Educators in every industry, especially those working with children and teens, want to equip their students with the tools to succeed, both academically and professionally. This is an even higher priority for those involved with language education, who carry the responsibility of fostering proficiency in a second (or more) language in their students. But language programs are about more than simply instilling communication skills: They’re also about preparing young learners for the real world. For those in Nevada, this means understanding the requirements for working, and how it can affect the trajectory and curriculum of a language program. In these days where bilingual and multilingual employees are in high demand, the ability to speak and read in a language other than English is a valuable asset to any jobseeker. Yet too often, teachers in language programs are not proactively preparing their students for the possibility of seeking work in the future: They are instead left to continue their work under the assumption that language is a subject exclusively for the classroom. This is the wrong approach, as there’s an inextricable link between language skills and career readiness. If your students want to be employable when they finally reach adulthood, then they must be given the relevant tools to pursue that goal. No matter what industries or fields they eventually want to join, the language skills they learn will benefit them in the interview room as well as the classroom.
The requirements for employment differ from state to state, so the first order of business for any language program in Nevada is to determine the legal age to start working. In the Silver State, the rules regarding employment eligibility depend on the age of the children in question. This is broken down as follows: These age restrictions create a window of employment opportunities for students as young as 12. By encouraging their students to take advantage of this chance to gain real-world experience, educators can reunite in-class learning and practical skills in one complete package. Along with this, students can gain invaluable experience with writing cover letters and resumes, conducting interviews, and performing best practices in the office, giving them a solid background in the professional sphere. Of course, simply knowing the work eligibility laws in Nevada will do nothing for the average language program if they cannot find a way to incorporate them meaningfully. This can take the form of dedicated units on writing resumes, seeking job opportunities, and researching potential careers. Students can write cover letters to hypothetical employers and put together resumes that detail their skills and past experience, or even fill out applications from real-world companies. These exercises will allow them to view learning from a different perspective, and help them formulate their language skills in an advanced, fluent way. Along with this, educators in Nevada should specifically explore the differences in professional language and terminology across languages and cultures. This can help their students develop critical thinking and flexibility; for bilingual students, it can also help them improve their language retention.