<p>A career services person at my college who was running a resume workshop told me to put my foreign language experience on my resume. The problem is that my only experience is 4 years of high school Spanish. My freshman teacher taught me more Spanish than the teacher who taught me in Spanish II, III, and Honors IV (the same guy taught those three classes). I definitely did not have any speaking fluency in Spanish when I graduated from high school in 2001, although I could translate written language (the education focused on writing and did almost nothing with speech). I haven't touched Spanish since 2001 but I could pick it up again pretty quickly. But what advantage would putting this Spanish experience on my resume give me if it is only high school experience that has been over for 4 years? By the way, I'm a mechanical engineering major and will graduate in May 2006.</p>
<p>I guess that it could help if the company you are applying to deals with a client(s) that speak Spanish, or if they have an office in a Spanish speaking country. Then, for example, if there is a need for Spanish to English translations, they could either get an employee to translate it, or hire an outside source. The company would probably prefer to use an employee because it would be easier for them. I think you'd have to specify on your resume that you are fluent in written Spanish, and not verbal. </p>
<p>I would recommend becoming fluent in spoken Spanish. Considering how inter-connected our world is becoming, being fluent in a second language would give you an edge in job applications.</p>
<p>Just my two cents.</p>
<p>I'm not fluent in written Spanish. I haven't written a word of Spanish since 2001. This is the problem. Even when I told the resume workshop person this she still said to put it on my resume. And there is no way I'm going to become fluent in spoken Spanish by the time I graduate.</p>
<p>Put it on your resume anyway. Just write down what level of profiency you have. I haven't touched Spanish much in three years but, like you, I can still translate written Spanish. You can just put down: Basic knowledge of Spanish. The employer will just assume that you know enough words to survive as a tourist.</p>
<p>Just be honest - 4 years HS Spanish. Let them decide how they want to take that. It will show some knowledge, which puts you at an advantage over someone who never had any exposure at all, and the purpose of a resume is to show yourself to the best advantage while being concise about your experiences. And if you had invented something in HS and received an award for it, wouldn't you include it in your resume? It sets you apart from the other applicants. Go for it! Include it. It can't hurt you.</p>
<p>agree w/ the above advice.......as a hiring manager, sometimes its beneficial to have some hires with a very basic (second) language ability....at least better than none at all, so definitely note it on your resume.</p>
<p>btw it's ok to put foreign language experience as evitajr1 said but don't but proficient or fluent. That could definitely put you in a bind during the application process for a job. Many times when you are being interviewed if you put down foreign languages you may get interviewed in that language.</p>
<p>I am fluent in spanish (native), french, and english and during an interview for an ibanking job my interviewer transitioned between all 3 languages every few minutes.</p>
<p>my advice just be careful in describing your foreign language capabilities because it could screw you over.</p>
<p>Oh, bem700, that's one nasty interview! Eek!</p>