T H E S TAT E | E D U C AT I O N
The Power of Language
Students’ interest in learning a second language continues to increase; this skill can reap major benefits on the job hunt.
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Interest in learning ASL – American Sign Language – is growing. OSU offers classes to learn the language as well as a student club. Photo by Phil Shockley
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n the realm of higher education, knowing a second language is key to acquiring top jobs. To grasp its importance, educators at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and the University of Tulsa share their insight. In the past, students at OSU often picked French and German for their second language. Now, Spanish is the first choice. “It is our most popular minor,” says Erik Ekman, the department head and an associate professor of Spanish. “In any given semester, there are 250 to 300 students who minor in Spanish.” Healthcare is just one business sector that pairs well with a Spanish minor. Additionally, OSU’s study abroad program was robust until COVID – which Ekman calls “a disaster for the program.” In 2021, the program dropped drastically and classes were held online. Now, since many have returned to the classroom, the international program is recovering well. Looking forward, a new language program at the university this year is Korean. “We will be looking to add this as a minor,” says Ekman. There is also a growing request for American Sign Language (ASL). So, this past spring semester, OSU had nine classes dedicated to ASL. At TU, languages rank high in popularity with Spanish, French, German, Russian and Chinese offerings. ASL, which has its own specific career path, is second only to Spanish. “Language is really a great combination with another skill,” says Victor Udwin, Ph.D., the director of
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2022
ASL AND ITS GROWING POPULARITY In 1817, Thomas Gallaudet
founded what is now the the School of Language American School for the Deaf, and Literature and located in Hartford, Conn., an associate profeswhere he created American sor of German and Sign Language. Now, comparative literature between 250,000-500,000 at TU. Many students people are fluent in ASL. graduate with a degree “There is a strong growth in engineering, for in ASL,” says Ekman. ASL is example, and have a used in public-facing careers minor in language. including healthcare, schools “Best of all, they have and human resources. their choice of graduate “Graduates with a schools or jobs,” he says. target language are super Using a target lanindependent, confident and guage in a real world self-sufficient,” says Udwin. application has proved successful. And, Udwin says, business and government leaders understand the importance of language. “There are really interesting jobs all over the world and here in the U.S.,” he says. The study abroad program spurs entrepreneurship. One TU alumni, who worked in Germany at a brewery, has returned to Tulsa and opened his own. New at TU is a five-year program, with two majors, that incorporates study abroad with an internship component. “A double major is now emphasized,” says Udwin. Engineering, science and business each pair well with a language major. GINA A. DABNEY