Language Encounters

[Fundamentals]

Hello!

I am about to start my BS in CJ (with transfer credits from AS), and will be done in two years. I decided that it would be best for me to pick up conversational fluency in a language while at it, and am wondering what languages do you guys encounter aside from English and Spanish.

[Ron-Solo]

Depends on the area. In the Glendale/Burbank area Russian and Armeanian are big. In Orange County, Chinese and Vietnamese are very common.

Spanish is the most common.

[WARDOG]

Since your on the LEo board. Where do you want to get a job? There is a fine line when choosing a second language. You want to be able to use it. You can earn extra pay and be a huge asset if you know a language most officer's don't know, but you work in an area it would be beneficial. You also want to make some friends outside of Law Enforcement that speak that language "Culturally". You can learn the slang, and some of their traditions which will explain why they communicate differently than English speaker's.
I learned Spanish and German. The Spanish wasn't 'Mexican' enough and I was not as effective as I should have been. German was interesting, but once I was outside of Germany, I didn't have any local German's that spoke the language. It was rare that I came accross a German on the street that couldn't speak English. Now I recall enough to get a quizzical look, but I can still order a cold beer

[Fundamentals]

I am not sure what department what I will be going after. My ultimate goal, many years down the line, is to be a field investigator. I come from a paralegal background, so I am mostly waiting for the classes / volunteering experience to help fine tune my horizons.

I figure that I will most likely be stuck in SoCal for quite a while. I also figure that a decent bit of officers going in will be bilingual in Spanish or conversational enough. I was thinking that Mandarin may be a smart choice, but it I also see that the Vietnamese community is huge.

It is/was my plan that after learning the second language, that I would go back and learn enough in Spanish to get around. I would prefer it if it would not be my first alternative language.

[Notorious]

Get it in Arabic or Farsi. Get a federal job outside of LE, like with the state department. Enjoy life.

[Fundamentals]

Get it in Arabic or Farsi. Get a federal job outside of LE, like with the state department. Enjoy life.

Would you mind explaining your reasoning? I am not doubting your advice, but just want to know why you recommended such.

[Notorious]

Would you mind explaining your reasoning? I am not doubting your advice, but just want to know why you recommended such.

Very simple. LE is not a job that has longevity in it. People get hurt. People get rolled up in stuff. You can't chase young gangbangers and fight them all day long. Eventually, you are going to want a desk job or get out of LE.

Now, you get a language skill in something that is going to be very valuable to America. You go ahead and apply for the Department of State Foreign Services Corps, and join the rank of the Diplomatic Services.

Travel the world as part of America's diplomatic mission. Represent her interests. You can do that type of job forever. You also get to climb the ranks and work your way up to Ambassador even.

Same great benefits and retirement as any other federal job.

[mixicus]

English, Arabic and Spanish are the 2-4 most spoken languages behind 'Chinese' in the world. Without knowing your intended geo/cultural area, consider those. But if you know your future area, you can dial it in more. Vietnamese would do you well in garden grove or Westminster. Armenian in Glendale. Korean in la Palma-Cerritos. Are some examPles

[Fundamentals]

Very simple. <snip>.

Thank you. That makes quite a bit of sense. I did not realize that LE background experience could take you that far.

English, Arabic and Spanish are the 2-4 most spoken languages behind 'Chinese' in the world.

I do know my plan is to stay on the west coast as much as possible. Beyond that, I am not sure. Considering such, the choice will probably come down between Spanish and an Asian language. I do not think there are too many Arab's further north, but I could be wrong.

[Notorious]

Thank you. That makes quite a bit of sense. I did not realize that LE background experience could take you that far.

I do know my plan is to stay on the west coast as much as possible. Beyond that, I am not sure. Considering such, the choice will probably come down between Spanish and an Asian language. I do not think there are too many Arab's further north, but I could be wrong.

Actually, you don't need LE experience to get in or ahead in the Foreign Services Corps. I was just saying that is something to think about if you are looking at learning languages and finding applications for the language in a government job that might be more stable and have a bit more longevity.

LE experience never hurts though because you could also go into other Department of State sections that have LE components like the Diplomatic Security Services which are some of the most bada55 mofos out there.

LE experience will also give you some insight and situational awareness in circumstances that some will not know or see. For example, while traveling abroad, I was with a few friends, some LE, some not. We got tailed and set up for ambush by a local gang and the LE among us spotted it early on and we were able to escape by the hair on our chins. The other guys in the group had no idea what was going on other than they saw us yell, "RUN!!"

To this day, they still have no idea how close we came to certain death. I say this because Americans are not exactly the most beloved people abroad and I can definitely say my LE experience is something that gives me an advantage in those situations.

[fullrearview]

Just had to learn Japanese yesterday... I failed.

Spanish and Russian the most for me.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Hello!

I am about to start my BS in CJ (with transfer credits from AS), and will be done in two years. I decided that it would be best for me to pick up conversational fluency in a language while at it, and am wondering what languages do you guys encounter aside from English and Spanish.

I dealt with a lot of Korean folks in patrol. I'm sure it is a high learning curve language though. I've been to Korea twice and I am still clueless to the dialect.

[Fundamentals]

Actually, you don't need LE experience to get in or ahead in the Foreign Services Corps. <snip>

Ah, I understand. Thank you for clarifying, and the story. I do not think many people possess situation awareness anymore, and those that do, cover it up with earbuds.

---
I should have known that the language spread would have been huge. Too many Choices!

[CaptMike]

As has been stated, it's completly up to the area you are going to work in. I speak spanish and french and work in Los Angeles. Guess which one is useful and which one I have never used once on the job. I speak a little German as well and have never used that as well. I really want to learn Armenian and Russian because we are starting to see the numbers of armenian "clients" growing. I know in san diego there is a large Iraqi community, so Arabic may be useful there. Chinese can ome in handy just about anywhere in the state. Look at where you want to work and asses which language is used the most by criminals or victims in that area. Bonne Chance

[Notorious]

As has been stated, it's completly up to the area you are going to work in. I speak spanish and french and work in Los Angeles. Guess which one is useful and which one I have never used once on the job. I speak a little German as well and have never used that as well. I really want to learn Armenian and Russian because we are starting to see the numbers of armenian "clients" growing. I know in san diego there is a large Iraqi community, so Arabic may be useful there. Chinese can ome in handy just about anywhere in the state. Look at where you want to work and asses which language is used the most by criminals or victims in that area. Bonne Chance

C'est vrai? Jamais utiliser la langue Francaise? Mon Dieu!