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Learn a Foreign Language As an Engineer?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the math-is-the-universal-language dept.

Ben B writes "I'm working on an undergraduate degree in computer engineering in the US, and I'm a native English-speaking citizen. In fact, English is the only language that I know. Maybe it's not the same at other schools, but for the engineering program at mine, a foreign language is not required. If my plans are to one day be involved in research, is it worth my time to learn a foreign language? If so, which one?" Learning something new is almost never a waste of time, but how much energy have others found worthwhile to expend with all of the programming/math/tech type courses to be had at a large university?

30 of 1,021 comments (clear)

  1. Suggestions... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Klingon.

    1. Re:Suggestions... by trolltalk.com · · Score: 4, Funny

      ... Metric ...

      At least that way, gas prices won't seem so bad when they're priced in litres instead of gallons.

      --
      Kevin Smith on Prince
    2. Re:Suggestions... by SQLGuru · · Score: 5, Funny

      Learn Norwegian......Norwegian hot chicks
      Learn Portugese......Brazillian hot chicks
      Learn Swiss..........Swedish hot chicks
      Learn Japanese.......Cosplay...errr Japanese hot chicks
      Learn Khoisan........because noone else will (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoisan_languages)

      Layne

    3. Re:Suggestions... by V!NCENT · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'd definitely go for Swiss... Swedish chicks are the hottest, if your into blonds that is...

      --
      Here be signatures
    4. Re:Suggestions... by Hojima · · Score: 3, Funny

      You could also learn Japanese for some geek cred if you're into anime (I hate having to wait for dattebayo to sub bleach). Also, I've heard that they have a deficiency of engineers (part of the contribution is that they are hesitant to hire foreign workers), and their economy is always awesome. Plus, Japanese girls are cute.

      --
      Help fight spam
    5. Re:Suggestions... by smittyoneeach · · Score: 4, Funny

      Firefox users can get a head start on learning through the use of this extension:
      https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/507

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
    6. Re:Suggestions... by CptNerd · · Score: 4, Funny

      Gesundheit!

      --
      By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
    7. Re:Suggestions... by michaelz · · Score: 2, Funny

      During a meeting full with managers, using Klingon to discuss something with an other geek would be fun as well. :) But in the end, when the universal translator is there and we're all running around with comm badges, who cares what language you speak natively?

    8. Re:Suggestions... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      You guys are so geographically challenged, I cannot believe it!

      Swiss is a country, located between France, Italy and Germany, where chicks are definitely not hot (unless you are into Big Berthas).
      They have four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch.

      Sweden is located way up north or Europe, in between Norway and Finland. Chicks are hot there...

    9. Re:Suggestions... by jackjeff · · Score: 3, Funny

      If you want a Swedish chick of 99+ yrs old... Otherwise stick to the German, French, Italian ones.

  2. Qu'vatlh ghuy'cha' jay'! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hab SoSlI' Quch!

    --
    Support my political activism on Patreon.
    1. Re:Qu'vatlh ghuy'cha' jay'! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hab SoSlI' Quch!

      I don't *have* a mother, you insensitive petaQ!

  3. Re:If you're going to live in the US ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    There's nothing proper about Limey-speak as it's known here at my UK owned company. ;)

  4. Questioned Answered by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 5, Funny

    is it worth my time to learn a foreign language? If so, which one?

    Girlspeak.

    I'm currently living with four (4) girls (three daughters, wife) all of which are able to speak in riddles and conundrums that they themselves understand, while leaving me completely at a loss of any valuable information.

    Interestingly enough, this Girlspeak language transcends cultural boundaries! It is simply amazing how two girls can communicate without actually knowing the native tongue of the other.

    The fact is, I've spent half a lifetime trying to understand girlspeak without much progress.

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    1. Re:Questioned Answered by bugnuts · · Score: 1, Funny

      The fact is, I've spent half a lifetime trying to understand girlspeak without much progress.

      There's a reason you can't learn it.

      If the OP wasn't born a female, the learning procedure for girlspeak is extremely painful, and involves scalpels.

      The most painful part isn't when the doctor removes his manhood ... it's when they scoop out half his brains!

      (okok, old joke, apologies to the geekgrrls :-)

    2. Re:Questioned Answered by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      "The fact is, I've spent half a lifetime trying to understand girlspeak without much progress."

      You got laid at least 2 times, and this is slashdot, so you're probably ahead of the curve...

  5. Chinese by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Because I for one welcome our soon to be new lemon chicken eating overlords.

  6. Esperanto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    With all the leftists on Slashdot these days, I'd say your best bet would be to learn Esperanto.

  7. First choice.... by PPH · · Score: 3, Funny

    .... Elbonian.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  8. Re:If you're going to live in the US ... by SQLGuru · · Score: 4, Funny

    There are 1 types of people in this world. Those who waste bits.

    Those who don't are considered to be the default case.

    Layne

  9. Re:Keep in mind... by Larryish · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can't we just use Babelfish?

    For example, a German news story

    See? Totally easy to understand...

  10. Well, for starters, learn C. by robbo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Once you know C you can learn any language. ;-)

    --
    So long, and thanks for all the Phish
  11. Learn Bocce by d'fim · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't waste your time learning Wookie -- they're not hiring right now. But if you can speak Bocce then you can get a job on any of the Hutt-controlled planets. What the galaxy really needs, however, is a droid who understands the binary language of moisture vaporators. I suggest taking some classes in Human-Cyborg Relations.

    --
    Adherence to the truth is a form of disloyalty.
  12. Easy! by edalytical · · Score: 4, Funny

    (define (pigl wd)
      (if (vowel? (first wd))
          (word wd 'ay)
          (pigl (word (bf wd) (first wd)))))

    (define (vowel? letter)
      (member? letter '(a e i o u)))

    --
    Win a signed Stephen Carpenter ESP Guitar from the Deftones: http://def-tag.com/?r=0008781
    1. Re:Easy! by Z34107 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ewww.. I understood that. Icky icky

      {icky; icky(); if ((_hIcky32 = GetIck32(hWnd, pIck))==SUCCESS) { //ICKY! }

      Icky LISP!

      --
      DATABASE WOW WOW
    2. Re:Easy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      What good is learning a new language if you speak with a lisp?

  13. Re:stick to english by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    For botnets, learn Russian.

  14. Re:If you're going to live in the US ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wasn't so long ago that people who spoke German could just roll through Europe...

  15. Re:If you're going to live in the US ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wouldn't the default case be the ones who waste bits? Has been in my experience.

  16. Re:The language of engineers by slawo · · Score: 2, Funny

    German, beautiful? I mean... yes in a sense, if you want to train Rottweilers it has some charms... But to call it beautiful you probably must be a great fan of Industrial metal.
    Long live Rammstein!

    --
    The road to hell is paved with good intentions...