<p>Hello all- </p>
<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>well, look. How fluent you are is not related to whether your piece of papers says you majored or minored in something. If you are fluent in arabic (and have a clean background), that will be a big leg up at the agencies you are looking at.</p>
<p>However, I would ask you this: what does a French minor add to your Arabic? Alternatively, what would Middle Eastern Studies or International Relations add to your Arabic? which would make you more attractive to a potential employer?</p>
<p>Also… keep your nose super clean so you can pass the security checks, because if you can’t do that it won’t matter how well you speak the language. No arrests, stay away from drugs (and even alcohol if you can), and avoid very close ties to foreign nationals (non-citizens).</p>
<p>French would actually help because many nations in North Africa have large populations of both French and Arabic speakers.</p>
<p>so you think it is better to be fluent in Arabic and have some French, than to be fluent in Arabic and have a solid understanding of how the international system operates, or the history and culture of the region associated with your language?</p>
<p>if you can translate, you can translate. If you can translate AND ANALYZE, you are much better off. IMO, you do not want to set yourself up as the translator who passes the English versions on to someone else to analyze.</p>
<p>alcohol is fine for the background check, as long as it is not excessive.</p>
<p>It is fine, but it CAN lead you to do stupid things (which in turn would spoil your background check).</p>
<p>To the government? Definitely.</p>
<p>The school I’m considering has a certificate program I can complete alongside my major called Middle Eastern and North African Studies; hopefully this is along the lines of what you mean?</p>
<p>I had this long post typed out but I think I’ll just say that you need to do a lot more research on how long it takes to become fluent in Arabic and what things you have to do in order to be qualified to work for federal government agencies. Also you should probably read up on how translators who are non-native speakers of the language they are translating fare in job searching.</p>
<p>I felt like I should say something since I was going to do the EXACT SAME THING you are thinking about doing and my dad happens to work for the FBI.</p>
<p>^Agreed.</p>
<p>I’ll also say that it’s stupid to pick a major with one career in mind, especially the federal government! Federal hiring is unpredictable and unreliable, not to mention the fact that we’ve been in Iraq for seven years and there are plenty of vets coming back that will all get hired for these jobs before you do…most of the time rightfully so.</p>
<p>int - sure, this is true. They do ask your friends if you are “known to drink excessively” and dig into your drinking habits, depending on the level you are being investigated for.</p>
<p>joshmay - yes, that would be good.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s stupid to get a major for a specific job… is that not what people doing premed or engineering do? You do need to be realistic though. The type of jobs the OP is interested in are very difficult to get. The vets do get hired first, so look hard at programs for students, even though a vet is trying (with some success) to sue the student hiring programs out of existence.</p>
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<p>If someone were to say, “I’m only pre-med because I want to work at Mass General Hospital” or “I only want to study computer science to work for Google because Google is really cool,” that would be just as stupid. </p>
<p>You can major in Arabic because you like Arabic or you’re interested in the Middle East, but if you’re doing it specifically to target a CIA or FBI job, you’re making a bad choice, since the statistical likelihood is that you will not end up working for either.</p>