AI takes over English major jobs in China, leaving the future unclear for graduates
The career prospects for foreign language majors in China are undergoing significant changes due to the impact of AI and university reforms. Here are some key aspects that are shaping the future of these professionals:
### AI Disruptions
The translation industry has been revolutionized by AI, with machines now achieving over 95% accuracy at a fraction of the cost of human translators. This shift has led to a decline in demand for basic translation services, traditionally a primary career path for language majors. However, AI has also created new roles such as translation managers who collaborate with AI tools, offering opportunities for those with the right skills.
Despite the advancements in AI, the employment rate for language majors in 2023 was 76.8%, which is below the national undergraduate average. Only about 52% of graduates secured jobs related to their major, leading to a significant number switching fields.
### University Reforms and Recommendations
There is a push for updating curricula to make them more relevant in the AI era. This includes incorporating language intelligence programs that combine linguistics, AI, data science, and cultural studies, providing a direct path into the AI industry for humanities students.
Experts recommend that students acquire "English plus" skills, such as international law or data science, to remain competitive. Dual-degree paths are also encouraged for those with interdisciplinary ambitions.
### Opportunities and Challenges
While traditional sectors like translation and international trade have contracted, teaching English as a foreign language remains a viable career path. ESL teaching in China is relatively accessible, with opportunities available in various locations and for different types of candidates.
High-growth niches like specialized translation services and cross-border e-commerce are emerging as potential career paths for those with the right skills and adaptability.
Both Wu and Dai, two professors, agree that AI will reshape, not replace, the language fields. They advise current students to build "English plus" skills, master technical tools, and target high-growth niche areas like specialized translation services or cross-border e-commerce.
From 1999 to 2010, universities offering foreign language programs surged from 200 to over 600 in China. However, since 2018, a total of 28 foreign language-related majors were discontinued by 109 universities. Among these discontinued majors, 26 universities discontinued Japanese, 21 discontinued English, and 10 discontinued Korean.
The waning interest is attributed to policy shifts reducing K-12 English tutoring jobs, technological disruption with AI handling 80% of basic translation, and the discipline's core weakness of producing graduates mainly focused on pure language skills while market demand centers on high-end interdisciplinary competence.
By 2010, the total number of English majors in colleges nationwide reached 850,000. However, satisfaction with language majors plummeted from 78% in 2010 to 67% in 2023.
Foreign languages, including English, are critical in safeguarding information sovereignty, developing language technologies like machine translation, and preserving linguistic diversity. The irreplaceable humanistic attributes of the discipline in the AI era foster emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and critical thinking that AI lacks.
In conclusion, while AI has disrupted traditional career paths for foreign language majors in China, there are new opportunities emerging in specialized fields and teaching. However, students need to be proactive in acquiring interdisciplinary skills to remain competitive. AI will force the humanities to upgrade, not disappear, and create experts who can use AI but understand humans better than AI.
- The significant changes in the career prospects for foreign language majors in China are partly due to the impacts of AI and university reforms, transforming traditional translation roles into new ones like translation management.
- Despite AI advancements, the employment rate for language majors in 2023 was below the national average, with many graduates switching fields due to a low number of related job opportunities.
- To remain competitive in the AI era, experts recommend that students acquire "English plus" skills, such as international law or data science, and consider dual-degree paths for interdisciplinary ambitions.
- While sectors like basic translation and international trade have contracted, teaching English as a foreign language remains a viable career path, with opportunities available in various locations and types of candidates.
- High-growth niches like specialized translation services and cross-border e-commerce are emerging as potential career paths for those with the right skills and adaptability.
- AI will reshape, not replace, the language fields, and professors advise current students to build "English plus" skills, master technical tools, and target high-growth niche areas like specialized translation services or cross-border e-commerce to succeed in the rapidly changing job market.
