Being a student doesn’t mean you get a four-year-plus sabbatical from real life, no matter what some people (and publications) would have us believe. On the contrary, it comes with challenges, from juggling your workload to managing your finances.
The latter is something many students struggle with, which is why so many end up taking on a part-time job alongside their studies. This could be anything from serving to dog walking – so long as it pays the bills, most aren’t too fussy!
Language students are lucky to have some additional options up their sleeves. So if you’re focused on honing your linguistic skills, here’s how you can put what you’re learning to good and profitable use outside the classroom.
Tutoring
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If you’ve felt the need for extra tuition at any point, the answer is likely “yes.” These specialist tutoring services offer everything from French lessons to Japanese, Italian, and more. Users can select someone to teach them based on various factors, from their specialisms to their country of origin, availability, rating, and even pricing. Handily, these websites are often peopled by tutors like you: individuals with linguistic talents who are looking to share their skills and educate others. If you’d like to earn an income in a way that’s remote, flexible, and works around your studies, this sort of setup can be ideal.
As well as teaching virtually, you could also advertise your services locally to see if anyone in the surrounding area would like face-to-face tutoring sessions.
Translating
In 2022, businesses are going global. Thanks to the prevalence of the internet and the rising popularity of eCommerce, there’s little to stop an ambitious company from setting its sights on foreign markets – except, of course, the language barrier.
For this reason, companies often look for individuals to translate content for overseas audiences. As a language student, this could be right up your street. Whether changing a marketing blog from English into German or translating an advertising slogan into Spanish, your skills are worth a lot to companies in need of assistance.
Copywriting
Arguably, this one is a little more niche and requires you to have skills besides a second language. As we mentioned, many companies are now looking to tap into the global marketplace – sometimes, their existing content doesn’t cut it. While direct translations can work well, sometimes specially tailored blogs, adverts, and product pages are required.
So, if you’re a creative with a flair for wordsmithing (in any language), you might want to keep an eye out for remote copywriting gigs. Many companies will be happy to hire you as a freelancer, giving you the flexibility to work around your studies.
Even better, this will look great on your CV if you’re thinking of a career in writing or marketing in the long term, as it shows you have the skills to cut it and the portfolio to back this up. It will also allow you to try it before committing to it as a full-time career.
When looking for part-time employment, there are many ways to make your language skills work for you, and these three can be especially good. They offer substantial flexibility and opportunities to fit them neatly around your study schedule. Sometimes, they can also pay handsomely and will look great on your resume.
Isn’t it time you explored the many doors your linguistic talents can open?