Linguistics: Foreign Languages

Profession

Linguistics is the science of different languages, which has a thousand-year history. The modern world is striving for globalization, and in the context of increasing international contacts, the profession of a linguist is of fundamental importance. The most intensive development of linguistics falls on the XIX-XX centuries. It was during this period that, in addition to the theoretical aspects of linguistics (morphology, syntax, semantics, etc.), its applied branches were actively developing: lexicography (compilation of dictionaries), stylistics, translation studies, linguistic expertise (for example, in judicial practice), etc. In order to explain what a linguist is today, one must combine in one person a specialist in languages, a historian, a sociologist, a psychologist, an anthropologist and an ethnographer. Recently, it is thanks to the broad outlook of linguists that many areas of linguistics have appeared: neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, cognitive linguistics, etc. With the development of IT, computer linguistics, i.e. machine translation, information retrieval, and computer lexicography is becoming especially popular.

Educational Process

The program is designed to prepare highly qualified specialists able to work in the field of methods of teaching foreign languages at all levels, engage in pedagogical or scientific activities, act as interpreters or translators.
During the training, students not only learn foreign languages, but also learn a lot of interesting information about the evolution of languages and dialects, gain deep knowledge in the field of speech phenomena, about the relationship and differences of world languages.
Language is an interdisciplinary concept, the development of which is based on a system of knowledge, universal competences obtained by students while studying general psychology, pedagogy, linguistics and philosophy.
Due to the fact that Russian and foreign students study together, they have a unique opportunity to gain invaluable experience of communicating with native speakers, in practice understanding and mastering the main similarities and differences in languages, dialects, pronunciation, and approaches to learning and teaching.
All students of the program study 2 foreign languages. Language classes are held in small groups, not only traditional, but also interactive forms of classes are practiced using multimedia and online technologies.
The main disciplines of the program: “Methods of linguistic research”, “Ancient languages and cultures”, “Modern linguistic theories”, “Methods of teaching foreign languages”, “Practical course of professional translation”, “Practical course of a foreign language” (first and second), ” Theoretical phonetics”, “Theoretical grammar”, “Lexicology”, “Stylistics”, “Linguistic culture”, etc.

Practice

Since May 2009, more than 2,500 students have worked as interpreters at 200 events organized by the Directorate of Sports and Entertainment Events of Moscow, the Russian Union of Martial Arts, Nation Charitable Foundation “League of Health”, federations of various sports and other organizations. Among them: Eurovision 2009, World Championships in Athletics 2013, World Rugby Championships 2013, Ice Hockey World Championships 2016, Confederations Cup 2017, FIFA 2018, SKYSERVICE 2016-2019 — International Forum for the Development of Services on Board Aircraft, International Competitions ISU Grand Prix in figure skating 2015-2019, Rostelecom Cup, annual championships and cups in slalom, wrestling, athletics, pentathlon, fencing, WorldSkills Championship 2019 (Kazan), where 25 students and graduates of Linguistics department accompanied Russian teams participating in competitions in various professional competencies.
On average, every month about 25 students of the Faculty of Philology work at 2-3 events, using all the foreign languages learned and intercultural communication skills. Also, students gain teaching experience in the course of pedagogical practice, which is organized at the Department of Foreign Languages and in Moscow schools and Moscow Region.
The Faculty of Philology has about 30 agreements with international universities, which allow students to go on an educational internship for one or two semesters in universities in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, China, Japan, Lebanon, Jordan and other countries of the world.

Career

Traditionally, professional linguists are engaged in scientific, expert, teaching, translation or consulting activities.
A variety of ways of professional realization open up before graduates — excellent knowledge of one or more foreign languages allows to choose a job according to your interests. It is not necessary to teach foreign languages to others or to write textbooks. You can translate fiction, films, computer games. People who speak foreign languages professionally are also in demand in journalism, publishing, tourism, and marketing. Experts in foreign languages are needed in the field of data processing and analysis, the media, the IT industry, and advertising. They are accepted into the diplomatic service, invited to transnational companies. They have good prospects in freelancing, which is now popular: thanks to the Internet, linguists have been able to offer their services without intermediaries. They can even create and sell their own training courses, printed materials, software.