<p>I'm planning on majoring in either German or Russian, with a double major. I love both the languages and cultures, but they each have a downside. For German, its the decreasing marketability (mainly due to more Germans learning English nowadays). And for Russian, its the poor conditions, such as poverty and violence, in the countries that speak it (this would pose a serious problem because I plan on studying abroad). I have experience with German and will be attending a language school in Vienna this summer, but I'm still very tempted by Russian. Which of these would be a better choice?
And concerning my double major...I am interested in linguistics, philosophy, history, comparative literature and anthropology. But since none of these are extremely practical, I'd like to explore other options. I don't care much for science or business, as you can infer I'm more of an academic than applied type. I can see myself as a professor/researcher, translator/interpreter, or an official for the government or some organization (UN, CIA, NSA, etc). What would be some good double major and career options for me?</p>
<p>Both German and Russian are excellent languages to learn. Germany (I believe) has the largest economy in Europe. And Russia is one of the emerging markets (though its transition to capitalism seems to be stalling as of late). I know Americans who have gone on to work in both countries after becoming fluent in the local language.</p>
<p>If your goal is to work in either Russia or Germany in the long term, you should go and study where you want to work. (For example, if you want to work in "Germany," it would probably not be optimal for you to study in Austria because the dialect is different and you won't make the connections you'll need to help you land a job in Berlin, Frankfurt, or wherever.)</p>
<p>As for double majors, I don't think I can help you there. That seems to me like a personal choice of what you want to study. I can tell you this: don't study something you're not interested in. Don't worry about your major being "practical." Study what you love and do as well as you can in college.</p>