Novel tongues translate into success: leader

There are more job opportunities for students of less-commonly taught languages than for those who major in English, the president of China's leading foreign language university said.

"Students majoring in those less-commonly used languages, such as Spanish and Portuguese, almost all have found jobs this year," said Han Zhen, president of Beijing Foreign Studies University.

"This year, often described as 'the hardest year to find a job', more than 90 percent of our students have jobs, and students in those two majors have all been given work. It's not only because of the popularity of Spain and Portugal, but of Latin America and Africa," Han said.