Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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?

9 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 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
    4. Re:Suggestions... by CptNerd · · Score: 4, Funny

      Gesundheit!

      --
      By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
  2. Qu'vatlh ghuy'cha' jay'! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hab SoSlI' Quch!

    --
    Support my political activism on Patreon.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

  5. 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