Learn a Language 1

[controlnovice]

I've found that learning languages has helped me at work.

While it may not 'get me ahead' at work (like the main topic suggests), what it has done is help me stick around while others are let go. You still have to be a decent engineer, but other languages definately help.

Speaking other languages for Europeans is not a big deal, however, in the States, it is. Ever hear the old joke? What do you call someone who can speak two languages? Bi-lingual. What do you call someone who can speak one language? American.

Anybody else see this? I'd recommended it for anyone wanting to improve themselves.

 

[jsummerfield]

I agree. If you project work is associated with an international language, learn greetings and survival topics to deal with food, restrooms, hotels and airports. Consider Spanish or a Chinese dialect if no international project work comes to mind.

John

 

[jmw]

If you live in the USA then Spanish is good for many states and valuable in many parts of the world. In some US states it is the dominant language and some jobs require fluency in both Spanish and English. Teaching in some(all?) state schools in California, for example (I could be wrong here).

In Europe, as I pointed out to my nephew, knowing several languages is no guarantee of a good job. I can't count the number of service area toilet attendants who are multilingual.

However, in Europe English will get you by with most engineers. CIMAC, a French created society (Engines) recently and at the behest fo the Germans, changed its official language to English. Lots of translators lost their jobs.
This is because for many nationalities English has become the common second language.
Of course, for those of us for whom English is our first (and only) language, we would have been in trouble if China hadn't had a falling out with Russia and changed from Russian to English as the principal foreign language taught in schools.

One important thing is to learn even a little of the language of your hosts. It is an unbelievable aid.

JMW

http://www.viscoanalyser.com

Eng-Tips: Pro bono publico, by engineers, for engineers.

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[tygerdawg]

Roger that, all the above. Having worked for various Euro companies, it certainly doesn't hurt to try to learn a smidgen of their native language. Despite English being the lingua franca of the global business world, learning THEIR language helps you get into their head. Recently I have decided to pursue my Spanish (again) so that I can better relate to the labor force.

Be careful, though, of the typical co-workers who aren't very cosmopolitan and are English-centric. I once had an episode where the German Billionaire CEO walked through the office. While all the co-workers were schmoozing up to the guy, I was trying to remain inconspicuous. Someone told CEO that I spoke German. He turned to me and asked, I replied (in German) that I spoke a little, but found it difficult, so I had a dictionary. He laughed, agreed it was difficult, then left. I looked around and all the coworkers were glaring at me like I had just run over their favorite hunting dog. Despite being a German company, no one had taken the effort to learn the language.

TygerDawg

 

[MintJulep]

Since it appears that all manufacturing will eventually be done in China, Chinese seems like a good choice.

There are a lot of dialicts however, and the tone thing is a pain to get the hang of if your native language doesn't use it.

Spanish will get you by in most of central and south america, as well as Spain of course. Also, if you know Spanish you pretty much know French too.

 

[controlnovice]

Spanish is a definate gain in the States. I started with French and now have Spanish under my belt too. Although, my Spanish is from Latin America (my wife is Colombian).

I recently had a project in Spain and couldn't understand a word they were saying. It's much quicker and the accent is completely different. For the longest time, I thought my co-workers were speaking Catalonian. (it's the Barcalona region - or 'Barthalona', as they say)

 

[epoisses]

Speaking English can be a big deal for certain Europeans including engineers. Many don't mind firing faxes in German, Italian or Spanish at us (small French company). We're supposed to be able to read everything...

 

[corus]

controlnovice is right about the problems of accents even if you think you know the language. In the USA I had to write everything down for them, and I'm english.

corus

 

[Beggar]

Don't bother trying to learn any language unless you've got some people with whom you can practice it on a regular basis.

I personally chose Spanish mostly because I live in California and it's easy to practice as often as you like.

I'd like to learn some Chinese but I don't have anybody to practice with so it's unlikely that I'd ever learn enough to get by.

--------------------
Bring back the HP-15

http://www.hp15c.org

--------------------

 

[HVAC68]

There's no such language called "Chinese" - There are languages like Mandarin, Cantonese, etc., and lots and lots of dialects which are spoken by Chinese people !!! Same is the case with India. Lots of languages and dialects, with some sort of common link. Knowing another langauge indeed helps, not only from a work point of view but also from the perspective of making more and more friends of other nationalities.

HVAC68

 

[COKA]

I speak (and write) 4 languages fluently. Even if they are not all useful at work, it did help me get my job... And also if anybody has to be sent for a business trip or a course, they think about me, since i can get around pretty much anywhere.
Definitely a bonus for everybody to be at least bilingual!
Very good post controlnovice!

Coka

 

[IRstuff]

Mandarin, being the official language of the People's Republic of China, is by definition, "Chinese."

TTFN

 

[Tobalcane]

I've heard some where that "Chinese" is the number one language spoken in the world due to the huge population in China.

Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane

 

[ischgl99]

Speaking and writing German fluently definitely helped me get my job, but it also helped me advance by being the one to get all the training at the headquarters in Germany and the one dealing with the designers. It also helps in job searches to set yourself out from the pack.

The one skill that will help with an international company is knowing a second language, you don't have to be fluent as long as your coworkers in the foreign country know you are trying to speak their language. I found that opens far more doors then technical competence alone. One comment I got all the time in Germany was I must be British since no American speaks a second language.

As for Chinese, I have been trying to learn Mandarin, my wife is from Shanghai so I have a good teacher, but the tones make learning German seem like childs play.

 

[plasgears]

When I went to engineering school German was the required language. I have since enjoyed fluency and the freedom of communications in Germany.

Today I would recommend French because the French speaking people are not prone to respect English as the universal language. Many years ago I was rebuffed on the streets of Paris while I was trying to finding directions to the Louvre.

Recently in Geneva I had trouble communicating. At a bank I was trying to speak French, and the teller rudely advised me to speak in my best language. Pr..k!

 

[HVAC68]

For some interesting facts about languages spoken in China, go to the following link.

http://www.chinalanguage.com/

http://www.fact-index.com/c/ch/chinese_language.html

Some of the languages spoken in India are

Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Hindi, Punjabi.

Incidentally, I can speak read, write and speak in 4 languages fluently - yes, it helps a lot in day-to-day life.


HVAC68

 

[MintJulep]

Unfortunately it is true that many many Americans speak only English (and some not very well).

However, many non-Americans assume that if an American does not speak their lanugage, they don't speak any other language.

 

[carthago]

Eh ben,
Merci à vous tous de placer un petit mot dans une autre langue que l'anglais.

 

[haggis]

I can get by in Spanish, German, Italian and French. Don't claim to be fluent but I found the most difficult part was mastering the accents which I feel is a very important part of speaking another language. German wasn't too bad as the accent is more of a heavy glutteral sound much like my own accent from Glasgow, Scotland. However, after being away for 38 years, my accent has softened and refined somewhat although it is still unmistakably Scottish.

So...Ich fand es schwierig, Spanischen, Italiener oder französisch ohne den schottischen Akzent zu sprechen.

 

[waskillywabbit]

When in Rome, do as the Romans do (learn the language). Learning a foreign language is greatly dependent on what you plan for your future. I have no desire to go anywhere other than the South (USA), and certainly not out of the USA, even for a vacation (I HATE flying!!!!!!) and have no need to learn a foreign language for my job; however, I can get by in French/Spanish/German and I am fluent in several dead languages including Latin, Greek and Hebrew. To me it is all "verba culumni oris"

I also speak/interpret 2-4 year old fluently.



Brian
Pressure Vessels and Autoclave Systems

http://www.mcabeeconstruction.com

The above comments/opinions are solely my own and not those of McAbee Construction.