Comp lit language requirement

[fran12]

Hi all,

I'm yet another comp lit hopeful looking for a bit of advice. I plan to apply to MA/PhD programs this fall. My primary region of interest is Latin America. I'm a native speaker of English and am fluent in Spanish, having majored in Spanish and lived in South America for several years. As an undergrad, I took (and received high grades in) four semesters of intensive classes in a non-European language that is not central to my research interests.

My question is whether or not training in a second foreign language works to an applicant's advantage if he or she does not plan to focus on that language in the future. My hope is that the good folks on the admissions committees take such studies as an indication that the applicant is a good language learner; am I deluding myself? Is anyone out there in the same boat?

Thanks!

[joeygiraldo]

It doesn't matter what your focus language is in. 99% of Comp Lit programs require another (some a third) language as a degree requirement even if you don't use it in your research (you need it, though, for them to test you in it).

So yeah, brush up on that non-European language as best you can. You're gonna need it.

[Phedre]

Some schools don't necessarily test you and some do. Brushing up is a good idea, but if you have four semesters on your transcript, you may not get tested.

Another option is to also start a new language that would actually be useful, and then stress that you plan to continue study of said language during grad school

[fran12]

Thanks for the tips. Looks like I'd better get cracking!