Foreign Language: A requirement for Mathematics Ph.Ds?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the requirement of foreign language proficiency for Mathematics Ph.D. programs, exploring the necessity and usefulness of learning specific languages in this academic context.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, Alex, inquires about which foreign languages would be most beneficial for a Ph.D. in Mathematics, noting that many universities require knowledge of languages like French, German, or Russian.
  • Another participant suggests that fluency is not necessary, indicating that a basic ability to translate a document with a dictionary suffices for requirements.
  • A different viewpoint highlights that the language requirement is more about promoting well-roundedness among students rather than being essential for academic work, implying that minimal proficiency is often adequate.
  • A humorous anecdote from a participant describes their own experience with a foreign language exam, suggesting that the actual requirement may be less stringent than perceived.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity and rigor of foreign language requirements for Mathematics Ph.D. programs, indicating that there is no consensus on the importance or the level of proficiency needed.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention that the requirements may vary by university and that the expectations for language proficiency might not align with the actual academic needs in Mathematics.

Dakure
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Though still an undergrad in my early stages, I've been looking at graduate school programs and requirements just for kicks. In a significant amount of universities learning or knowing a foreign language (French, German, and/or Russian seem to be the most common choices) is a requirement.

So I was wondering, seeing as how I can get started on learning a language while still in my undergrad years, which language(s) would be the most useful to learn for a Ph.D in Mathematics?

Thanks in advance,
Alex
 
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I don't think you really need to be fluent in a language, I always heard you just had to translate a page of a document using a dictionary, or something similar to that.
 
It's not generally required for the work - it's a general entry requirement for some universities. It promotes well rounded students = keep out the uncouth scientists and engineers who might use the wrong fork at a formal dinner.
Generally you only need minimal high school (the which way to the post office stuff) french/spanish/german
 
My PhD foreign language exam went something like this. "I see you took German in college. Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" "Si, Senor." "Close enough. Next!"
 

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