Source
r/biology•
strokey

What foreign language would be best to pair with Biology degree?

question

Basically what areas of the world are funding biology heavily? I'm finishing my degree and need a foreign language, and I can't decide on which one to go with.

Weird question for this sub I know but I'd like to get started in a language that would be potentially beneficial to my career. I speak a little Spanish so I thought of going that route for the easiest option. But I'm also looking at French and German. My school doesn't have a Korean option, but does have Chinese and Japanese.

Enough rambling, if you wanted to potentially work overseas what language would put you in the best position to find work?

Posted Jun 9, 2015, 7:14 AM UTC

1825
Smeghead333•

Latin is the only language of educated scientists!

-Posting from the 1600s.

40
calinet6evolutionary biology•

Beat me to it.

But seriously, a language with Latin roots would be best, and a cursory understanding of Latin for taxonomy is useful.

9
blackrat47neuroscience•

I know a bunch of people who've gone to Germany with biology careers, one person who went to Denmark (ended up living with Miss Universe Denmark... incredible). That's about it.

EDIT: Actually, a couple went to South America for field work.

16
greenearrowevolutionary ecology•

Field biology probably doesn't fit OP's intent. Lots of people want to do it, and there is no financial return on the results, so supply (biologists) outstrips demand (biology field jobs).

Germany seems like the better bet.

6
MayAwayTodayInAWay•

Miss Universe Denmakr... k

1
pauklzorz•

If you're a field biologist, Spanish will cover most of South America. French would be my second choice, given the amount of African countries you could use that in.

For working in Europe you don't really need other languages than English, as English is generally the language of research groups. The only Exception I've experienced personally is France, where people will expect you to speak French. It's still of course really helpful for your integration and personal life to speak the language of whichever country you'd be working in.

15
Timizleevolutionary biology•

France, where people will expect you to speak French

After visiting a lab group in Paris, I found this to be true. Sometimes French would be used in lab meetings, and I was grateful that I took it for 4 years in high school. Although labs vary, you're going to want to know at least a little French just to live in France. Otherwise, you'll find living there intolerable, the French are extraordinarily difficult with those who cannot speak their language well.

9
Whatisaskizzerixany•

Mandarin is not the way to go. First, you will always be laowei, an outsider, even if you spend 20 years working hard in china. And second, anyone there who studies biology already studies English. Third, it is one of the less relatable languages to pick up, as it works on a tone system (ie the word for mother and the word for mule are the same, so you can see how the tone is essential)

9
jellywobble•

I have a different perspective on your first two points. I know of a British woman who is a successful lab head at one of the national academies of science in Beijing, and because her Mandarin is excellent she is not treated as an outsider (at least, no more than a German in the US). Also, Chinese scientists all know some English, but thier actual communication ability varies a lot, so learning Mandarin can really help you connect with them, even if you don't become fluent. I do agree that Mandarin is harder than other languages... it took me 4 years of night classes to get to intermediate level, which you can acheive in 1 year for Spanish or German. Learning Mandarin helped me make friends with Chinese scientists, and could have led to an interesting post-doc if I'd been willing to move, but a European language might be better value for money/time overall.

2
xuchencell biology•

She might not notice it all the time, but she is an outsider and always will be. The Chinese are great to cooperate with, and Mandarin is a wonderful language. But make no mistake, the Chinese put themselves first no matter how long you've been there. As a scientist that speaks fluent mandarin, this saddens me.

5
MrFrumblePDXgeneral biology•

There was a very good This American Life episode that covered this

2
Whatisaskizzerixany•

There used to be a large (and somewhat cynical) population on reddit of people doing exactly this, living and working in china and banding together because they were never accepted (which resulted in some unhealthy behavioral patterns). I had a great time learning the language and culture, but always found these same attitudes (oh, you wouldn't understand, you're a foreigner). I would suggest other places, heard Singapore has lots biotech money.

2
1337ishmicrobiology•

That depends heavily on which field of biology you would like to work with. Different countries are ahead in different areas, which is often defined by a few companies or institutions. Denmark, as an example, have Novo Nordic and Novozymes, which are some of the largest biotechnological industries in the world. This potentially leaves you with a lot of possibilities regarding drugs and enzymes.

But to join such a company doesn't necessarily mean that you have to learn the native language, since big companies are often multinational and the language of science is english.

If you are interested in a particular area, do some research to find out who is ahead in this field and maybe figure out a few countries' legislation towards experimental biology like GMO.

8
MF10R3R•

Python. Ha, but seriously, Latin is the way to go.

6
superhelical•

Well you'll already learn a lot about transcription and translation in biology anyway...

...

I'll see myself out.

6
jpgraybiophysics•

Pick something you'll have fun with, I've personally enjoyed Japanese.

5
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Mumble-botany•

My professors either commented on mandarin (hard to learn) or german as the go to languages for biological sciences. It does really depend upon your field though.

4
Chocolate_flyentomology•

I've done research in many foreign countries and I only speak English. It's not necessary to be bilingual but I suppose it helps. It also depends where you want to go. I work in the South Pacific on a remote island and French is the predominant language on most islands in this region of the world (or English). Similar story for much of Africa. Also, Canada, Vietnam and Switzerland. I'd also recommend Spanish because so much is being done in Latin American countries. German isn't much of a 'global' language, but German speaking countries do a lot of science in general (I.e. Germany/Austria/Switzerland). However, you don't need to speak German to study in those places (they are very good about being bilingual with English as a second language).

I'd go 1) English, 2) French, 3) Spanish, 4) German and 5) Portuguese (because Brazil is hiring so many biologists right now).

3
LFC8•

What biome do you want to work with? I'd pick the regional language of the area you want to study.

3
strokeyOPgeneral biology•

Thanks for the replies, think I'll go with French for its global impact and the desire to visit there some day. For everything else there's always crappy language learning DVD's to work with. Thank gals n guys.

3
calinet6evolutionary biology•

Bon choix!

3
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[deleted]

1
morphinedreamsmarine biology•

Spanish is the second most popular translation in literature. Spanish also opens up all of South and Central America (If you can speak Spanish you basically just speak bad Portuguese so that also covers Brazil). French and English basically unlocks all of sub-saharan Africa as well as many islands from the Indian Ocean to the South Pacific.

1
Brrrtje•

Fist get your job at a place in the world, then learn that place's language. People in countries with smaller languages tend to understand when foreigners don't speak their language already.

1
herman_gill•

If you ever decide to get into medicine in the US, learn Spanish.

If you want to travel to anywhere in South America, learn Spanish.

It's also number 2 in the world for first languages after Mandarin.

1