Quick Poll: Learning A New Language for the Job

[Hrach_Techie]

Imagine you want to learn a new language that would add more value in whatever terms to you as an employee.

What should it be?

[Obelix]

Originally Posted by Hrach_Techie

Imagine you want to learn a new language that would add more value in whatever terms to you as an employee.

What should it be?

Chineese

[Monopole]

In principle, the more languages you know the more opportunities you have.
German for me is somewhat more preferable, bacause there are a number of large scientific centers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, where a young physicis can get a post-doctoral possition on very suitable conditions. And finaly, I just like it (German language). But, from the other hand, Italian now is nessesary for me, because here in Italy very less people can understand English and apparently I will go there regulary, so it is more actual for me now.

[Hrach_Techie]

Originally Posted by Monopole

In principle, the more languages you know the more opportunities you have.
German for me is somewhat more preferable, bacause there are a number of large scientific centers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, where a young physicis can get a post-doctoral possition on very suitable conditions. And finaly, I just like it (German language). But, from the other hand, Italian now is nessesary for me, because here in Italy very less people can understand English and apparently I will go there regulary, so it is more actual for me now.

Chance favours the prepared mind!!!

I also love German it's worth learning this language although like with english there are also many intricacies involved with german too. may be it's just a family trait I have from my dad or so but as I lived in Germany I always had to keep in mind that fluency alone is not enough and to put myself at a greater advantage I had to be as good if not better than a native of that language when applying for jobs.

I can recommend good books for learning german if you need one

[Obelix]

Hrach, how difficult is it to learn German huh?

[Moonlight]

some yrs ago made a choice of learnin another lang, chose german, as it's more practical for econ-business folk. now will start spanish, as it will opend doors for french & italian.. but not for career, rather for fun of communication.

[Երեխա]

also wanna drap sm french $hit man

[Hrach_Techie]

Originally Posted by Obelix

Hrach, how difficult is it to learn German huh?

just as difficult as learning new things in general ... first you are inspired by how words differently sound then the reality or the shock phase sets in and you start hating grammar rules and concepts .. for instance, while many indo-european languages have no neuter gender german does and the word (Maedchen) Girl belongs to the neuter gender surprisingly for most of us thinking a girl can only be feminine or another good example is in german you can use the present tense to indicate an action in the future like 'I get my cetificate next year = I will get my certificate next year=I am going to get my certificate next year" ... so when this is over and provided that you did not give up, in the next stage you start loving the new language and the way the things can be different from your culture ... it's like you have been coding with C for a while and then for whatever reason you decide to change to C++ or vice versa the concept is the same - the syntax is a bit different

[Hrach_Techie]

Originally Posted by Moonlight

some yrs ago made a choice of learnin another lang, chose german, as it's more practical for econ-business folk. now will start spanish, as it will opend doors for french & italian.. but not for career, rather for fun of communication.

my miserable spanish helped me only a few times in France when I could not get people understand my english / as to learning spanish at the beginning it was sort of strange learning that adjectives should go after nouns and that one should better avoid using pronouns and use corresponding -o -as/-es etc for the verbs endings ...

[Shauri]

Right away I'm in the process of deepening my knowledge of Spanish. In future I plan to learn French and Japanese, or, rather, Japanese and French. Of course, as for professional experience and career, French is more important, but I prefer Japanese as I've always been attracted to oriental countries, their language, their culture and music.
As for German...... hmmmm... I can't say I like it very much but there was a period when I started to learn it (this may sound funny) because I became a fan of the German national football team...

I also love Italian very much, and it would be a mistake to deny that football is involved here too...

[Red Stone]

Originally Posted by Hrach_Techie

Imagine you want to learn a new language that would add more value in whatever terms to you as an employee.

What should it be?

For business I think the future is chinese (after all 1/4 of the world population speak chinese, and the giant is just a bit sleepy).

For love, I would advise the mother language of your lover.

For the pure pleasure of knowing one more, French is the nicest language (after mine, of course) in the world!

So due to the question as it is put, I must say chinese!

Cheers!

[Red Stone]

Originally Posted by Monopole

In principle, the more languages you know the more opportunities you have.
German for me is somewhat more preferable, bacause there are a number of large scientific centers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, where a young physicis can get a post-doctoral possition on very suitable conditions. And finaly, I just like it (German language). But, from the other hand, Italian now is nessesary for me, because here in Italy very less people can understand English and apparently I will go there regulary, so it is more actual for me now.

If you find that in Italy just a few people understand english, things are rather worst in France and Germany. Just because people refuse it (a kind of cultural allergy). Of course there are exceptions but the rule is that one. On the other hand I love hearing english (badly) spoken by italians!

Buona fortuna!

[Vega$]

1. French
2. Portuguese
3. Norwegian

...just because I know a little bit of each, and really like the way they sound (especially Portuguese )
Not sure how practical the latter two would be in means of career... but am not a practical person anyway

[Obelix]

Originally Posted by Red Stone

If you find that in Italy just a few people understand english, things are rather worst in France and Germany. Just because people refuse it (a kind of cultural allergy). Of course there are exceptions but the rule is that one. On the other hand I love hearing english (badly) spoken by italians!

Buona fortuna!

Thank god that's not a european tendency.

[u60311]

i'd like to learn hebrew ...