Sonia — Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Italian and Cultural Studies
Why did you choose to study languages?
I had studied Italian since I was five, and it seemed like a logical choice to pursue it at a tertiary level. When I started university, I hadn’t yet had the chance to travel overseas, despite already being reasonably fluent in Italian. I had hoped that engaging in language study at university would allow me to travel and study abroad.
What was the best thing about your course?
It was great to be placed in a setting where virtually everyone was at a similar level of language proficiency. I felt that I was able to learn more and practise my skills with peers whose level of language prowess matched (or exceeded!) my own. It provided me with the motivation to excel rather than just cruise by and rely on established knowledge.
What was the worst thing about your course?
Sometimes it would be difficult to follow certain lectures, given they were all conducted in Italian. While this was a good challenge, it presented a problem if a class was missed. Although lectures were often recorded, I felt that, from a comprehension standpoint, it was imperative to actually attend class.
What did your course involve?
It was compulsory to attend tutorials and lectures, but in my final year of study I had the opportunity to complete a language subject in Italy for a month. It was by far the greatest experience of my life, and I would recommend studying abroad to anybody interested in pursuing language study.
Have you found work in your field?
I currently work in the publishing industry. The languages field is extremely niche and, while I didn’t pursue a career in an Italian-speaking workplace, I feel that the skills and knowledge gained through my language study definitely contributed to me gaining employment after university. The great thing about studying languages is that it forces you to gain the confidence to venture out of your comfort zone. I found that my speaking confidence increased exponentially through studying Italian, as I had to sell my ability to speak Italian to peers and assessors. This skill became extremely handy when it came to job interviews, as that process certainly involves a degree of ‘selling yourself’!
What advice would you give to students considering studying languages?
Languages are fantastic to study at a tertiary level, as the coursework and assessment is incredibly different to anything else you can study. It provides you with a break from any other forms of assessment you might be working on, not to mention setting you up with a skill that will remain with you for life. Getting a job in the field after graduating may be difficult, but the best way to approach it would be identifying in what way your language study might be useful in a workplace. And remember — networking is the key to success!
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