Are you ready to turn your language skills into career opportunities? Many of our students build successful careers in diverse fields such as business, education, government, and the nonprofit sector, while others pursue advanced degrees. Language proficiency and intercultural competence are key to working effectively across cultural perspectives in an evolving global landscape.

Join us for Language & Career Week in February 2026—a dynamic series of panels, roundtables, and networking opportunities designed to help you bridge the gap between language learning and professional success. Hear from industry experts, alumni, and faculty about how languages have shaped their careers, and discover how your language skills can open doors in unexpected ways.

Check out the schedule below (or detailed schedule) and start planning your week!

Schedule

You can view the detailed schedule with panel descriptions here.

Wednesday, February 4

10:00–11:00 (THH 309K) Multilingual Capital: Languages in Graduate Studies and the Workplace Refreshments
Moderator: Suzanne Wali

12:00–1:00 (ASC 207) This Was Funnier in China: Keynote by Comedian Jesse Appell (facilitated by Public Diplomat in Residence Josh Shen) Lunch*

1:00-2:00 (THH 309) Languages Behind the Olympic Games Lunch*
Moderator: Will O’Brien

2:00–3:30 (THH 309K) From Interns to Employees Refreshments
Moderators: Jade Mark and Victoria Colangelo

4:00–5:00 (THH 309K) Building Intercultural Competence Through Language Learning and Study Abroad Refreshments

*Lunch will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Thursday, February 5

11:00 AM–12:00 (THH 309K) Multilingual Opportunities Highlighting the Francophone World Refreshments
Moderator: Mina Soroosh 

12:30 –2:00 (THH 309K) Languages in Action: Faculty Perspectives on Careers & Beyond Lunch*
Moderators: Selby Long, Jack  Brasesco, and Jade Andres

2:00–4:00 (THH 309K)  Handshake, CV & Résumé Workshop Refreshments

4:00–5:00 (THH 309K) Spanish in the Legal Profession: Serving Immigrant Communities Refreshments
Moderators: Elvia Castillo and David Padilla

5:00–6:30 (THH 309K) Think Global, Get Hired Refreshments
Moderators: Coco Motoyoshi, Bea Rodriguez, and Sisi Li

*Lunch will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Friday, February 6

Get a taste of USC’s languages by participating in short “shock” lessons that introduce you to the sounds, scripts, cultures, and everyday expressions of languages taught at USC.

10:00–10:30 German: Goal = TOR! German Soccer Basics for the 2026 World Cup (THH 308)

10:00–10:30 Italian for Beginners: A Quick Deep Dive (THH 309K)

10:45–11:15 Armenian: Is it a “G” or a “K”? Armenian linguistic challenges in Diaspora (THH 308)

10:45–11:15 French: Croissants, Chanel & Pfff!: French Sounds, French Drama! (THH 309K) 

11:30–12:00 Arabic: You think Arabic is hard?! Think again (THH 308) 

11:30–12:00 Persian: A Mini Tour of Iran: Cities, Foods, and Simple Phrases (THH 309K)

12:15–12:45 Russian for Spies: Decyphering the Alphabet (THH 308) 

12:15–12:45 Spanish: Get Ready for Bad Bunny! (THH 309K)

12:15–12:45 Polish: Sing with us! Polish Music from Folk to Pop (THH 309) 

1:00–2:00 Chinese Mini BOBA Store (THH 309)

1:00–2:00 Japanese: Say “Kudasai” and Get a Snack! Crash Course Survival Japanese (THH 309)

  • Jesse Appel about himself:
    I am an independent creative, entrepreneur and intercultural comedian based in Beijing who uses comedy as a means to bridge cultural divides between China and the West. I perform on television, radio, and live on various platforms in China. My intercultural comedic pieces have collected millions of views across various traditional and new media platforms.

    I am a maker, performer, host, advisor, mentor, activist and trailblazer in the new and fantastically interesting field of intercultural comedy. My work has been featured on TEDx, PBS, NPR and PRI, as well as Chinese media such as CCTV, BTV, and CRI. I was also listed as one of the “People of the Year” for 2012 by the Global Times for my viral video “Laowai Style,”​ which garnered two million views in China.

    In the English-speaking world, my “Great LOL Of China” tour, has performed Chinese comedy at over 30 schools, such as at Harvard, Yale SOM, University of Washington, Brandeis, Wesleyan, and UH Manoa.

    Previously, as a Fulbright Research Fellow, I conducted 14 months of research on Chinese traditional Xiangsheng comedy, studying Chinese humor through performance. I am a disciple of master performer Ding Guangquan 丁广泉 and also perform bilingual improv comedy, Chinese language standup, and bilingual rap.

    I use comedy to bring China and the outside world closer. My goal is to provide a unique supporting angle to organizations that wish to utilize the tremendous strength of comedy in their work in China-West related fields.

    In the past, I have worked at The Nature Conservancy in Beijing and Kunming, taught improvisation and sketch comedy at Newton North high school and at various schools in China, and ran an entertainment company with my brother Ben Appell. I am a hobbyist of Chinese tea culture, enjoy writing scifi/fantasy novels, and have a giant pet stuffed octopus named Copernicus.

     

  • Learn more adout our speakers here

  • This event is organized by the Center of Languages and Cultures and is sponsored by

    with additional support from:

    USC U.S.-China Institute

  • Mina Soroosh, Chair (Department of French & Italian)

    Jennifer Misran (Department of French & Italian)

    Francesca Ricciardelli (Department of French & Italian)

    Hsiao-Yin Angela Liao (Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures)

    Ivette Miriam Gomez (Department of Latin American & Iberian Cultures)

How to get there: 

Follow this interactive map to get directions from the Royal Parking Structure to Taper Hall