Slide1: From Changing Conjugations to Changing Corporate Workforces… Brett Lutz April 2007


Slide2: - or - I Was A Collegiate French Major (Now Masquerading as a Business Consultant) Brett Lutz April 2007


Agenda: Agenda Short Version – 20 min Thanks & Introduction (2) Overview (3) Timeline (5) Advantages of an education in Modern Languages (3) Thoughts about consulting (2) Questions (3) Closing (2) Long Version – 50 min Thanks & Introduction (5) Overview (5) Timeline (15) Advantages of an education in Modern Languages (5) Thoughts about consulting (5) Questions (10) Closing (5)


Introduction to the World of Brett Lutz: Introduction to the World of Brett Lutz Quick background: Birthed in the metropolis of Ponca City, OK Graduated twice from OU: BAs in French & Journalism MA in French Currently reside in San Francisco, CA What I do: Human Performance Consultant with Accenture, an international business consulting firm Specialty: Large scale workforce transformation (training adults to do things they don’t want to) Most challenging assignment to date: National Health Service – UK 450,000 “students” (doctors, nurses, hospital admins) throughout England Changing the way physicians do work and the way patients receive treatment – tricky What I do when not consulting: Spend time with wife Melissa and dogs Play guitar (badly) and go to concerts Pillage Napa and Sonoma valleys Travel, travel, travel And you thought Memorial Stadium was tough…


Gauging the Crowd: Pop Quiz: Gauging the Crowd: Pop Quiz What’s your Major? Modern languages Business Pre-something (-med, -law, -historic, -tty good looking…) Other lib arts (Journalism, Music, Psych, Poli-Sci, Sleeping, Beer…) Whatever keeps me in school the longest… Which phrase best categorizes your interest in French: “It’s a language requirement I can’t wait to finish…” “I want to travel to France someday – it might be useful…” “I see myself as a future French professor…” “I might help me in critical hook up situations…” “Merde!”


Slide6: Timing is Everything: My 30yr Journey through Languages, Lankiness and Love


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster Born Ponca City, OK


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster Born Ponca City, OK Cute French Teacher Ponca City, OK


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster Born Ponca City, OK Cute French Teacher Ponca City, OK French Girlfriend Ponca City, OK


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster Born Ponca City, OK Cute French Teacher Ponca City, OK French Girlfriend Ponca City, OK Heartbreak Paris, France


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster Born Ponca City, OK Cute French Teacher Ponca City, OK French Girlfriend Ponca City, OK Heartbreak Paris, France OU Application Norman, OK


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: Born Ponca City, OK Cute French Teacher Ponca City, OK French Girlfriend Ponca City, OK Heartbreak Paris, France OU Application Norman, OK French Studies Norman, OK From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: Foreign Exchange 1 Clermont-Fd, France From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: Foreign Exchange 1 Clermont-Fd, France Graduation 1 Norman, OK From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: Foreign Exchange 1 Clermont-Fd, France Graduation 1 Norman, OK Foreign Exchange 2 Bologna, Italy From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: Foreign Exchange 1 Clermont-Fd, France Graduation 1 Norman, OK Foreign Exchange 2 Bologna, Italy Graduation 2 Norman, OK From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster


From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster: Foreign Exchange 1 Clermont-Fd, France Graduation 1 Norman, OK Foreign Exchange 2 Bologna, Italy Graduation 2 Norman, OK Employment You Name It From Ponca to Paris to Paycheck: A Rollercoaster


Slide18: Going Global: Living, Working and Exploring around the World


About Business Consulting: About Business Consulting


Living, Working and Exploring Around the World: Living, Working and Exploring Around the World Where I’ve worked Where I’ve traveled Where I will travel


Living, Working and Exploring Around the World: Where I’ve worked Where I’ve traveled Where I will travel Living, Working and Exploring Around the World


Living, Working and Exploring Around the World: Where I’ve worked Where I’ve traveled Where I will travel Living, Working and Exploring Around the World


Living, Working and Exploring Around the World: Where I’ve worked Where I’ve traveled Where I will travel Living, Working and Exploring Around the World


Slide24: A Linguistic Challenge: I Study, Therefore I Am (a fantastic job candidate!)


10 Reasons Why Studying Languages Rocks: 10 Reasons Why Studying Languages Rocks You can make boring phrases sound sexy You can study abroad for a year and come back with enough credits to scare your Graduate Assistants You can say utterly disgusting things directly to non-speakers while they smile and nod in amazement You can read thousands of pieces of literature in their native language You can travel abroad without being afraid that everyone is trying to make fun of you and rip you off You can watch foreign language films and actually see what is happening on the upper ¾ of the screen You can earn the respect of locals in foreign lands You can double your chances of misspelling tattoos you get while in a discombobulated state of mind on Spring Break You can help the American population look smarter You can have a 100% better chance of convincing your parents that a backpacking trip across Europe after college is worth their funding


What Can You Do with a Language Degree?: What Can You Do with a Language Degree? A small percentage of undergrads with foreign language degrees actually take their studies to the doctorate level If you don’t want to be a university professor, but love foreign cultures and languages, what are your options? Some thoughts: Participate in foreign exchange programs during the normal school year, or even during summer session Look to broaden your degree by balancing it with courses in another field such as Business, Journalism, Arts or even Applied Sciences Search for possible international internship opportunities Consider teaching English as a Second Language in a foreign country Research potential employers that have international branches or operations overseas and understand the chances of working abroad Stow yourself away on a cargo ship traveling in the right general direction and hope that a nice family will take you in and feed you when you land, desolate, afraid and alone


Career Options for the Language Degreed: Career Options for the Language Degreed Top Career Areas for Foreign Language Graduates Business Communications Education Government Services Information Services Social Services Travel Services Foreign Service Career Areas Requiring Further Study / Qualifications Translator Linguist Interpreter Speech Pathologist Foreign Social Worker Bilingual Education


Tips, Tricks, Links and Reading Materials: Tips, Tricks, Links and Reading Materials Careers + tips on landing a job with a language degree: http://www.education.umn.edu/ETCS/WhatCanIDo/foreign.html http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/social-science/linguistics-major.htm http://ascareers.okstate.edu/pdf/ForeignLanguage.pdf http://www.udel.edu/CSC/forlang.html http://content.monstertrak.monster.com/resources/archive/jobhunt/foreignlanguagedegree/ (OU Reference) Relevant books: Opportunities in Foreign Language Careers by Wilga M. Rivers Careers for Foreign Language Aficionados & Other Multilingual Types by H. Ned Seelye and J. Laurence Day Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors by Julie DeGalan and Stephen Lambert UK report on graduates with language degrees: http://www.scre.ac.uk/pdf/spotlight/Spotlight42.pdf


Slide29: Questions? Time to Make Me Look Stupid!