<p>At my school, we've got the option of Spanish, Italian, German, or Latin. I know that the chances of us learning anything useful in HS language courses are pretty slim and I've already decided what language I'm taking (Latin first choice, German second), but which language, if any, would help the most with some sort of engineering/science degree?</p>
<p>…You don’t really need a specific language, but if you’re doing Bio/Chem, you’ll need Latin for genus or elemental crap. LoL. Just take Latin if that’s your first choice.</p>
<p>In general, engineering schools stress much less on foreign language than like math/science.</p>
<p>German would definitely help since many of the top scientists and tech manufacturers are German.</p>
<p>Spanish is easier because many words sound like English.</p>
<p>… Take a language with your friends and ask upperclassmen which teacher is better. Get the A.</p>
<p>take Spanish. it’s the only one you would actually use unless you plan on spending major time abroad/time traveling back into the days of spoken Latin</p>
<p>Does it really matter? Haha just take the language you’re most interested in 
I wouldn’t think engineering’s a job that requires a lot of translating languages really,lol.</p>
<p>I know Latin’s dead, but it’s the only one other than German that was appealing (people take Spanish and Italian for easy A’s and everyone is doing Spanish) and I’m sort of gradually teaching myself German on the side. I guess Germany has a big aerospace industry? which I’m interested in. Plus, there’s Latin Field Day, where we get out of school for half the day to go play games.</p>
<p>“I know that the chances of us learning anything useful in HS language courses are pretty slim”</p>
<p>What is this supposed to mean? I’ve learned plenty in Spanish so far and I’ve only taken up to Spanish II.</p>
<p>I’m in Latin right now and I think you should definitely go for Latin. So many things in every subject, not just science, have their roots in Latin. Besides, if you do decide to learn other languages, knowing the mother language will make all the other romance languages so much easier to learn.</p>
<p>Plus, there are other benefits specific to Latin, such as the National Junior Classical League, which has tons of contests (including the National Latin Exam - they give out a lot of awards if you do well on the test) where you can win scholarships, recognition, etc.</p>
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Ridiculous statement. Spanish and English share approximately as many cognates as does English with any Romance language. In addition to that, German, of course, sounds more similar to English as English is a Germanic Language, meaning that the two share a much closer genetic relationship. (The reason for many Romantic cognates in English is not descent from Latin, but the relationship between England and France.)</p>
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My father worked as an engineer for a very large multinational for about 30 years, spending quite a bit of time in Germany. English is what’s spoken. Consider that English is the most widely spoken language – when one includes those who speak it as a second tongue, which is what really matters here, it easily surpasses Mandarin Chinese. This will likely only grow more true into the future. It’s not necessary for the OP to direct this choice according to his possible career choices.</p>
<p><a href=“including%20the%20National%20Latin%20Exam%20-%20they%20give%20out%20a%20lot%20of%20awards%20if%20you%20do%20well%20on%20the%20test”>quote=topasalacqua13</a> where you can win scholarships, recognition, etc.
[/quote]
Many other languages, including Spanish, French, German, and Italian, have such contests.</p>
<p>I’ve found Latin to be the most enjoyable of every language I’ve studied and would highly recommend it to anyone. If it’s your first choice, there’s no reason to take another.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’d suggest Latin as well. My Latin teacher, who went to Princeton, told us that adcoms are aware of Latin being a pain in the ass compared to other languages. It shows that you can really handle the English language and its grammar (I crammed more grammar terms in Latin than I did in English class these years), and I would think shows a more well rounded side to Asians who well… only excel at stuff that requires lots of calculation and memorization (compared to crit. thinking). </p>
<p>Plus, Latin was the language to learn back in the day. That day when the ivies were at their peak. I would seriously think they ‘respect’ Latin over German, and HELL lot more than Spanish.</p>
<p>Personally, I’d say Latin. When I took it(Latin 1 7th grade), it was really easy. I know it gets harder, but it’s really versatile as a language.</p>
<p>I don’t know about you but I’ve always wanted to learn Italian…</p>
<p>If you really don’t have a preference about a language, take the language with the best language teacher at your school. The reason people don’t learn much in their high school language classes is because the teachers are often not very good. However, with a good teacher, you can learn quite a lot in four years.</p>
<p>Who is your favorite author? Learn the language that they wrote in.</p>
<p>^ Haha for me that would be hard.
I love Marquez… but I also like a lot of Russian literature XD
Anyway I take Spanish at school, when I first chose it I was happy that since Spanish and French (and even Italian) were similar I could learn the other ones easily after I became Spanish fluent. But I’m already struggling to program a third language into my head, not sure I’ll ever speak French and Italian.
There was a German exchange student at my school, she got me thinking that German was extremely awesome. Pity I didn’t take it. I really want to speak it!</p>
<p>Take Latin since it will probably be more useful to you. I am taking Italian, which is a great language, but it probably won’t be that useful unless you are planning to go to Italy.</p>
<p>I love Latin. I had the same options as you do…and I have no regrets. I find that the most interesting people in my school take either Latin or German.</p>
<p>Take Latin. Since science has a lot of Latin terms it can help a lot. Also, it looks more unique on your transcript, makes you look smarter (if you do really good). And taking it will help you learn Spanish faster, and do better on your SAT. Lots of pro’s for a “dead language”.</p>
<p>Latin’s a great experience! And it tends to attract people who actually, like, care about school, which is usually a plus. My one regret is that I can speak only English. :(</p>
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<p>I’ve never (not once) not known a word on an SAT-type test and had Latin be helpful. Stereotype-busting, hooray! However, it’s like reading comprehension practice, all the time. You get pretty good at it. (Hello 800 SAT CR, thank you in part to Latin. :])</p>
<p>That quote is No Joke. Latin has a lot more awards, than any other language. Latin teachers as a group go out of their way to make up for the lack of study-abroad it opens up for you, with all sorts of fun opportunities instead. 
There are translation contests (sometimes state ones, sometimes regional: CAMWS I think does one for Midwesterners) and the Medusa Mythology Exam don’t have counterparts for other languages. If you go to a Latin Convention (which are SO MUCH FUN like oh my goodness :D), there are literally forty or fifty classically-themed contests you can place in. Are you artsy? Watercolor, charcoal, sculpture. Craftsy? Sew dolls (like me!), make greeting cards, forge chain mail. Theater-y? Recite a dramatic passage in Latin, or write a speech in English. Academic? Place in your state’s Roman History test, or Mythology, or Grammar. Veritable plethora of things that the smart kids usually win.</p>
<p>OP: Steps to becoming a total Latin nerd, from one to a prospective one ;):
Look up the JCL in your state. Some are large, and well-organized: Virginia, Texas, and Florida are the best and biggest three. Then come Massachusetts, Illinois, California, Wisconsin, and a bunch of smaller states, approximately in that order. Some of the small states (like Maine) are incredibly close-knit. Some (like Arizona) are less sure of themselves. If your state doesn’t have a state convention, try to go to the national one. If your teacher is unfamiliar with it, there is money to be had to get her to come for the first time. Also, often, more skipping of school! Nationals are during the summer though.</p>
<p>Lol I wish my previous and current schools had Latin ;-;</p>