How to Pick a Foreign Language to Study in College

Countless sources extol the virtue of learning a second language, but how do you know which foreign language to study in college? Economists promise that China and India will soon dominate the world economy. Demands for Spanish speakers in job ads have skyrocketed. The government needs Arabic specialists. And don't forget popular choices such as French, Russian, German, and Italian. Sure, you can pick more than one. But learning a foreign language is a taxing time investment, and if you're majoring in something besides a foreign language, you most likely don't have the time. So which one do you pick? By answering the following three questions, you'll have a clearer idea of which foreign language to study.

What are the quality of the foreign language programs at your college?

Obviously before you pick any language, you should consult your college catalog. If you're attending a major university, you'll be surprised by your options. You may find programs rarely offered anywhere else such as Hindi, Zulu, Yiddish, Turkish, etc. If you go to a small college, the standard three languages are usually Spanish, German, and French. Other small colleges may additionally offer languages such as Japanese, Chinese, or Arabic.

After you find out what your school offers, ask other students in the program or your academic adviser what it's like. Check out if they offer tutoring, study abroad programs, language clubs, and anything else that will enhance your learning of the foreign language. Some study abroad programs are better organized and accessible than others (sometimes the college has a limited number of students it can send, and other times it sends teams of students over).

Which foreign language do you want to take?

This question may seem extraordinarily stupid. After all, if you knew the answer, why would be reading this article? But the keyword is want. If you take Spanish just because it's the fastest growing language in the United States, think about your choice. Are you genuinely excited about learning the language and being able to use it frequently and possibly on-the-job? If you're not, and you're just going through the motions, beware.

Even if you manage to finish your major or minor in the language (it's hard to succeed in a field for which you have little interest), you'll also have to maintain your skills. You need to be motivated enough to do so, and if you lack passion, it will be hard for you to make time to do that.

Obviously, picking a language you would truly enjoy to learn and maintaining your fluency is much better than studying a language that's more marketable and forgetting it.

Which foreign language best complements your major or future career?

Still don't know which language to study? One of the best ways to determine which foreign language to take is to think of one that will best complement your field of study. For instance, if you want to major in sociology and do social work in the U.S. after college, Spanish is one your best options. But perhaps you want to specialize and work with Middle Eastern immigrants. By learning Arabic, you'll be more likely to land your dream job.

Studying philosophy and want to get a doctorate? Which area of philosophy do you want to specialize in? If you want to study German philosophers, study German. French philosophers? Study French. If you're a history major who wants to go to graduate school, many schools require you to learn a foreign language. Think about what kind of history you wish to specialize in, and you'll find which foreign language you should study.

International business majors may want to study Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or languages of other powerhouses in the economic world. But what about those in engineering and the hard sciences? Once again, consult your specialty. Which countries have the best and most competitive programs in your area of expertise?

In any case, you should also consult your favorite professor or academic adviser and get their advice on which foreign language is well-suited for your field.

Conclusion

No matter what your choice, you should be proud that you have chosen to study another language. In this increasingly globalized world, you'll gain a marketable skill that will no doubt help you in the future. And of course, you can know what people are saying behind your back when you hear your second language being spoken.