As the global community comes closer together in the coming years, people who can speak and write Chinese will find themselves in high demand.

The Chinese major isn’t to be underestimated. Don’t think this is anything like studying a romance language, which offers the benefit of (almost) the same alphabet. With Chinese, you don’t even get an alphabet. Students majoring in the language must complete intensive classes in written and spoken Chinese, as well as additional work in Chinese culture, language, and history. Confucianism, the history of the People’s Republic of China, Maoism, and the subtle art of calligraphy will probably be offered as part of the overall curriculum. Most Chinese programs also recommend or require students to study abroad. If you want to major in Chinese, plan on spending copious hours memorizing vocabulary and the minute differences of inflection that sometimes mean the difference between saying “Hello. How are you?” and “I poisoned that tea you’re drinking.”

Undergraduate programs in French are primarily designed to ensure that you gain a substantial degree of competence in speaking and writing the language (advanced courses are often conducted in French), so be prepared to spend a lot of time studying the nuts and bolts of grammar and translation. In addition, you’ll learn about French culture, history, and literature, and the throng of exotic locales where French is spoken. Majoring in French also offers abundant opportunities to take classes in other departments like history, English and literature, philosophy, international studies, film, and art history.

What can you do with a French major besides teach? A lot. French speakers are in demand in banking and finance, foreign market analysis, diplomacy, and hotel management, just to name a few fields. But if you don’t think corporations hire language majors, take note of what BP-Amoco (one of the most monolithic and powerful multinational corporations in the world) has to say: “It took us far too long to realize that ‘business’ in parts of the world outside North America is about ‘relationships.’ While many will tell you that the language of business is English, relationships are forged through common experiences and respect, and in a common language (typically not English). Even the most basic efforts to understand and communicate in the language of the host are greatly appreciated, and often form the basis for a business deal to be struck.” In case you were wondering, France boasts the world’s fourth-largest economy, and its gross domestic product (GDP) growth is one of the highest among European economies.

German thinkers, writers, and artists have played pivotal roles in defining all aspects of Western culture. From music to philosophy to science to literature, you’ll find a German influence. A major in German is your opportunity to understand those influences up close and personal.

On a more practical level, with the global economy becoming more tightly interwoven, national corporations are becoming multi-national, creating a greater demand for people with foreign language skills and knowledge of foreign cultures. Germany is the largest, most powerful European economy (think BMW and DaimlerChrysler here), which means that the prospects for young German majors looking to get into the business are good.

The study of a language at the college level is not limited to the memorization of words and verb conjugations. If you major in Italian (or any other language) in college, you’ll study history, art, politics, and everything else that characterizes the culture of the places where it’s spoken. After completing several required courses in Italian grammar, composition, and conversation, you’ll choose from a variety of classes in Italian literature, advanced translation, and civilization. In a nutshell, your courses will cover everything Italian – from Dante to Fellini, from Spartacus to Mussolini.

Japan comprises four main islands and about 1000 small islands; these slivers and dots of land are among the most densely populated in the world. The amount of activity on them—in business, engineering, and pop culture—is astonishing. Japanese products, design, thought, and film plays a major role in the American consciousness and marketplace. Japanese majors have the opportunity to bridge east and west, to understand the language and culture of this remarkable country.

The Japanese major is a challenging course of study. Japanese majors go through intensive classes in written and spoken Japanese, as well as additional work in Japanese culture and history. Classes in Buddhism, Shinto, Kabuki theater, Japanese film, or Noh drama might be offered as part of the overall curriculum. Most Japanese programs also recommend or require students to study abroad in Japan.

Japanese speakers are in demand in business, technology, and law. Japan’s rich cultural heritage also makes the major appealing to those who are interested in visual and performing arts.

 Portugal is a nation with a history, language, and culture that has had sweeping influences throughout the world. Though rarely heard in the United States, Portuguese maintains its status as one of the world’s most important languages. Spoken in Portugal (obviously), Brazil (South America’s largest economy), and parts of Africa, Portuguese is a bridge to a rich and diverse cultural history and spans across three continents and dozens of centuries, from the exploration of the New World in the 15th Century to colonial and post-colonial Africa.

With the expansion of American investment interests in Latin America, the Portuguese has taken on even greater influence as half of all U.S. businesses in South America have offices in Brazil. Portuguese majors will have the opportunity to put their language skills into use in a wide array of fields in a number of countries

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 created many newly independent republics, and the United States has since been striving to strike or maintain political and economic bonds with them all. Knowledge of Russian history, culture, economics, and language is fundamental to the success of this endeavor. As a Russian major, you’ll spend most of your time becoming skilled in the Russian language, which will mean, among other things, learning a completely different alphabet (unless you already have experience with Russian). Many universities offer multimedia instruction for language classes, so you’ll have a variety of means to explore your use and understanding of Russian. You’ll learn about Russian literature by studying great writers like Dostoevsky. You’ll study politics and economics. You’ll learn about what it means to be a Russian, and how the new republics define their places in the world.

There is quite a bit to learn about the Russian culture, and the interdisciplinary nature of the major will give you the opportunity to explore many different fields. One of the benefits of majoring in a foreign language is the perspective you’ll gain on your own language and culture. Since our world is becoming increasingly integrated, a deep knowledge of another language and culture will be an asset no matter what career you choose to pursue.

Spoken throughout Central and South America, Spain, and many parts of the United States, knowledge of Spanish is a bridge into varied cultures that span several continents and dozens of centuries. In addition to becoming fluent in the language, a Spanish major also obtain a broad knowledge of the history of the Spanish-speaking world. From Aztec ruins to Argentine fascism, you’ll delve into the social, political, and economic elements that have made Spanish one of the most important languages in the world.

Many colleges recommend or require that you spend at least a semester studying in a Spanish-speaking country of your choice.