Should I learn Chinese or Russian?

[sydneyfranke]

Hi all. I'm trying to fill up some humanities requirements, and thought I would actually try to learn something useful for my career. I want to go into aerospace, but I'm not sure which language will be more useful . . . Russia is IMO the current world leader in human space flight and we have a long history in working with the Russians. On the other hand, China's program is growing rapidly and is in general a world super power. Also, I'm prepared for some level of difficulty with these classes - but I don't want my elective to end up being my hardest class next semester! Is this even a good idea to take on? I will be enrolled in Calc III, Dif Eq, and Dynamics (among others) so my work load will not be modest at all (but when is it ever?). So, any help with this would be appreciated! Basically trying to weigh out the difficulty vs. usefulness factor. Thanks!

 

[R.Mesri]

Given your interest in aerospace engineering, it would be beneficial to consider learning a language that is used in the aerospace industry. That could include Russian, Chinese, or even Spanish, which is often used for international collaboration in many industries. In terms of difficulty, it really comes down to how much effort you're willing to put into learning the language. If you're comfortable with the subject material and you're willing to dedicate the time and energy to mastering the language, then it's certainly possible to do so. From a usefulness standpoint, it's likely that either Russian or Chinese would benefit your career prospects in the aerospace industry. However, if you're looking for an easier language to learn, Spanish may be a better option.