As globalization continues to spread, more Americans have found it useful to learn foreign languages — an advantage not only in day-to-day activities but in applying for jobs.

According to Woody Catoe, assistant director of the University Career Center, people who have second language skills will have many career opportunities.

“[Knowing a second language] is becoming increasingly important,” Catoe said. “The obvious thing is the change in our own culture in the US.”

Catoe said knowledge of a second or third language is helpful in governmental jobs, social service work and in dealing with diverse populations.

“Languages are going to be more and more valuable,” he said.

Scott Despain, associate professor of Spanish, agreed.

“As most employers tell you, all things being equal, if a job applicant has an additional skill set, they’ll be more attractive to an employer,” he said.

According to Despain, students should learn Spanish “for the here and now,” and Chinese and Japanese “for the near future.”

He said Arabic is also another language students can look at.

But for North Carolina residents, Spanish is the language to learn.

“For anyone looking to have an upper hand in getting employment in this area, Spanish is the obvious choice,” he said.

Despain said the University has a minimal expectation for most of its students to meet the 102 foreign language proficiency level.

He said after taking the basic classes, students may be able to get by with basic words, but “not with native speakers over the phone or any kind of formal, written communication.”

“So, that’s why many majors particularly in CHASS and business require 201 or a 202 requirement,” Despain said.

According to Catoe, if a student is proficient in a foreign language, he or she should highlight that in his or her resume.

“If you are using a second language, say in an internship, that can be one of your bullet items,” he said.

Catoe said putting that on a resume should go even before computer skills and it would be a distinct advantage in the business world.

But according to Catoe, students should be careful of putting “fluent” in a language because they can end up getting “embarrassed when they get an interview and that person starts talking in their language.”

Despain said he assigns his 101 and 102 students a project where they are required to go out and talk to potential employers, asking them if knowing a foreign language will help them obtain certain jobs.

“That’s of course the big message in most of these … time and time again, with very few exceptions, the employer is saying ‘yes, you want to know Spanish’,” he said.

According to Despain, working on a foreign language minor will help a student come out with legitimate skills in that language.

Despain said students who want to be truly proficient in a language should study abroad for a semester or more — or even in summer programs.

“For many, it’s an eye-opening experience because many students don’t come from a diverse background,” he said.

Gaining “near-native fluency” without studying abroad is too difficult, Despain said.

But trying to learn foreign languages, he said, is an advantage to all students.

“Quantifying just my experience with this particular project, nine out of ten essays come back or explain that the student has interview the person [and] they said, ‘Yes, Spanish can be used in this job and that would be a valuable skill to have,'” Despain said.

Features Editor Maggie Luckadoo contributed to this report.