KyleH Wrote:Yeah, I'm just now getting into my Mandarin class and I'm holding on but it's definitely tough. I know the FSO considers Russian a critical language so I guess it's in-demand to them. Thanks for all this information. Any idea how one would go about learning a specialization like Farsi?
I'm not sure, probably the same way as any other language? Getting an instructor, MP3s, books, on a course, etc? I just did a quick google and there were the usual suspects; if someone can learn Esperanto then they can get material on any language There might be short and long-term language learning opportunities as part of your career but I don't know how that works.
Your plan to tackle Mandarin is probably a good one - there's loads of material around and, compared to some of those other languages, lots more opportunity to practice with native speakers.
edit: As someone with limited language skills, it does appear from other accounts that languages are subject to getting rusty if not used and practiced. Maximising opportunities and making life easier for yourself will probably result in the best results, rather than a few weeks here and there, fade and not reaching your potential through lack of practice partners, etc.
[SIZE="1"]
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Excelsior College 2012
Master of Arts in International Relations, Staffordshire University, UK - in progress
Aleks
All courses taken, 12 credits applied
CLEP
A&I Literature (74), Intro Sociology (72), Info Systems and Computer Apps (67), Humanities (70), English Literature (65), American Literature (51), Principles of Mangement (65), Principles of Marketing (71)
DSST
Management Information Systems (469), Intro to Computing (461)
Excelsior College
Information Literacy, International Terrorism (A), Contemporary Middle East History (A), Discrete Structures (A), Social Science Capstone (A)
GRE Subject Test
Psychology (93rd percentile, 750 scaled score)
Straighterline
English Composition I&II, Economics I&II, Accounting I&II, General Calculus I, Business Communication
Progress history[/SIZE]
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Excelsior College 2012
Master of Arts in International Relations, Staffordshire University, UK - in progress
Aleks
All courses taken, 12 credits applied
CLEP
A&I Literature (74), Intro Sociology (72), Info Systems and Computer Apps (67), Humanities (70), English Literature (65), American Literature (51), Principles of Mangement (65), Principles of Marketing (71)
DSST
Management Information Systems (469), Intro to Computing (461)
Excelsior College
Information Literacy, International Terrorism (A), Contemporary Middle East History (A), Discrete Structures (A), Social Science Capstone (A)
GRE Subject Test
Psychology (93rd percentile, 750 scaled score)
Straighterline
English Composition I&II, Economics I&II, Accounting I&II, General Calculus I, Business Communication
Progress history[/SIZE]