So, KSU requires one to be proficient up to Intermediate II in a foreign language to attain a bachelor of arts degree. I have found that I struggle mightily learning new languages. I don’t know if that is because, at 40, I never needed to learn one besides English before now, or if its because, at 40, my gray matter is becoming too soft and mushy to handle the task. Regardless, I am finding Spanish to be quite difficult… even though, if the whole process of grading were not involved, I would probably enjoy it quite alot.

Well, in my search for the right graduate school for me, I realized that most every school that has the PhD program I want requires not just one, but TWO… yes TWO… spoken language proficiencies besides English. Spoken is the key word here… no so called “dead” languages like Latin, or American sign language (which fulfills the KSU requirement, but not graduate school requirements).

Which means… I have to maintain and improve my Spanish… AND learn another one, probably either French or German if I want to study European history at all. Well, my area of interest has been far ranging, but of special note to me was Indus, Mesopotamia, Thailand, Latin America, and everything Africa. If I want to study ANY of them besides Latin America… I have to learn German, or French, or Chinese, or a combination of all of them. I don’t think I can do it!

So… if I let my issue with learning languages dictate my course of direction in graduate school and teaching, then… it is American (ALL American) history for me (in which the United States plays only an itty bitty tiny role/period of time).

Which is great… and confining all at once. *sigh*