Folium: The Exploding Internet via NewScientist.com
Folium: The Exploding Internet via NewScientist.com
The Exploding Internet via NewScientist.com
In academic institutions, I sometimes have a difficult time convincing students (and other faculty) why languages are no longer an elective – but should be a requirement for all programs. Nothing upsets me more than a student who is born, raised, goes to school, and gets a job in the same darned place without even looking outside the bubble.
“I’m a web designer. I’m a programmer. I’m a digital artist. I’m a game designer… I’ll never need to learn other languages, everything is in English!”
I hate to tell ya. There are programmers in India too, and they speak many languages. Chinese programmers work in English, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, and Japanese. Tech startups in Brazil speak Portuguese, Spanish, English, and oftentimes German. All of them will get work before you will, and will write for a much larger audience, and will have the freedom of working wherever they want in the world.
I don’t want to be a downer. But look at the internet. Just look at it. If we do the math, there are more people NOT speaking English than those who do. There are statistically more tech jobs outside the United States, than inside the United States.
So why should all programs, all careers, all people learn additional languages. Look at the infographic and let it sink in for a while.
Anyone with job hunting experience outside the United States? Let us know in the comments below!
