The classroom seems like such an artificial and confined space for the kind of learning required to get you the job you want when you graduate.
But think of the classroom as a starting point, an anchor, or an axle. Then do two things:
1) Take your learning outside the classroom. Study abroad, take a service learning course, seek out opportunities to use the language and cultures skills you are learning in the local community (attend events, exhibits, church services, go to restaurants, volunteer). As far as possible, apply what you’re learning in class as you go about your daily life, even if it’s just following some news events in a foreign language or on Twitter.
2) Bring as much professional development into the classroom as you can. Layer on networking (see posts here, here, and here), interview preparation, and job search document preparation (here and here).
If you use the classroom as a starting point and then return to it while developing your professional skills, you will be a standout candidate in a competitive job market when you graduate!
Darcy Lear is a career coach specializing in training students to highlight their language studies so they standout in the job search and workplace. For one-on-one coaching or to set up a workshop, contact Darcy: darcylear@gmail.com