<p>Anyone know if it's practical to get a minor in a language while majoring in engineering?</p>
<p>I think it's fine. Many students do a minor in something they have an interest in such as a language, not something that's necessarily "practical."</p>
<p>It's rare to see a thread revived after one year and the thread starter is still here answering questions! UCLAri is a true CCer at heart.</p>
<p>^HAHAHA. That'll be me once I'm better acquainted with college and or Cal.</p>
<p>Vicissitudes, you should make a thread like this for the Berkeley forum :)</p>
<p>I plan to be a library monk</p>
<p>vicissitudes,</p>
<p>I actually forgot that I started this thread! :-O</p>
<p>:-O</p>
<p>I'm already working on something for the Berkeley forum. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
i really want to study abroad yet i was planning on being a RA one of my years. UCLAri, what do you think about being a RA for junior year and then studying abroad for a quarter or two during senior year?
[/quote]
I'm not UCLAri, but I'm not so sure this would work out well. Senior year is when you're applyin g to grad school or interviewing for jobs. It would be hard to do this from overseas ;) </p>
<p>I'd say go abroad sophomore year since it works out better for a few reasons: 1) the dorms probably release you from the contract the quarters you're gone (I'm assuming this, don't know for sure) whereas if you're living in a rental your roomates aren't going to be as pleased if you announce you're not paying rent for 3 months. 2) you'll be in CA senior year for interviews or grad school apps</p>
<p>mikemac,</p>
<p>I dunno, I did UCDC my last quarter and it worked out great. If you have a good plan for grad/work, then you can certainly do your last couple of quarters elsewhere without a hitch. Besides, by the last quarter you're pretty much done with grad apps.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Anyone know if it's practical to get a minor in a language while majoring in engineering?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>A minor in a language that can connect you with engineering efforts in other countries could be viewed as a plus by employers. A language such as Japanese, Chinese, or Indian languages could be beneficial. For example, if you work for a company who's parent is Japanese, you'll likely end up in a lot of meetings with Japanese engineers and managers. In these meetings, the Japanese frequently take time-outs to 'speak Japanese' to each other since it's easier for them to converse that way. If you could understand Japanese (I wish I did), it'd make it easier all around.</p>
<p>I'd hesitate to recommend Japanese for that purpose. I've put in well over 4 to 5 years of study, immersion, and daily use and I've yet to be able to keep up with anything remotely technical.</p>
<p>If you want to be conversational from classroom learning, take a European language.</p>
<p>UCLAri, have you ever heard of anyone who's at UCLA, and works part time for the army/navy/marine? I got a call from the army recruiting office, and they told me about working part time for them (one weekend per month). In return, there's a lot of benefits, such as them paying most of your tuition and fees in addition to pay, and other stuff.</p>
<p>I havn't looked too much into it yet, but it looks a bit too good to be true. Do you know anything about this kind of stuff?</p>
<p>I don't want to sound Anglo-centric, but English is going to remain the primary technical language of engineers and computer scientists worldwide, even in China and India... at least at the companies I've visited. This is especially true for e-mail and publications. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>flopsy:</p>
<p>English is indeed the language in the computer world. My point was that there can be some advantages to understanding another language although it's by no means necessary. I've been in technical (computer field) meetings in a number of other countries and with foreigners in this country and it at times would be nice to understand what they're saying when they're speaking in their native language. This is especially true with the Japanese who generally don't speak English as well as Europeans and can launch into long 'Japanese-only' sessions. As UCLAri states though, Japanese isn't the easiest language to learn well. If there's one single language to understand, it's English.</p>
<p>I agree with flopsy, the world is getting smaller and its the Chinese who are learning English (modern India has always been English speaking...with colonialism and all) and not the other way around. Im speaking from engineering perspective ofcourse.</p>
<p>sofakingwangsta,</p>
<p>I would imagine that's working for the reserve.</p>
<p>But don't be too excited. Something tells me that you can be pulled into active duty whenever...they...want...</p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad,</p>
<p>Again, like I said, it's nice to want to understand them.</p>
<p>It's an entirely different issue actually getting to the point that you can understand them. I wouldn't really-- and I use this word only because I can't think of an alternative-- "waste" your time with Japanese for such an endeavor. It's just not a language that can be learned in that period of time.</p>
<p>sofakingwangsta,</p>
<p>that sounds a lot like ROTC? if so, then yeah you guys will train in summer, maybe 2 mornings a week, and one weekend a month (i think i have it covered). </p>
<p>they pay for all of your tuition and give you stipend for books and spending money. you will also have to take the ROTC minor (naval science, aerospace studies, or military science). </p>
<p>in return, you have to work 5 years active duty or 8 years reserve (if i have the numbers correct). </p>
<p>yeah ucla has active army, navy, and air force ROTC units. i know of several people in ROTC, including my roommate from my freshman year. </p>
<p>anyway, i occassionally hear them doing their morning drills when i'm still up at 5am doing my paper last minute :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Did you go to community college and then transfer uclari?</p>
<p>Yes, I did transfer.</p>
<p>now that i know about co-op, im thinking of doing that instead of becoming an ra.
can anyone offer some input on the benefits of being an ra? (isnt it like a full time job?)</p>