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For Â鶹ɫÇéƬ alumni, Megan Dosouto B.S., B.A. ¡®23, J.D. ¡®25, and Kyle Villella B.A., B.A. ¡®23, M ¡®25, Spanish is more than just a skill; it is what ties their friendship together. 

Both Dosouto and Villella share a passion for the Spanish language, but they have learned to use their skills in different ways. Villella came to Â鶹ɫÇéƬ with a love for the language and a goal to become a teacher. He did not know what subject he wanted to teach, however. That changed when he realized how fun and engaging Spanish courses could be here at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ. Villella notes that the courses and professors here at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ are what inspired him to become a Spanish teacher. 

Now, the Secondary Education and Spanish double major teaches middle school Spanish! He has also just finished a master's in Special Education this past May here at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ! Outside of the classroom, Villella often has the opportunity to assist students and their Spanish-speaking families, allowing him to form a greater bond with the school community. 

Dosouto, on the other hand, was a part of the 3+3 Legal Studies Program and double majored in Spanish. Upon graduating from Â鶹ɫÇéƬ Law School in May of 2025, she has since joined a family law practice and passed her bar exam. Dosouto has already noticed how her Spanish skills have made a huge difference in the office. Thanks to her skills, she is the only one in the office who can assist Spanish-speaking clients. The connection she is building with clients not only helps the firm to defend the client, but it more importantly helps the clients to feel comfortable.

Despite the different career paths, Spanish has been useful in other social settings. Both Dosouto and Villella have noted how they have been able to assist people in public and socialize with a wider group of people. Not only that, but Spanish has been a useful tool when it comes to traveling. When asked to give current students, they both said that college is a time to travel and to try new things. Now get out there and explore!

What started as a general curiosity for the Chinese language has now led to full immersion in the culture for the Chinese & Chemistry Double Major, Kevin Spencer ¡®15. 

Spencer currently lives in Shanghai, where he teaches Chemistry and is the assistant principal at an international high school. He has lived there for the past ten years and has enjoyed every moment. Becoming a teacher, let alone in China, was not his first plan, however. 

Back in 2011, when he first set foot on campus, Spencer thought he would pursue a career in chemical manufacturing, but teaching chemistry was always at the back of his mind. The addition of a Chinese Major was a happy bonus, thanks to the flexibility of the modern language dual degree program. Spencer began learning Chinese to simply fulfill a language requirement for his high school, but it has since opened so many new doors for Spencer.

Upon graduation, Spencer was admittedly a little unsure of what he wanted to do until one of his Â鶹ɫÇéƬ professors shared a life-changing internship with him. The program was a 1-year stipended internship to teach English in 2015. Spencer immediately applied, was accepted, and very quickly, the Rhode Island native was in Changzhou, China, teaching at a public middle school. 

Since then, Spencer has formed a life in China. With his foundations in Chinese and Chemistry, Spencer has taught chemistry at a foreign languages school, received his masters in Physical Chemistry at Xiamen University, and is currently the assistant principal at the international high school. Without the foundation he formed at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ, Spencer would not be using his powerful combinations like he is. 

¡°Hello everyone, my name is Jeremiah Farrell, and I graduated from Â鶹ɫÇéƬ in Spring of 2025 with a dual degree in International Relations and Chinese. Over the course of this past semester, I applied for and received the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES), and admission into the International Chinese Language Program (ICLP) at National Taiwan University! The HES was established by the Taiwanese Ministry of Education, and consists of a monthly stipend (25,000 NTD) for the purpose of encouraging international language learning. Me along with around 6 other northeast regional scholars were selected after having filled out applications and interest forms as well as completing an online interview with the representative from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Boston.

Among the list of Chinese Language Centers in Taiwan, the [International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University] caught my eye for several reasons. While the program is non-degree, non-credit, it provides intensive language training consisting of 10-week quarters with 200 class hours per quarter for the following academic year. The ICLP's language pledge ensures full immersion by committing to only speak Chinese within the program's grounds and there is a large range of courses that allows the program to cater my personal interests! The class environment is competitive yet tight knit and the program offers extracurricular opportunities as well such as field trips, workshops and guest lecturers, all while being hosted by Taiwan's most prestigious university! Housing and immigration processes are largely my own responsibility, however, the program provides great resources that have helped me immensely throughout the pre-departure process. 

I would encourage anyone seeking to advance their language learning skills to look into these unique opportunities! Even if the ICLP doesn't sound like a great fit, there are many different Chinese Language Centers around Taiwan, and applying for a scholarship certainly won't hurt your chances of going as well! Lastly, I would like to thank Min Zhou for her endless support and counseling throughout this process and the Language Department at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ for providing me with fundamental knowledge and passion Chinese language and culture! ÆßÔ¼û£¬Ì¨Íå!" 

Here is an overview of career potentials for students with a combination of a language and another field at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ:

Modern Language + Legal Studies or Criminal Justice

• Immigration/Naturalization
• Customs
• Security and Protection (Language Analyst for Security Services)
• Law Enforcement
• Court Interpreter

Modern Language + International Relations

• Diplomacy (Embassies and Consultants)
• Government: CIA, FBI, Defense Dept., Peace Corps,
• Political Risk Analyst
• International Political Organizations
• International Aid/Development Worker

Modern Language + International Business / Marketing

• Marketing Executive
• Import/Export Companies & International Banks
• Business, Logistics and Finance Careers
• Advertising and Public Relations (PR) Careers

Modern Language + Science (Biology, Chemistry, Sustainability, Environmental Science, Aquaculture and Aquarium Science)

• International Aid/Development Worker
• International Research
• Pharmaceutical Representative
• Consultant
• Non-Profit Organization Officer

Modern Language + Graphic Design Communications

• Journalism/Broadcasting
• Advertising
• Public Relations
• Tourist information manager
• Travel Writer

Modern Language + Public Health

• Translation/Interpretation
• Hospitality, Health Care Services, Pharmaceutical Companies
• International Aid/Development Worker

Modern Language + Visual Arts

• Advertising
• Art dealer

Modern Language + Education

• Foreign Language Educator
• Education Consultant
• International Student Programs
• Corporate Programs for Transfer Students
• English as a Foreign Language Teacher

Q: What languages are placement tests in?

A: Online tests are available in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish. For American Sign Language (ASL), please contact the Dean¡¯s Office in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Education (SHAE).

Q: Where is the language placement test located?

A: How to access the language placement exam

Q: Do I take the test in all of the languages?

A: No, you take a test only in the language you intend to study at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ.

Q: Can I take the test more than once?

A: No, the test is taken only once. Review the language you have learned, then take the test when you feel prepared.

Q: What should students do after their language placement?

A: Start taking language courses right away! The sooner you begin studying a language, the less time you will need to refresh your skills and the better you will do in class.

Q: What if the placement level does not reflect a student¡¯s proficiency?

A: Placement is not set in stone. If the language course you are taking is too easy or too challenging for you, talk with the instructor, speak with them in the target language, and ask whether you can be placed in a different course.

Q: What is the benefit of taking language courses at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ?

A: To graduate, Â鶹ɫÇéƬ students need a major and a Core Concentration. A Core Concentration requires five courses. However, if you are placed in 102 of a language and do a Core Concentration in that language, you need only four courses; if you are placed in 201, 202, or 300-level of a language and do a Core Concentration in that language, you need only three courses!

Q: Why should I take language courses?

A: Our world has become very interdependent. New technologies have allowed us to work in close contact with people all over the world. As relationships (in business, cultures, politics, etc.) grow, so does the need to speak different languages and become culturally and linguistically prepared! And foreign languages bring wings to your future career and help you stand out in job markets because employers know that it takes diligent work, self-discipline, and a vision to do well in language courses. If one succeeds in learning a foreign language, one can succeed in their pursuit of anything!

Q: What if I am interesting in majoring in another field?

A: Students can do a double major or a minor or Core Concentration in a language.