Adriana’s story: Spanish proficiency leading to work, travel, and collaboration opportunities

Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a French major and an Advanced Proficiency Certificate in Spanish, not only has benefited me in my travels but also with my work opportunities. I moved back home, to Portugal at the end of my studies and the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired through the program have prepared me for a successful career. I am currently working for a distribution company where on a daily basis I deal with the multiple clients, most of them being British, French, and Spanish. Proficiency in these languages, especially Spanish, is increasingly valuable in the communication and cultural aspects of it when it comes to a work environment.

Through my work, I’ve also had the opportunity of travelling to Spain to meet some of our clients, which required me to use the Spanish I learnt at UFV. It not only opened up the communication channels and fostered better relationships, but it also enhanced my ability to collaborate effectively with Spanish-speaking individuals. As a result, proficiency in languages, such as Spanish facilitated a collaboration with diverse teams, and also provided a competitive advantage in the job market, ultimately contributing to improved job performance as well as career opportunities.

Adriana Salvadinho
Advanced Proficiency Certificate in Spanish