Spanish...

[Tin]

Spanish is the one class I really have to work my *** off in to get good grades. It has just never come easy for me. But I have taken four classes of it to fulfill my gen ed requirement at school and now have some thinking to do.

On top of my psychology degree I can take three more classes and either have a minor in biology or Spanish. This is a really tough choice because a minor in biology looks great for graduate school but a minor in Spanish could also really help when going on job interviews in the future. I can't do both and only have 3 classes to go for each if I were to have a minor in one of the two studies. Which one do you think would be more beneficial? Any employers have any input?

[daviscw]

I think it would depend on what you planned on doing after school. Being in the construction industry, Spanish obviously would have the upper hand in my case.

I took beginning I and II in high school, and beginning I and II in college, and I still don't know any Spanish. I absolutely hate it. That's another good point though, if you hate it now, you'll hate it when you have to use it in the job field.

You are 3 classes away in both fields?

[Glenn]

Take the Spanish courses.  The Hispanic market is huge, and bi-lingual employees that speak Spanish are in demand, regardless of the field you're in.  The demand will only increase as time goes on.

[Tin]

You are 3 classes away in both fields?

Yup, they were mostly elective stuff and I like biology and it is all memorization so I figured it would be an easy minor to get. I didn't realize how close I was to a spanish one too and now it is time to choose. For a minor in both you only need 8 courses in the field of study. I'm working on number five for both this semester.

[daviscw]

I would personally do the one you enjoy the most. I don't do well in the classes I don't like. Not because I can't, but because I don't care. You are obviously different. Lol

If worse comes to worse, stay an extra semester and do both. My minor is keeping me from graduating on time. Who wants a job anyway?

[Tin]

If worse comes to worse, stay an extra semester and do both. My minor is keeping me from graduating on time. Who wants a job anyway?

Yup...take your time. Not too much out there.

[NewAngler]

spanish speaking college graduate in my company would land you 45K off the bat. hands down. and more if you have any management experience. take the spanish classes and move down to VA.

[RobbyZ5001]

I would definitely finish your Spanish minor. I have friends that got jobs just because they had a Spanish minor. Even though biology will help you get into a graduate program it is not relevant in your field. Spanish would be the way to go. Nothing worth getting is ever easy.

[Dan:]

Can you take spanish and still get the Biology minor? If you can take the classes and get to AT LEAST a proficient level than that might help you a lot.

My field isn't really related to psychology but there are a LOT of local and federal jobs that I can't get because I am not proficient in spanish or some other second language and it's probably similar in the case of a lot of psychology careers. I think it could really open some doors later on, even if you don't minor in spanish but still achieve proficiency by taking classes.

[Shad_Master]

Several years ago I was job hunting and came across an ad for a job in my field - the ad said the requirements for the job were an advanced degree, 5-6 years of experience, familiarity with a lot of different processes and such - or fluent in Spanish.

To keep your spirits up, consider this:

Reasons why English is so hard to learn:

1)      The bandage was wound around the wound.

2)      The farm was used to produce produce.

3)      The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4)      We must polish the Polish furniture.

5)      He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6)      The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7)      Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present his present.

8)      A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9)      When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10)      I did not object to the object.

11)      The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12)      There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13)      They were too close to the door to close it.

14)      The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15)      A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16)      To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17)      The wind is too strong to wind the sail.

18)      Upon seeing a tear in the painting I shed a tear.

19)      I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20)      How can I intimate this to my most intimate friends?

Let's fact it English is a crazy language.  There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple or pine in pineapple.  English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.  Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted.  But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinepig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.  And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?  If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?

One goose, 2 geese.  So one moose, 2 meese?  One index, 2 indices?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend?  If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?  If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Keep studying!!!

[rfrazier]

I'm on my 4th spanish course for a minor, need 9 total. It's a really practical minor, specially here on the west coast. I feel you don't learn as much in broader minors where there is just so much material to know to truly be an expert. With a spanish minor I expect to be fluent by the end.

[Little Luey]

Several years ago I was job hunting and came across an ad for a job in my field - the ad said the requirements for the job were an advanced degree, 5-6 years of experience, familiarity with a lot of different processes and such - or fluent in Spanish.

To keep your spirits up, consider this:

Reasons why English is so hard to learn:

1)      The bandage was wound around the wound.

2)      The farm was used to produce produce.

3)      The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4)      We must polish the Polish furniture.

5)      He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6)      The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7)      Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present his present.

8)      A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9)      When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10)      I did not object to the object.

11)      The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12)      There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13)      They were too close to the door to close it.

14)      The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15)      A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16)      To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17)      The wind is too strong to wind the sail.

18)      Upon seeing a tear in the painting I shed a tear.

19)      I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20)      How can I intimate this to my most intimate friends?

Let's fact it English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple or pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinepig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?

One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Keep studying!!!

LOL, that is a good post. I agree, english is hard to learn.

I am hispanic and I know I have gotten jobs because I am fluent in both english and spanish. I have translated in every company I worked for, and I like it. Gleen is right, there is a huge hispanic market and companies want a piece of that market and want to service their customers.

[fathom]

a few years ago, my daughter graduated ole miss with a teaching degree in sped (special education)...she also speaks spanish as a language requirement.

the state of arizona offered her $70,000 per annum, plus relocation.

just to start.

[Dan:]

a few years ago, my daughter graduated ole miss with a teaching degree in sped (special education)...she also speaks spanish as a language requirement.

the state of arizona offered her $70,000 per annum, plus relocation.

just to start.

holy crap. SpecEd teachers around here don't make anywhere near that.

[1inStripes]

They don't but, counties do covet Spec Ed teachers because that means more state funding.  Spec ed is probably the easiest way to land a teaching job, its just a butt load of paper work.  I need to finish my degree......

[tyrius.]

I'd go for the bio minor.

You can become fluent in Spanish through a night class or two, especially since you would be starting off with a good understanding of the language before taking the class. I don't think that employers will make a distinction between being fluent and having a minor.

[roadwarrior]

My son has degrees in both Molecular Biology and Anthropology.

He is fluent in Latin (?), Spanish and Russian with some exposure

to Thai language and Swahili. He is now 2nd year Medical School

and working in Tuscon in a predominately Hispanic clinic.

Unless you are a teacher, NO ONE will care about your "minor"

in Spanish. If you can read it, write it and speak it, you're good-

to-go.

8-)

[ArcticCat500]

Take the Spanish, its the next English

[Tin]

My son has degrees in both Molecular Biology and Anthropology.

He is fluent in Latin (?), Spanish and Russian with some exposure

to Thai language and Swahili. He is now 2nd year Medical School

and working in Tuscon in a predominately Hispanic clinic.

Unless you are a teacher, NO ONE will care about your "minor"

in Spanish. If you can read it, write it and speak it, you're good-

to-go.

8-)

Thanks RW,

I'am keeping my options open. Depending on how high my GPA I have considered med school but do not want to relocate to Boston or Connecticut and the only thing in RI is Brown, which is not the easiest program to get into. :

[roadwarrior]

It's all about your scoring on the MCAT.  My son had a 33,

virtually all options were open. 24 "might" get you in somewhere,

27 is solid and any better score is a lock. If you would consider a

military commitment, you can live like a king!

8-)

[=Matt 5.0=]

Take the Spanish. It will save you when you end up delivering boxes in South Providence.

[Little Luey]

You can become fluent in Spanish through a night class or two, especially since you would be starting off with a good understanding of the language before taking the class. I don't think that employers will make a distinction between being fluent and having a minor.

this is true.

[moby bass]

Press "1" for English

[Fisher of Men]

I'm remarkably surprised this forum didn't take a political turn. I knew something seemed different around here. Yes, the others are making GREAT points. Being bi-lingual can only enhance your employability and earning potential. Stick with it. . . and not only learn it in classes but use it regularly in conversation. You'll be glad you did.

-Adios!!

[Koop]

I can speak spanish and arabic. I took spanish 1 and 2 in highschool and became fluent in the military. Arabic I learned on my own through 3 deployments to Iraq and Rosetta stone. I have huge amounts of training in Intelligence work through 5 years in the USMC. I also have a TS-SCI security clearence. My training cost the government over $250,000 (including all the investigations for the clearance). This all combined amounts to very little in the civilian job market. Anything outside of military contracting or a job with homeland security does not need my skill set. This is why I am continuing my education. My point is, your degree is going to be in Psychology, from an employment perspective which do you think will compliment the Psych degree best?

All I can really offer is to know what you want to do and take the minor that will best fit to exactly what your shooting for to make yourself the most marketable you possibly can. You need to be able to distinguish yourself from the other 50 applicants for a position.

In all honesty I don't know enough about Psych to offer educated input. If your not in a location where you will be counceling Spanish only speakers I don't see how a Spanish minor will be worth its weight. I don't see how biology would compliment it either but this is something you should look into. Maybe go and meet up with a Psychologist who does what you are wanting to do, buy him or her lunch and discuss it with them. Most professionals are more than willing to help out, especially if a free lunch is involved