<p>So I'm considering double majoring in school and would like to know more information on it. I would do a double major of Arabic and Chinese. Is that crazy? I don't want to overload myself with work. Would it be rewarding? Any input would be great, thanks!</p>
<p>I'd think it would be difficult learning 2 languages at the same time. I don't really know what you'd be able to do with the degree, so I don't really know if it would be rewarding?</p>
<p>I'm planning on learning both anyway. I want to be a UN translator, or something along those lines.</p>
<p>Unless you already have a solid basis in one or both, I would suggest choosing one to focus on. UN translators need to have a very advanced knowledge of their language, and it's difficult enough to achieve that level in four years in one of those two languages. You're going to need as much in-country time as you can get as well.</p>
<p>i am also thinking about being a UN translator. Unless you already have previous experience/knowledge in both of these languages, it will be very difficult to become fluent. To major in a language at my school you need to have 10 classes above the 100 level, which is advanced language. I am a freshman and I started out in German 117 so it won't be difficult to major, and I am already fluent in Spanish. I know someone who is taking three languages, and it seems as if he has a lot of difficult with it....but I guess it is up to you.</p>
<p>I'm planning on living abroad in a few countries between undergrad and grad. I already speak Hebrew so I have a basis to learn Arabic.</p>
<p>If you want to work for an organization like the U.N. and want to learn two languages, I'd have either one of the two be a language they almost always work in (like French) or two languages that are spoken often in the same area. (Maybe Chinese and Korean, for example.)</p>
<p>Chinese and Arabic both involve a lot of commitment and time to get to know well and probably won't overlap very much. So it's not a deathwish, but it probably won't be as useful as you'd like to think.</p>
<p>Terrrific. I had some friends who did the Arabic program in Israel after doing Hebrew with me. They really enjoyed it- found Arabic much easier to learn than expected because of similarities in both languages. But the problem with learning Arabici s the dialect. You'll be taught Modern Standard Arabic here in the US but you will have to live in an Arab country to really learn how to speak it. I think Egyptian dialect is the most popular so be prepared to live in Egypt!</p>
<p>I would just take both of those classes at intro level and then really decide which one to focus on for the rest of your undergrad career unless you really have an ear for languages. I'm currently studying two right now- German and Hebrew but not doing any more until I can reach certain fluency in both before starting a new one. Your brain can only comprehend so much.</p>
<p>I also think you should consider at least doing IR for a major or minor.</p>