For a Phd do you have to write your thesis in a foreign language?[yourself]

acidvoodoo

Platinum Member
Jan 6, 2002
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i'm in highschool, and was talking to a friend on mine.

I was talking about me getting a C in french, and i said "basicly, i think "how will french help me in 15 years, oh it won't, let's not do anywork then"

he said to me "good plan...but if you plan to do a PhD you have to write a thesis in a foreign language...so french probably would help"

is this true? sounds crazy to me..... obviously i prolly never will do a phd but it was brought up so now i am curious [as i hate language subjects]
 

vetteguy

Diamond Member
Sep 12, 2001
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Well, the first clue to you should have been when he said you had to write a thesis for a Ph.D and not a dissertation.
 

Fausto

Elite Member
Nov 29, 2000
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I will point out one thing; being bilingual (or even semi-bilingual with a "working knowledge" of a foreign language) can be a really good thing years down the road when you're looking for jobs as it's a fairly rare skill among Americans. For example, a good friend of mine landed a job with ACOG during the 1996 Olympics here in town largely due to his fluency in French and that led to other jobs down the road. Just food for thought.
 

XZeroII

Lifer
Jun 30, 2001
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Originally posted by: ggavinmoss
I've got this bridge I want to sell you...

-geoff

What's up with this bridge? Maybe you are talking about some oceanfront property in Arizona that I'm selling. Good stuff.
 

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
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No matter where you are studying, France, Germany, Japan, etc..., most PhD's have to be written in English, especially in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering.
 

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
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I sure hope that isn't the case, or I'm screwed.

<-- PhD Mechanical Engineering student. Speaks enough Spanish to not make an a$$ of myself with my girlfriend's family (Cuban), but no more.
 

Fausto

Elite Member
Nov 29, 2000
26,521
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Originally posted by: XZeroII
Originally posted by: ggavinmoss
I've got this bridge I want to sell you...

-geoff

What's up with this bridge? Maybe you are talking about some oceanfront property in Arizona that I'm selling. Good stuff.
Is that the property you mentioned with the adjacent ice-skating rink? I'd really like more info on that please. ;)

 

XZeroII

Lifer
Jun 30, 2001
12,572
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Also, Why would it need to be in a foreign language? That's so stupid. It's supposed to be relavent to whatever you're doing. Who cares what language it's in. If it's good enough, it will get translated anyway.
 

machintos

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2003
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I went through college using a foreign language...
And yes, english is a foreign language to me :)
So, if I'm ever getting a PhD, I will be using a foreign language...
 
Jan 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: acidvoodoo
i'm in highschool, and was talking to a friend on mine.

I was talking about me getting a C in french, and i said "basicly, i think "how will french help me in 15 years, oh it won't, let's not do anywork then"

he said to me "good plan...but if you plan to do a PhD you have to write a thesis in a foreign language...so french probably would help"

is this true? sounds crazy to me..... obviously i prolly never will do a phd but it was brought up so now i am curious [as i hate language subjects]

hahahah most phDs read like they are in greek, but are actually in english.

 

Alphathree33

Platinum Member
Dec 1, 2000
2,419
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Originally posted by: acidvoodoo
i'm in highschool, and was talking to a friend on mine. I was talking about me getting a C in french, and i said "basicly, i think "how will french help me in 15 years, oh it won't, let's not do anywork then" he said to me "good plan...but if you plan to do a PhD you have to write a thesis in a foreign language...so french probably would help" is this true? sounds crazy to me..... obviously i prolly never will do a phd but it was brought up so now i am curious [as i hate language subjects]

It's okay, it doesn't look like you'll ever have to worry about a PhD...
 

Fausto

Elite Member
Nov 29, 2000
26,521
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0
Originally posted by: Alphathree33
Originally posted by: acidvoodoo
i'm in highschool, and was talking to a friend on mine. I was talking about me getting a C in french, and i said "basicly, i think "how will french help me in 15 years, oh it won't, let's not do anywork then" he said to me "good plan...but if you plan to do a PhD you have to write a thesis in a foreign language...so french probably would help" is this true? sounds crazy to me..... obviously i prolly never will do a phd but it was brought up so now i am curious [as i hate language subjects]

It's okay, it doesn't look like you'll ever have to worry about a PhD...
Ouch. :p

 

HokieESM

Senior member
Jun 10, 2002
798
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I'm busy writing my dissertation right now (its a thesis for a masters, a dissertation for a PhD)... and its in english. Actually, in engineering, 99% of the ones in the world are in english--so other people write them in a foreign language. But as a general rule, you write in your vernacular. :)
 

Apathetic

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2002
2,587
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I assure you (unless you're getting a PhD in say French), you will NOT have to do it in a foreign language.

Dave
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
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Unless you consider the jargon related to a particular field to be a foreign language....
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,267
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Um... no.

I never did such a thing, nor anyone else I know. Perhaps if the doctorate is in languages, and the thesis requires it, but even then most of it would be in english.



Shenanigans!
 

burnedout

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,249
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Some U.S. PhD programs, English, history or sociology for example, may in fact require demonstrated proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Even then, this requirement largely depends upon the university. Demonstrating foreign language proficiency generally comes in the form of an examination. However, composition of the dissertation itself is confined to the English language.

No worries, be happy. And don't forget, they wanna publish ur papur if it is guud enuf. ;)