<p>In the sciences, requirements have changed radically in the past generation. At one time, a knowledge of German was essential for serious work in any chemically related field, including biochemistry (this was before the rise of molecular biology) because key literature was published in Germany or Switzerland, often in German. Now, virtually none is. Indeed, it is well known that the best way to have a paper ignored is to publish it in German (or French, or anything else.) As a result, many science faculties no longer even require language knowledge.</p>
<p>I was in grad school during the transition, and used Fortran (of all things!) for my language requirement. FYI: Fortran is a computer programming language from the mainframe computing days. FYI: mainframe computers are (never mind, let me quit while I am still ahead...)</p>
<p>This is why I was stunned to read that some math departments required TWO foreign language exams. Lots of History departments only require one. </p>
<p>S is currently reading a book written by a German in English. The editors of the series are one Frenchman and one American. The editorial offices are in Cambridge, MA; the book's cataloging data is in German. The bibliography contains articles written in French and German, but 99% are written in English. I'm pretty sure he could find someone to translate the other 1% written in French or German if the need arose.
I recall the days when it was suggested that FORTRAN would be acceptable as a replacement for foreign languages! NOT in my field.</p>
<p>This language requirement seems outdated to me. I doubt my S would consider a PhD in math with such requirements. He had Spanish and Latin, and clearly preferred the latter. I can understand learning some fluency to work with colleagues, but that could be Chinese. The Germans I know are fairly fluent in English.</p>
<p>S had exactly the same languages (and much preferred Latin to Spanish). The Germans I know speak English absolutely fluently. Not so the French, beginning with my own family. :(</p>
<p>Marite,
I feel so-unhelicopterish (new word). I never thought such restrictions still apply. Are there language requirements for other science fields? Economics?</p>
<p>My S's roommate is Chinese, and I can understand his desire to know how to communicate simplistically in that language. I suspect bilingual children have such an advantage. Too bad about the French; your sons missed an excelent opportunity.</p>
<p>In CA and FL, helpful for any professional to speak Spanish. But German, no way!</p>
<p>I think language requirements are strictly program by program. So the language requirements for math at Harvard might not be the same as for math at MIT or Stanford, (or they might be...) I looked up the requirements because my S at one point was wondering whether to do a four year BA/MA. Your S would have to investigate each program. </p>
<p>When S was four and massacring my ears with his rendition of "bonne nuit, dors bien, fais de beaux r</p>
<p>My S says the same. besides, taking Spanish 1, 2, & 3 with Hispanics students and teachers, and having grade based 1/3 on participation, definitely did my S in. That's an ongoing issue at our HS.</p>
<p>I doubt S has learned any Chinese from his rm/mt, but rm/mt's English has probably improved.</p>