Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

We begin with the recognition that cultures do not exist in isolation but are, in some measure, shaped as a reaction or response to other cultures and forces in the world. Thus the study of the interconnectivity of cultures is of paramount import to our major. Our curriculum steers away from the purely instrumental study of language, that is, the idea that language is simply a tool to study other subjects, and instead stresses that language acquisition ought to be conceived in a more integrative way, that language and its cultural products are deeply related, and therefore must be studied together.

In that vein, we recommend that no essential distinction be made between a language itself and the full extent of its culture: these two aspects need to be studied concurrently and constantly.

Because of our belief in integrative competence, we have moved from the more traditional reliance on the study of language leading to the analysis of literature to one encompassing a much broader mandate of cultural and inter-cultural studies, including popular culture. These cultural and inter-cultural studies are by definition inter-disciplinary, and thus reach across many departmental and programmatic boundaries!

Majors: Spanish and ASL/English Interpreting

Positions that may require additional education, training or licensing are indicated by an (*). Job qualifications are based not only on degree program, but on skills and experience. Students should seek out as many experiential opportunities in their fields of interests as possible, including co-op and internships.

Websites for Career Exploration

• Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook
• MassHireCIS – Massachusetts Hire Information System
• O*NET
• ACTFL
• ATA American Translators Association
• Omniglot
• Tesol International Association
• Transitions ABROAD.com
• Vistawide World Languages and Cultures
• NUsource

Websites for Job Search

• NUworks
• NUsource
• Handshake
• Home Page – ESL
• Volunteering, Nonprofit Jobs, and Community – Idealist
• Language Careers | US Navy
• OverseasJobs.com
• TESOL | International Association
• United Nations
• USAJOBS – The Federal Government’s Official Jobs Site

Professional Associations

Find valuable industry information, job sites, and professional networking opportunities.

• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
• American Foreign Service Association
• American Translators Association
• American Association for Applied Linguistics
• Linguistics Society of America
• TESOL | International Association

Campus Organizations & Activities

• Global Brigades
• Northeastern Cultural and Language Learning Society 
• First and Foremost Literary Magazine
• Spectrum Literary Arts Magazine
• International Relations Council
• LEAD360 | Center for Student Involvement
• Northeastern SGA

For additional student organizations click here.  

For additional student involvement opportunities click here.

Social Media and LinkedIn Groups

Sample industry specific LinkedIn groups. Stay on top of industry trends, company information, job listings and networking opportunities. Visit the Social Media and LinkedIn pages for more information on how to leverage your social media network.

• Language Awareness/Cultural Diversity Group- 100+ Languages
• Languages at Work- Multilingual, Bilingual, Language Job Seekers
• Professional interpreters- all languages
• World Citizens at Work
• Language and Literature