The ability to communicate in more than one language is a central element of a liberal arts education. You will be able to read texts in the Common Curriculum in their original language (e.g., Chinese, Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, or Spanish), do primary research for your capstone project (e.g., in Vietnamese, Spanish, or Sanskrit) or spend a semester abroad immersing yourself in another culture while working towards your major in Global Affairs or Anthropology. The ability to use another language and effectively engage with other cultures is key to being a global citizen in the 21st century.

Yale-NUS College offers students the possibility to study a variety of languages on our campus and in partnership with our parent institutions, Yale University and the National University of Singapore. Students can also pursue exciting language opportunities via CIPE during their summer or semester study abroad programmes.

Languages and Careers

Many companies operating in Singapore and the region, which require employees to be based in other countries or to travel for work, prefer candidates who can speak the local languages. Companies such as Google, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Control Risks, Garena, and Microsoft have indicated that for some of their roles in Asia, they seek candidates proficient in or have an understanding of local languages. Below are some examples of careers which have specific language requirements:

• Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme
• Central Intelligence Agency (only for US citizens)
• United Nations (as an interpreter, translator or UN staff)
• Diplomatic corps of different countries
• International aid agencies and NGOs

For more information on career options linked to foreign language ability, please contact CIPE.