<p>Hi. I love learning languages (I'm working on my fourth) and want to have a job traveling the world. I really would like to work for the CIA or, in the private sector, some kind of international business or consulting firm. I want to learn as many foreign languages as possible in college, or facilitate learning them on my own. I'm just not sure what's the best major to choose to do this and get the job I want. I was thinking Comparative Literature with a focus in foreign languages (I'd get to learn languages while doing something I also love, studying literature), and maybe double major in International Relations. Any thoughts as to what direction I should go in? And what are the best schools for doing this?</p>
<p>You'd be better off majoring in economics with a minor in a foreign language.</p>
<p>i thought about economics but i'm not sure it i would love to major in it. and the goal was to learn as many languages as possible, not just one.</p>
<p>You don't need to go to college to learn languages. In fact, self-study is WAY, WAY better than group study. I got decent in German on my own without ever stepping foot in a German class.</p>
<p>Try some language programs like Assimil and so forth.</p>
<p>You might not love economics, but it is a great, broad degree that will allow you opportunities in business and government and I think it would get your foot into the door with a government agency where you can speak languages.</p>
<p>Hell, have you ever considered just joining the Navy? Plenty of careers in the Navy that don't require you to be on a ship. A buddy of mine is on a C-130 crew and he flies to just about every country in the world. You'd love it because you would actually be able to use the languages you've studied.</p>
<p>Which languages are you interested in studying? At most schools, you could double major or major/minor in two languages. I haven't looked for awhile, but I believe the UDelaware website has info. about a single major that involves three languages. It's far easier to study multiple languages if they are related to one another or at least related to languages you've studied recently, so your familiarity with the language(s) of interest will affect your options. Most area studies and international relations programs will have a component of language study, and many schools offer citations in language study to recognize intensive study of a particular language. Pretty much every school will have a Language Resource Center or something to that effect that will allow you to take some courses, but also will provide resources for self-study if you are so inclined. Studying comp. lit. makes sense if you are interested in the literary side of languages rather than the linguistic one, but the field is not based on knowledge of multiple languages as its primary focus.</p>
<p>But I thought Comparative Lit would great to study multiple languages because you're studying two or more languages' literature.</p>
<p>For one thing, it is much better to learn a few languages in depth than to try to learn "as many languages as possible". Picking your two favorites, studying them in-depth, and doing comparative literature certainly sounds like a plan. Study abroad your junior year to really master your favorite language of them all. You have a lifetime to learn a smattering of languages, you should focus your college years on going in-depth.</p>
<p>Kenf, you know that most people on this board still have sixty years to do whatever, so they don't have to limit themselves to easy language goals!</p>
<p>If you are interested in intelligence and international business, you would be better off not studying comparative lit. My advice would be to pick one exotic language like Chinese or Farsi and dedicate yourself to becoming proficient. Then, try and pick up a social science major like Econ, IR, or PoliSci. If you can actually get good at one of those in-demand languages, you will be a far more attractive candidate to intelligence agencies and international businesses than if you speak a smattering of romance languages.</p>
<p>There's no reason you can't do comparative literature in "exotic" languages, if you are calling Chinese an exotic language. Chinese is very difficult to learn, though, not to be undertaken lightly. You probably have to put in 4 or 5 times the hours to reach the same level of proficiency you can get studying a romance language...</p>
<p>Well, actually there is a reason why it's difficult to do comparative literature in languages like Chinese. Just getting your proficiency to the point where you can read actual literature takes about 2-3 years, which doesn't leave much time. Also, remember, the OP is interested in business and intelligence. What would the CIA value more in an analyst, someone who is well versed in literature or someone who combines an understanding of international affairs with their language skills?</p>
<p>And why the condecension, the term 'exotic languages' is commonly applied to anything outside of European languages. It's not a put-down, just a phrase.</p>
<p>I don't think most people in the US in 2007 would classify Chinese as as "exotic'. It IS difficult, though, (trust me, I know from personal experience) and I tried to make that point. </p>
<p>If I were looking to find a job, I'd pick one language, go in-depth, and pick a major like economics. If I were preparing fo the foreign service or something, I guess PoliSci or whatever related major would be good. If it were more important to me to learn many languages, and I loved literature, comparative literature would be a good option.</p>
<p>"Well, actually there is a reason why it's difficult to do comparative literature in languages like Chinese. Just getting your proficiency to the point where you can read actual literature takes about 2-3 years, which doesn't leave much time. Also, remember, the OP is interested in business and intelligence. What would the CIA value more in an analyst, someone who is well versed in literature or someone who combines an understanding of international affairs with their language skills?</p>
<p>And why the condecension, the term 'exotic languages' is commonly applied to anything outside of European languages. It's not a put-down, just a phrase."</p>
<p>There are options for the public and private sectors with languages outside of foreign analysis and stuff if you have a PhD and language fluency.</p>
<p>Im sure many business will look for Language professionals to train workers in their business for abroad work.</p>
<p>I read something on CIA site saying something like the pay is 90k or somethin, plus CIA benefits, which are great.</p>
<p>But if you go to the private sector, I would assume you could get paid much higher.</p>
<p>what about majoring in comp. lit. as an undergrad, then going to grad school for something more government related? not sure about this advice. someone should confirm.</p>
<p>It looks like they start closer to 50k for language positions. Also, keep in mind that pretty much everyone that gets the non entry-level jobs has an advanced degree of some kind. You also can't forget that neither 1) getting hired by an intelligence agency, nor 2) getting the TS security clearance are foregone conclusions. </p>
<p>I'm not saying there aren't opportunities outside of political analysis and whatnot, I'm just responding to the OP who said he was interested in business and intelligence. For those, there is no doubt that social science-type skills are a huge asset. </p>
<p>kenf, I've studied Mandarin for the past two years and am about to leave for seven months in Shanghai. I know exactly how difficult and time-consuming it is, which is why I tried to emphasize that the OP shouldn't try to learn multiple languages, unless he wants to do, say, French/Spanish.</p>
<p>May I ask what study abroad program you're considering?</p>
<p>In the spring, I'm doing a program run by Fudan University. I won't be in any formal program for the summer, but will most likely stay and work for a non-profit.</p>