<p>I have a strong interest and passion for languages and I would love to become fluent in Arabic. This is a particularly challenging language, which is part of the appeal. Furthermore, and more importantly, it is a critically important language as designated by various national security organizations, notably the CIA and FBI.
What I'm planning is to double major in college in Arabic and linguistics, with a minor in something like French. The plan is to become fluent through rigorous study and studying abroad. After graduation, I'd apply to one of the said national security organizations.</p>
<p>However, I've recently been told that majoring in a language isn't wise; that it would be better to major in something else, a more marketable skill or something, and just minor in Arabic. But can you really be fluent through a minor? And with a major in something else, the CIA/FBI might not look at me as favorably; I'd like to dedicate my life to languages. </p>
<p>So what do you think, CC? Will I be able to launch careers, in national security or private sector, with a major in Arabic?</p>
<p>what if you don’t get into the CIA, FBI, or another agency along the likes… what will you do for a career?</p>
<p>it’s not true that the CIA/FBI will look at you less favorably if you major in something else. i doubt many, if any at all, people working with those agencies have a major degree in a language.</p>
<p>Well that’s the thing; getting in is pretty hard. I’m sure there are other, private sector jobs for Arabic speakers, I just don’t know what. I wouldn’t want to be a teacher for sure.</p>
<p>What sort of major would you recommend, then?</p>
<p>An Arabic major is probably one of the most marketable foreign language majors out there, IMHO; from what I can tell, there are simply not enough people working government jobs who are fluent in it. That being said, I recommend that you talk to your college or department adviser about it. S/he can probably give you more information on career opportunities.</p>
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<p>A major in linguistics can actually lead into the bolded careers.</p>
<p>neltharion- i’m not trying to discourage the OP, but “can” isn’t will.</p>
<p>and he’s being very specific “major in arabic to get a job with the CIA/FBI.” it;s not probable that will happen, although it could. he should broaden his search and have other options. or at least dual degree/double major in linguistics.</p>
<p>Actually, double majoring with Linguistics was something I’ve thought highly of from the start. In your opinion, CPU, would that give me a broad enough base as per what you were talking about?</p>
<p>Oh, I’m not saying OP will get a job. To be honest, in this economy? Most people won’t get a job. </p>
<p>Double-majoring in Arabic and Linguistics will give you a decent edge, though, especially if you focus on computational/quantitative linguistics. And actually, if you’re not aiming specifically for a CIA/FBI job, you probably wouldn’t even have go quant, as long as you’ve taken a few CS classes on the side. (Many of the general linguists I know have actually wound up going into computer-related fields.)</p>
<p>Alright, then it looks as if double major in Arabic/Ling and double minor in French/CS should be broad enough? I’m not necessarily limiting myself to the CIA/FBI, those are just my first choices. I’d be happy working elsewhere as well.</p>
<p>Arabic/Linguistics, while not as high quality as Tuvaluan, will set you up pretty nicely. Arabic is in hot demand, and Linguistics makes you further marketable as one who can learn more languages if need be (often the case in the CIA/FBI/State Department).</p>
<p>Hello my Tuvaluan friend
And yes, it goes without saying that I am fluent in Tuvaluan; what enlightened man isn’t?
I used the same logic for the Ling major; understanding the structure of a language is fundamental to learning it.</p>
Hence, I think it will give you an edge over even the other Arabic majors. And Arabic (as a current so-called “hot language”) is already in high demand.</p>
<p>I understand others will have varying experiences but here’s my own experience so far (if you wish to comment/correct me, please keep that in mind):</p>
<p>I haven’t found my Arabic MA to be that useful. What employers I have looked at want is a degree and skill in something (especially computers), and then a language ability. The language ability is not the primary factor.</p>
<p>For instance, can you write/analyze code…and speak Arabic? Do you have a solid background in Chinese history or economics…and speak Chinese? Many of these places out there can get native speaker, even in the federal government, all of whom will have better language skills than you’ll ever get and many of them will work for less than you’ll want to. To be marketable, you have to make yourself stand out. What can you do in addition to your language? Or rather, what language (AND culture) can you do in addition to your skill?</p>
<p>Another major point to consider is that these companies/agencies, those who are interested in your language ability, aren’t as worried about whether or not you have a degree in a language. There are many who come out of an undergrad or grad school with poor proficiency, and they know it. What counts is whether you can pass their tests. If you have money, or can get scholarships for studies abroad (research grants, whatever) then you’ll do far better to just take classes, go abroad (with or without the school) and become fluent, then graduate in something else you really enjoy doing.</p>
<p>I personally have seen a number of my friends who graduated with a BA in MES with a minor in Arabic get the jobs I’ve been applying to, and I have the MA in Arabic. It’s more what you can DO with your language than if you’re good at the language.</p>
<p>Those are my experiences in retrospect. I know there are things out there for a BA (etc) in Arabic and jobs that will want you, but there are a lot more who are looking for what I have described. But please still pursue a 2nd (or 3rd or more) language. You and everyone around you will be so much the better for it.</p>
<p>I agree with the above poster. Be cautious of changing times.</p>
<p>When Pearl Harbor happened, everyone was all about Japanese.
With the Cold War, it was Russian.
Iraq, Arabic.</p>
<p>Now, we seem to be shifting towards Pashto and Korean and I don’t have to fill in the blanks as to why. Arabic is a strong language to know due to its level of difficulty (as is Mandarin Chinese), and that in itself makes it fairly marketable. Your job choices would be limited to teaching, translation/interpretation (in the US I’ve noticed a lot of the lucrative ones are in the middle of nowhere Virginia) and military-centric government jobs. But with the latter, only the very high-paying ones will require you to move abroad to an area with somewhat of a safety risk or sign a 10-year contract.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that you’ll be competing against native speakers, especially those who have 10-20+ years experience in any of the above given fields. But of course the amount of work experience is true for just about any job. Good luck to you.</p>
@neltharion</p>