Best languages?? 1

[Grindinghalt]

Starting the path towards an ME degree this semester, and I cannot decide which language to take.

I've decided that French, or German would be beneficial, although spanish is usually a good option here in the states...

I currently work for Bombadier, in Total Transit Systems on the Las Vegas Monorail, and I plan to stick with this company.

Thanks in advance,

Tod

 

[TurbulentFluid]

Depends where you want to expand yourself further.
As a European, I'd suggest German or French, if the European market is what you're looking at when it comes to your career. Nordic languages are a pain to learn, tho they are useful too (Finland is THE engineering centre of Europe, even if they're keeping it quiet). I'd not be too enthusiastic about Spanish; it's spoken by a small number of people (unless you're looking at South America).
Since you're in the states, tho, I'd also consider Japanese as a VERY good idea.
Basically, think where and what you want to be in 5 years, rouchly choose an industry, and then look at where this industry is the strongest, and start that language.

 

[epoisses]

Well, there are almost twice as many Spanish speakers in Spain only as there are Norvegians + Swedish + Finnish + Danish... and the latter all speak English to a reasonable extent. And about Finnish, it's probably easier to start with Martian

 

[TurbulentFluid]

I wasn't reffering to a total number of people speaking Spanish. I was reffering to people in the engineering industr/y/ies.
The point of what I was saying is, that if you're interested in working on something that's "big" in USA, Finland and Norway, it's quite redicilous to learn Mandarin... Although in near future, learning Mandarin Chinese MIGHT be a great investment in yourself.
And it's MUCH more difficult than Finnish OR Martian. ;-)

 

[josephv]

Hello,

My advice, choose a language that you like. It always is easier to learn something that you truely enjoy.

I learned French simply because I like French music and find French culture to be very intersting. Never expected it to help my career, but now it is opening doors here in Canada.

Cheers,

Joseph

 

[HVACctrl]

I took Fortran 77.
I'd try Visual Basic or maybe a version of C.

Ed

 

[MedicineEng]

In my country, I started English when I was 9, in school. It went up until I was 16. Then at 11, I started French (also until I was 16). Now, after some discussions, the goverment finally is starting the English lessons right at the primary school (still under test).
I learned Spanish from TV and by going in holidays to Spain in the Summer "hablar con las chicas".
Time to time there are some "nacionalists" coming and complianing that in my country we don't defend our native language and we should translate the foreign TV programs instead of only use subtitles. I found this very useful to improve your accent and to get used to the sound of different languages.
Someone refered that for engineering degrees there is no credit for foreign languages. I think that this is wrong. Engineers should take some foreign languages courses.
My last challenge is Mandarin, but this one is a tough bone.
"Wo shuo yi diar Putonghua"

 

[ziggi]

MedEng,
Your country sounds like it's on the road to prosperity, the best way to thrive is to understand your competition/customers, no better way to do that than to understand the culture.

Typically nationalist/isolationist countries have experienced severe economic trouble, USA in the 1930s, Japan in the early 20th century.
In my opinion it's always valuable to understand your own culture but understanding your neighbours' culture is golden, especially if your neighbour only understands his own culture.

I also agree that language courses should be taught to engineers, English is the predominant engineering and science language (with some Latin) but it always helps to see a problem from the clients perspective ie. from their cultural point of view.