Learning a second language - School & Work

Amy · 10-27-2009, 10:13 AM

Have any of y'all done this to make yourself more marketable when searching for a job? I'm in Texas and find SO many jobs where a requirement is being bilingual in English and Spanish- but most of my friends and family only speak English so I'm not sure if I would get enough opportunities to practice.

*skittles* · 10-27-2009, 10:15 AM

I think it depends where you live.

I couldn't find a public service job in California without being bilingual in spanish to save my life.

However, in Georgia...its not an issue at all. Depending on where you live it can be very marketable, and I don't think its ever a bad thing to have.

BlueBird · 10-27-2009, 10:16 AM

I speak a couple other languages and almost none of my friends/family speak anything but English. I didn't learn them to make myself more marketable, but I always feel like I don't have enough opportunities to practice my language skills. Its frustrating to say the least but if you work at it really hard you can keep up the language by giving yourself opportunities to practice it. You just have to create them - what they say about use it or lose it, is definitely true!

Victoria · 10-27-2009, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Amy

Have any of y'all done this to make yourself more marketable when searching for a job? I'm in Texas and find SO many jobs where a requirement is being bilingual in English and Spanish- but most of my friends and family only speak English so I'm not sure if I would get enough opportunities to practice.

When living in San Diego, I was almost fluent in Spanish, then I moved to Hawaii where not many people speak Spanish. I lost a lot of my Spanish living in Hawaii for 3.5 years.

Living in Texas, I think you would be able to speak Spanish quite often!

I didn't speak Spanish amongst friends or family. I used my Spanish speaking with customers, when working at Macy's and as a telephone customer service rep.

BubMunkeyBles · 10-27-2009, 10:28 AM

It is a marketable skill. But I stink at learning foreign languages.

Amy · 10-27-2009, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Victoria

When living in San Diego, I was almost fluent in Spanish, then I moved to Hawaii where not many people speak Spanish. I lost a lot of my Spanish living in Hawaii for 3.5 years.

Living in Texas, I think you would be able to speak Spanish quite often!

I didn't speak Spanish amongst friends or family. I used my Spanish speaking with customers, when working at Macy's and as a telephone customer service rep.

Yeah, in (south central) Texas, there are a lot of jobs that require you to be bilingual. I'm hoping to have earned my paralegal certificate by next December, so if I could be able to speak spanish, even at a basic level, by the time I look for a job in that field, it would be good. I've found a couple of software programs that look like they would be really helpful- I'm leaning towards Fluenz.

Am · 10-27-2009, 10:32 AM

I used to know a great deal more Spanish than I currently do. I've always wanted to be fluent in it. I think if you learn it and find a job that requires it, you'll get plenty of practice and a better job.

I'm not sure about other branches (your DH is Navy right?) but I know marines can get Rosetta stone for free.

Look into it.

JayBo · 10-27-2009, 10:33 AM

I'm doing it right now, but French, which really none of my friends/fam speak.

honestly, I talk to myself. which sounds weird

but I read French books aloud to practice my pronunciation and try to write lists, notes, emails, etc. in French.

ETA: definitely look into Rosetta Stone! that's what I'm using and it's been very helpful.

Am · 10-27-2009, 10:37 AM

Scratch that. I don't think the Navy does it.

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leaders...a.asp?q=11&c=6

MariaChristine · 10-27-2009, 10:39 AM

My DB was a Chinese Linguist so we have what he used to learn with, so I've been learning with that.

I've also been studying German since high school; and I just started learning Italian and I plan on learning Gaelic soon.

I do it because I love it. If it makes finding a job easier(I doubt it because the languages I've chosen are so 'odd'), then so be it. I don't actually tell people I'm learning/know parts of a language...I like to keep it in my back pocket so when I can pull it out and amaze people with it lol

10-27-2009, 10:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
Amy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Posts: 8,958 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 94% Longevity: 46%	Learning a second language Have any of y'all done this to make yourself more marketable when searching for a job? I'm in Texas and find SO many jobs where a requirement is being bilingual in English and Spanish- but most of my friends and family only speak English so I'm not sure if I would get enough opportunities to practice. __________________

10-27-2009, 10:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
BlueBird operation: be strong Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 5,160 Classifieds: (6) Activity: 91% Longevity: 19%	I speak a couple other languages and almost none of my friends/family speak anything but English. I didn't learn them to make myself more marketable, but I always feel like I don't have enough opportunities to practice my language skills. Its frustrating to say the least but if you work at it really hard you can keep up the language by giving yourself opportunities to practice it. You just have to create them - what they say about use it or lose it, is definitely true! __________________

10-27-2009, 10:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
BubMunkeyBles MilitarySOS Jewel Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Me- Tampa, FL, DH- Aviano AB Italy Posts: 6,550 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 82% Longevity: 29%	It is a marketable skill. But I stink at learning foreign languages. __________________ Stephanie

10-27-2009, 10:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
Am CarolinaHokie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: VA/NC Posts: 12,796 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 94% Longevity: 28%	I used to know a great deal more Spanish than I currently do. I've always wanted to be fluent in it. I think if you learn it and find a job that requires it, you'll get plenty of practice and a better job. I'm not sure about other branches (your DH is Navy right?) but I know marines can get Rosetta stone for free. Look into it. __________________

10-27-2009, 10:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
JayBo believes everything is funnier spoken into a microphone. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 5,740 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 77% Longevity: 24%	I'm doing it right now, but French, which really none of my friends/fam speak. honestly, I talk to myself. which sounds weird but I read French books aloud to practice my pronunciation and try to write lists, notes, emails, etc. in French. ETA: definitely look into Rosetta Stone! that's what I'm using and it's been very helpful. __________________

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10-27-2009, 10:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
skittles MilitarySOS Jewel Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 2,495 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 92% Longevity: 11%	I think it depends where you live. I couldn't find a public service job in California without being bilingual in spanish to save my life. However, in Georgia...its not an issue at all. Depending on where you live it can be very marketable, and I don't think its ever a bad thing to have.

10-27-2009, 10:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
Am CarolinaHokie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: VA/NC Posts: 12,796 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 94% Longevity: 28%	Scratch that. I don't think the Navy does it. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leaders...a.asp?q=11&c=6 __________________

10-27-2009, 10:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
MariaChristine Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Me: Offutt! Him: Someplace over the rainbow! Posts: 640 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 79% Longevity: 1%	My DB was a Chinese Linguist so we have what he used to learn with, so I've been learning with that. I've also been studying German since high school; and I just started learning Italian and I plan on learning Gaelic soon. I do it because I love it. If it makes finding a job easier(I doubt it because the languages I've chosen are so 'odd'), then so be it. I don't actually tell people I'm learning/know parts of a language...I like to keep it in my back pocket so when I can pull it out and amaze people with it lol __________________