外语专业大退潮，曾经的王牌不香了

Core Insights - The merging of language departments in universities reflects a significant decline in the demand for foreign language majors, impacting students' sense of belonging and career prospects [2][4][5] Group 1: Industry Trends - The popularity of foreign language majors surged after China's WTO accession and the Belt and Road Initiative, but recent years have seen a decline in job opportunities in this field due to a shrinking number of multinational positions and an oversupply of graduates [4][5] - According to a report by Mycos Research Institute, the employment rate for 2023 foreign language graduates is 84.5%, with an average monthly income of 5,695 yuan, which is below the overall level for bachelor's degree holders [4] - Between 2018 and 2022, 28 foreign language-related programs were discontinued across 109 universities, with 26 institutions eliminating Japanese programs and 21 eliminating English programs [4][5] Group 2: Student Experiences - Students like Xiao Cai and Jiang Jiang express feelings of loss and uncertainty as their majors are phased out, leading to a search for new career paths [5][8] - Many students are adapting by pursuing dual degrees or transitioning to other fields, recognizing that language skills alone are insufficient for job market success [11][16] - The shift in hiring practices emphasizes the need for candidates to possess a combination of language skills and other competencies, such as data analysis or programming [20][25] Group 3: Educational Responses - Some universities are reforming their curricula to integrate foreign language education with other disciplines, aiming to produce graduates with versatile skill sets that meet industry demands [25][27] - The focus is shifting from standalone foreign language programs to embedding language skills within broader educational frameworks, ensuring that language proficiency remains relevant in various professional contexts [25][28]