite disappointed, but I took my second, which was the Bachelor of Arts programme with Spanish and Gaeilge. I can honestly say that I’ve never looked back and although I was given an option to transfer into my first choice after 1st year, I opted out as I felt that this course really was the one for me.
There is something for everyone on this course including Spanish literature, film and culture. We also study oral, aural and written aspects of the language, which have greatly improved my Spanish. Other opportunities include a semester abroad, workshops and language exchanges. I returned to my old school to do a 6 month work placement. I hope to go on and do a Master of Education in the coming year and look forward to using the Spanish language throughout the rest of my career. I’m grateful to be able to say that I’ve had the best four years here at UL.
