<p>I posted this somewhere else already, but I just thought I’d cover all my bases… anyway, I’m already studying Latin and Greek but I really want to add a modern language as well. Here are my options:</p>
<p>French-- I’m considering Peace Corps or some other kind of humanitarian work after I graduate, and I was told that 2 semesters of French would really boost the quality of my application. Plus, my sister’s taking French and could help me study. </p>
<p>Modern Greek-- the American School of Classical Studies in Athens provides a summer session for classics folk like myself. They also have a special Fulbright Scholarship reserved for study there, but like I said- I’m (almost certainly) not doing graduate work in Classics. Still, it would be fun and interesting. I don’t think Greek is really critical when it comes to national security, though…</p>
<p>Russian- It looks like we’re slowly creeping back into a new Cold War, and the CIA has listed Russian as one of their ‘critical languages’. I also think Cyrillic is rad, and maybe knowing Greek would help me with the characters?</p>
<p>Arabic (or possibly Persian, if its offered again anytime soon)- Both seem to be in rather high demand at the moment, but I would only have maybe two semesters to devote to it so I wouldn’t know it very well at all upon graduation. It also seems like it would be really really difficult, and I don’t know how much time I would have to devote to it as my Greek and Latin classes get progressively harder and I start to do research for my thesis.</p>
<hr>
<p>Maybe I should have mentioned my career aspirations. Hopefully someone can relate my choice of foreign language to a post-graduate/career option, because I’m having a hard time myself.</p>
<li><p>Law School- practice law in some capacity here in the US</p></li>
<li><p>Public Service- Graduate work (MA or MSFS) that would get me into either
the State Department or the CIA. This type of schooling would require
some relevant job/travel/language experience-- that’s the tricky part.</p></li>
<li><p>Some Combination of 1 and 2-- work as a lawyer at a diplomatic posting
somewhere. Don’t think I would do this forever, but def. would like to live
abroad for an extended amount of time. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sorry for such a long post. I would really appreciate any advice you can offer. Thank you!</p>