<p>I'm pretty sure that I'm going to major in computer programming, and I'm trying to figure out which foreign language courses I'm going to take to satisfy my honors college's requirements (4 semesters of 1 language, or 2 semesters each of 2 languages). What foreign language would go best with a computer programming major? I'm in my 2nd semester of Spanish right now and I'm just so bored with it. I took it for 3 years in high school and I've totally lost interest in it. The other languages I'm thinking of taking are German and French. I live in Michigan, very close to Canada, so that is the only reason I thought French might be useful... though I don't intend to move to Quebec anytime.</p>
<p>Is there really any language that is helpful when doing computer programming? Do you think it would be more beneficial to just suck it up and deal with another year of Spanish, or is it worth pursuing a new language since I'm bored with Spanish? Just looking for some feedback from people who might be in the major or general career or would know better than me. Thanks!</p>
<p>Knowing a foreign language may be helpful if you are working on some project dealing with localization, or with partner companies in countries using that language. But that is not really that predictable in advance, so you may want to choose based on general utility of the language.</p>
<p>Study any language you actually have an interest in studying. If you were going into a field like healthcare, for example, in an area with a large latino population, then taking Spanish would be helpful. But as a computer science major, chances are you won’t need a foreign language during your career. If you study a language you like you can actually excel in it rather than being miserable.</p>
<p>However, if you’re not interested in studying any language for two years, then you might as well stick with only one year of Spanish and become better at it. Or if you really can’t stand it, I believe your three years of high school Spanish should cover two college semesters of one language and you can study another language of interest to you for one year. </p>
<p>CHILL OUT!!!
We’re Computer Scientists, we don’t need foreign languages because we only speak one i.e 0,1,0,0,1… get me?? With this language we can communicate with any of our partner-in-crimes.<br>
Someday we’ll rule the world. HA HAH HA HAH HA [Evil Laughter]
On a more serious note, you should leave Spanish if you don’t enjoy it and take Arabic or Russian (It’ll open up opportunities to work for the CIA, they’re seriously understaffed in these 2 FLs), that being said, CS is the most flexible majors, you only need to know your ■■■■, that’s it [period]. I chose it because people are more accommodating to your eccentric behavior as long as you’re good at what you do, for e.g they won’t ask you to waer a suit at the office, will allow to work at home etc.</p>
<p>It’s the logic in learning a language. Another approach to identifying parts and putting them together to make sense. Just pick one that makes enough sense. German is wacky construction, I loved learning it. Btw, in 4 semesters of college Russian or Arabic, you won’t be fluent, will barely have started doing complex reading, much less writing. And, the Arabic they are short of is not the version taught in US colleges.</p>