The Language Institute organizes many different types of programming for undergraduate students throughout the year. Some events are open to any student on campus, and others are organized for specialized audiences.
Undergraduate students looking for upcoming events and career resources: visit the UW-Madison Languages site!
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Pre-Major and Career Advising
The Language Institute’s Language Directions Specialist offers advising for undergraduate students, addressing topics such as…
- Exploring options for language study and opportunities to use and further language skills outside of the classroom
- Careers/internships that incorporate language skills
- How to list language skills on a resume and write about them in a cover letter
- Leveraging language skills in the job search in any industry
- Finding and connecting with alumni using language skills in their careers
Career Development Course for Multilingual Students
Lead with Languages: Putting Language Skills to Work (Intl St 275) is a 1-credit course designed for undergraduate multilingual students. Taught every fall semester, the course supports multilingual students of all language backgrounds and majors in exploring and preparing for careers post-graduation, with an emphasis on developing self-advocacy skills to leverage multilingualism in the career development process.
Public Events for Undergraduate Students
Throughout the academic year, the Language Directions Specialist hosts events for undergraduate multilingual students that focus on connecting language, international interests, and careers. Event are often hosted in partnership with other campus units. Examples of signature events include:
- Language & Linguistics Alumni Panels
- Language Careers Beyond Translation
- Beyond Abroad: Speed Networking for Returned Study and Intern Abroad Students
- Exploring Graduate Study in Language & Linguistics
- Interpreting & Translation Career Panel
- Launching Your International Career
- Humanities Career Fair
- Funding Your Language Study
Tabling at Campus Events
The Language Directions Specialist regularly attends campus opportunity and career fairs to connect with future and current students about opportunities for language study and the career development resources the Language Institute offers for undergraduates. Examples of events where we are regularly represented include:
- Government, International Affairs, and Nonprofit Resource Fair (hosted by SuccessWorks)
- Business-Related Programs Fair (hosted by the Wisconsin School of Business)
- International Opportunities Fair (hosted by the International Studies Major)
- Future Badger Days (hosted by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment)
To invite us to table at an event, contact us at advisor@languageinstitute.wisc.edu.
"Put Your Language Skills to Work" Workshop
The Language Directions Specialist regularly partners with courses and programs on campus to offer a workshop called “Put Your Language Skills to Work.” The workshop helps students understand the demand for language skills in the job market; explains the relationship between language skills and in-demand transferable skills across industries; and coaches students on detailing language skills on a resume.
If you would like us to host a workshop for your group, contact us at advisor@languageinstitute.wisc.edu.
SOAR Resource Fair
Throughout Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR), the Language Institute hosts a table at a daily resource fair to represent and promote opportunities for language study at the university.
"Preparing for Your First Language Course" Workshop
In 2024 and 2025, Language Institute staff have been partnering with the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) to facilitate a session for incoming CAE scholars to prepare them for language study at UW-Madison. The session, hosted before classes begin, offers scholars strategies for success in the language classroom and shares resources for undergraduate students offered through the Language Institute.
WISLI Professional Development Workshops
Each summer, the Language Institute partners with the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI) to host professional development workshops for students enrolled in their summer intensive language programs for less-commonly taught languages.