Where can I find a virtual speaker for different languages?

Double Majoring In Two Languages?

• Hello! I just wanted to hear a few opinions, advice and maybe some recommendations. Here's a short story!!!! So throughout high school, I never really knew what I wanted to do (I'll fast forward). It wasn't until my Junior year when I decided to switch out of Spanish for Chinese to really start challenging myself. It turned out that I really enjoyed the class, and I caught on really fast! In fact, I couldn't wait for my Senior year where I would take on more language classes. I ended up taking Chinese, Russian, and German. Unfortunately, I dropped German because I felt I was taking too many language courses, and I didn't really like German too much anyway. For my entire Senior year, my two language classes ended up being my two favorites which I looked forward to going to everyday! It was then that I found out that both Mandarin Chinese and Russian were critical languages to know these days!!! That was the perfect opportunity! I decided I wanted to double major in both the Chinese and Russian language in college! This is my first year (2nd semester) in college by the way, but I don't want my actual double major until this Fall 2012. The past 2 semesters I have been off track, (not all my fault though) lol. My original intent for last year's Fall 2011 was to go to Drew University. It was also this semester's (Spring 2012) intent to go to Drew as well!!!!! Like I said, things came up and I had to change plans. Also I decided I am going to Rutgers instead. Drew had this internship program that gives students the opportunity to work at the United Nations, which caught my interest. But full tuition there is 41,000 a year!!! I decided that Rutgers has the same majors, but only 12,000 a year. BIG DIFFERENCE! I guess my hidden passion that I didn't realize until I took Chinese was learning new languages! I was also told by some that it is good to double major in something specific with a language. Things like economics, business, teaching, international relations, political science. And I agree! But the thing is, most of those fields don't really interest me. The only minor problem I have faced so far when switching which language I am trying to speak, is that I will often accidentally use Chinese grammar structure when I try to speak Russian. Other wise, I don't get the two mixed up. Yes I know, I hear these two languages are very difficult to learn. Honestly I found Chinese to be very simple when it comes to speaking, it is the character writing which kills me. I also find Russian quite easy to pronounce, read, and write. I just dislike the long words!!!!!!!! I am a native English speaker, with Spanish being my second language. I am not completely fluent in Spanish, but I can understand it at a pretty fluent and native level. I know I will most likely have to create multiple posts asking this, as I feel most will only answer a part of it. By the way, sorry for all the reading!! At the moment, I am only taking an intermediate Spanish class, and a Public Speaking class at a community college. I have had about a year's worth of experience in Russian, and approx. 3 years of Chinese. 2 years in high school, and 1 month of an intensive immersion program which counts for a full year. I know that high school can vary, and it is a lot different than college. I will definitely have to go over my notes before taking my placement test for the Fall semester, but I am definitely not a beginner in Chinese. I am an intermediate speaker. As for Russian, I should be just above the beginners level. What are your thoughts of me double majoring in 2 languages? I've read a few posts on this, but I wanted to make one too!!!! lol Some of my family members have always been skeptical in me with my "career"...I am the first in my family to want to pursue a career that involves languages. A lot of my relatives are in like...the medical field and stuff. I know I could have easily chosen the medical field and made money, it is just not what I am interested in! :/

• Answer:

  I like the two languages, but you definitely should have something else in your arsenal such as business, international relations to make yourself versatile in the job market. I wouldn't worry about the fact that you sometimes confuse Chinese and Russian grammatical structure. It is said that for someone to become a master at something, they will need to put in 10,000 hours of practice. It is great to hear you are learning Chinese!