Worldometers, which provides live statistics on world and society processes, states that a little bit more than 3 billion internet users send more than 160 billion emails, post 3 million blog posts and around 600 thousand tweets a day. That makes every one living in a Western world a writer. To be more precise – a new media writer.
According to linguistic professional Petronienė, language is a living organism, which develops and changes when it reacts to the environment. As currently the enormous amount of text is being published online, it makes the language adapt and change.
"Instead of saying: "I'm sad and I'm crying" we draw graphic signs, send a picture or a link to music, sound or video", says Petronienė. She is convinced that anyone who is working with text and calling themselves a language professional must know how to adapt the language to the new media.
DIY Studies: Make up Your Own Curriculum
The recent new media phenomenon still cause headache to the language researchers who are trying to decide, whether it is a new electronic language (which is, by the way, universal and understood in every culture) or a mutated normal language.
According to Petronienė, these disputes mean that this area of interest needs more research. In Lithuania the first New Media Language study programme, which is preparing professionals for this field, was created in 2013.
"New media studies are very popular across the world and they are usually being combined with minors, such as informatics or technology studies", says Petronienė.
A young New Media Language study programme provides students with much sought-after interdisciplinary qualifications: a quarter of hours in the programme are "released", so the students may choose minors in marketing, psychology, Europe studies, economic or other programmes. Another option is to combine different study modules to make a personal blend and to study social sciences, technology or science.
Studying in English Is the Best Way of Learning Language
This study programme is being taught in English, and is becoming increasingly popular among international students.
"Teaching in English makes this study programme more accessible and flexible, i. e. available for people from all over the world. Besides, English is not an international language anymore even for Lithuanians – the employer's question 'What languages do you speak?' most often refers to other languages, not English", Petronienė is convinced.
According to her, studying all the modules of the curriculum in English is more effective than learning English at language courses: "Language skills acquired through such studies are more applicable and practical, as it makes one learn the professional language".
Lectures in creative, academic and other writing modules in the New Media Language study programme are being delivered by native speakers. "Our students have the possibility to learn from creative writing teachers and writers for whom English is native language. This is a huge asset of the programme", says Petronienė.
Besides, the third semester on, the students can choose a second language: Russian, French, German, Italian or Spanish. Those, choosing minor in translation, learn one more additional language.
Impact of Internet Advertising is Growing – Business Needs New Media Professionals
First New Media Language students will graduate in two years. However, employers are already waiting for the professionals possessing actual competencies for the modern world.
"The impact and popularity of new media is growing, as is the need of skilled professionals in this field", says Marius Horbačauskas, CEO of Volfas Engelman Brewery.
According to him, business is less willing to employ "narrow" specialists and puts more value in wide, universal qualities: "We need employees who have various skills and knowledge, who understand different work fields and can communicate smoothly using various media".
The CEO of one of the oldest companies in Lithuania says that there are less TV watchers and more social media users in the active part of the society, therefore the TV advertising is becoming less popular, while the impact of the internet is growing.
"People, having professional language skills and knowing how to use new media in order to deliver tailor-made messages for prospective customers, are sought-after employees for any company", says Horbačauskas.
