Comments on: What’s a critical language and why study one? http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/ travel culture worldwide Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Heather Foster http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-98588 Heather Foster Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:34:00 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-98588 I love your article and that your name is Heather too. :) I stumbled across this article while looking for funding for language training and also some VERY helpful information to help me make a final decision. You helped on both counts, I believe.I am American and have been studying Turkish language and culture for awhile now. However,it has been so difficult just to find a class, let alone funding in my area (I live in Jackson, MS). I began learning Turkish when I chose to pack up and leave for Istanbul, but on my return (severely underfunded and with no serious work stint to prove at that time that my gusto was worth anything). However, next year I will be competing in the Turkish Olympiad in Houston and will be representing my state in language and cooking skills. I hope that I will be successful.   However, I am so antsy to get my second language fluency, that I had thought of going ahead and committing a full year to Spanish or French language immersion, since I already have some linguistic abilities in both languages. What are your or anyone's thoughts on that? What about funding for that or for language training in general? You know, outside of Fullbright and Boren funding... I love your article and that your name is Heather too. :) I stumbled across this article while looking for funding for language training and also some VERY helpful information to help me make a final decision. You helped on both counts, I believe.I am American and have been studying Turkish language and culture for awhile now. However,it has been so difficult just to find a class, let alone funding in my area (I live in Jackson, MS). I began learning Turkish when I chose to pack up and leave for Istanbul, but on my return (severely underfunded and with no serious work stint to prove at that time that my gusto was worth anything). However, next year I will be competing in the Turkish Olympiad in Houston and will be representing my state in language and cooking skills. I hope that I will be successful.
 
However, I am so antsy to get my second language fluency, that I had thought of going ahead and committing a full year to Spanish or French language immersion, since I already have some linguistic abilities in both languages. What are your or anyone’s thoughts on that? What about funding for that or for language training in general? You know, outside of Fullbright and Boren funding…

]]> By: Narges 905 http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-94123 Narges 905 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:21:00 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-94123 I'm a native Persian speakers and as I know more than 110 million people speak Persian/Farsi not 23 million. I’m a native Persian speakers and as I know more than 110 million people speak Persian/Farsi not 23 million.

]]> By: dsparkman http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-91865 dsparkman Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:46:00 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-91865 I'm a 25-year-old ESL Instructor with a B.A. in French/Anthropology.  After spending almost three years in the francophone world becoming nearly fluent I've spent fourteen months in the US trying to find a decent job using my cultural/linguistic experiences.  So far I've not had much luck.  So I've decided to start learning Modern Standard Arabic as the first step on my path of realizing a dream -  a job in International Affairs (either diplomacy or intelligence).  I've started practicing the alphabet (so far it's a major task) and I've begun an oral Arabic (Iraqi Arabic offered by the school I work for) class which is once a week.  Obviously this is not enough, but I am considering pursuing a Master's Degree in International Affairs which has a language requirement.  Also, I'm searching for ESL positions within the Arabic-speaking world, the Peace Corps or the Military - all of which would give me abroad experience to enhance my language skills.  Given the current economic situation and lack of hiring within the government I'm a bit discouraged about taking out loans for a Master's Degree.  However, I don't see many other options. So that's basically the summary of me and where I'm at.  I found this blog when I was searching for a list of "critical languages."  I found it to be pretty helpful.  Thanks! I’m a 25-year-old ESL Instructor with a B.A. in French/Anthropology.  After spending almost three years in the francophone world becoming nearly fluent I’ve spent fourteen months in the US trying to find a decent job using my cultural/linguistic experiences.  So far I’ve not had much luck.  So I’ve decided to start learning Modern Standard Arabic as the first step on my path of realizing a dream –  a job in International Affairs (either diplomacy or intelligence).  I’ve started practicing the alphabet (so far it’s a major task) and I’ve begun an oral Arabic (Iraqi Arabic offered by the school I work for) class which is once a week.  Obviously this is not enough, but I am considering pursuing a Master’s Degree in International Affairs which has a language requirement.  Also, I’m searching for ESL positions within the Arabic-speaking world, the Peace Corps or the Military – all of which would give me abroad experience to enhance my language skills.  Given the current economic situation and lack of hiring within the government I’m a bit discouraged about taking out loans for a Master’s Degree.  However, I don’t see many other options.

So that’s basically the summary of me and where I’m at.  I found this blog when I was searching for a list of “critical languages.”  I found it to be pretty helpful.  Thanks!

]]> By: Melissa http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-41756 Melissa Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:17:37 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-41756 I'm still somewhat kicking myself for poor choices in college, the biggest one was not beginning my Japanese earlier and not continuing with it. I've always wanted to learn Japanese, since I was a wee child, and I wanted to take it my first year in college but I was encouraged by my advisor to finish up my French sequence just for the credits (you know - being required to take four years of college-level language. I placed into the fourth semester.) So I only took one semester of Japanese in college during my second year, got discouraged when I found out that most of the Japanese study abroad programs I wanted required 2 years of the language (I got such BAD ADVICE from that advisor!) and stopped taking it. I regret it so much!! I wish I had started my first year and kept studying, and I wish I had taken that year off between college and grad school to do the JET programme and develop my language skills. *sigh* Anyway, if I was going to learn a critical language it would be either Japanese or Korean! I’m still somewhat kicking myself for poor choices in college, the biggest one was not beginning my Japanese earlier and not continuing with it. I’ve always wanted to learn Japanese, since I was a wee child, and I wanted to take it my first year in college but I was encouraged by my advisor to finish up my French sequence just for the credits (you know – being required to take four years of college-level language. I placed into the fourth semester.) So I only took one semester of Japanese in college during my second year, got discouraged when I found out that most of the Japanese study abroad programs I wanted required 2 years of the language (I got such BAD ADVICE from that advisor!) and stopped taking it. I regret it so much!! I wish I had started my first year and kept studying, and I wish I had taken that year off between college and grad school to do the JET programme and develop my language skills. *sigh*

Anyway, if I was going to learn a critical language it would be either Japanese or Korean!

]]> By: Sabreena Leya http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-41933 Sabreena Leya Sat, 05 Feb 2011 11:18:18 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-41933 one more thing I would like to add. Most Bangladeshis are quite proficient in conversational Hindi and some people even speak Urdu. Well I have no difficulty understanding Urdu. Bangla, Hindi and Urdu are quite similar. If u can catch up with one, you can easily learn all 3. one more thing I would like to add. Most Bangladeshis are quite proficient in conversational Hindi and some people even speak Urdu. Well I have no difficulty understanding Urdu. Bangla, Hindi and Urdu are quite similar. If u can catch up with one, you can easily learn all 3.

]]> By: Sabreena Leya http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-41932 Sabreena Leya Sat, 05 Feb 2011 11:09:47 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-41932 I am a native Bengali speaker and I would like to tell you that Bengali is quite closer to written and conversational Hindi. I did not learn Hindi, but I can speak and read Hindi fluently. Just watching a couple of Hindi movies can help a native Bengali speaker learn the language. I am a native Bengali speaker and I would like to tell you that Bengali is quite closer to written and conversational Hindi. I did not learn Hindi, but I can speak and read Hindi fluently. Just watching a couple of Hindi movies can help a native Bengali speaker learn the language.

]]> By: Heather Carreiro http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-39561 Heather Carreiro Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:34:28 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-39561 Hi Amna, There are definitely job opportunities in many sectors in Pakistan - what's your background? If you're not from Pakistan, it can be difficult to find a job that offers a work visa, so you'd probably have to visit and do some on the ground job hunting. You can learn more about expat life and jobs in Pakistan <a href="http://expatheather.com/pakistan" rel="nofollow">here.</a> Heather Hi Amna,

There are definitely job opportunities in many sectors in Pakistan – what’s your background? If you’re not from Pakistan, it can be difficult to find a job that offers a work visa, so you’d probably have to visit and do some on the ground job hunting. You can learn more about expat life and jobs in Pakistan here.

Heather

]]> By: amna http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-39560 amna Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:50:15 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-39560 Hey, I loved ur article, and was really considering studying french further. I was giving it a second thought but now i think ill really go for it:). But just a quick question you've been to Pakistan right?...apart for my passion for the language would there be any possible job oppurtunities here? Hey,
I loved ur article, and was really considering studying french further. I was giving it a second thought but now i think ill really go for it:).
But just a quick question you’ve been to Pakistan right?…apart for my passion for the language would there be any possible job oppurtunities here?

]]> By: Indigenous Languages of South America: Where to Learn Them and Why You Should http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-39193 Indigenous Languages of South America: Where to Learn Them and Why You Should Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:45:35 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-39193 [...] unojofuerte They’ll never make the Critical Languages List, but indigenous South American languages still merit a place on many people’s “To Learn” [...] [...] unojofuerte They’ll never make the Critical Languages List, but indigenous South American languages still merit a place on many people’s “To Learn” [...]

]]> By: Heather Carreiro http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/whats-a-critical-language-and-why-study-one/#comment-38976 Heather Carreiro Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:58:28 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=4704#comment-38976 Portuguese is certainly a 'useful' language in terms of travel. Aside from Portugal you can use it in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, parts of Hong Kong, Goa and former Portuguese colonial outposts all over the world. It's not considered a critical language simply because the demand for specialists does not outweigh the supply. Portuguese is certainly a ‘useful’ language in terms of travel. Aside from Portugal you can use it in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, parts of Hong Kong, Goa and former Portuguese colonial outposts all over the world. It’s not considered a critical language simply because the demand for specialists does not outweigh the supply.

]]>