Foreign Language (French, Russian or German) PhD Requirement

[Legendre]

I just found out my programme requires me to learn either French, Russian or German. Any suggestions?

I like French. I am Asian and the ladies back home love French.

[IfhhoteCannot]

It seems like the language test is usually reading a mathematical text in the language and demonstrating an understanding. I am currently using Pimsleur to learn German and I think it is wonderful (it is quite expensive but I got it at my local library). It's conversational based, but I think it's a great start, especially if you have to commute each day (I use it while I drive). Other than that, you can always enroll in a summer class at a community college to pick up the basics.

[longtm1989]

I'm learning French, too. There's an app in apple store called trés bien that is very nice. You will learn phrase by phrase, with the reading from a native speaker. Try the free version first.

[PNT]

Depending on your field I think French is the best choice as many important papers in for example algebraic geometry are in French and I believe they still publish in French?

In any case reading a paper in another language is a lot easier than reading say a novel. The language is math.

[qbranch]

I intend to study German for use with number theory. At most schools, there is a course you can take specifically designed towards readiing for research (though not specifically for the mathematics discipline). Also, I don't think any of the grad students I have talked to take it very seriously. They all say that you can get by with very minimal preparation. I still think that it would be extremely useful, so if I have time, I plan to take the course.

[PNT]

I intend to study German for use with number theory. At most schools, there is a course you can take specifically designed towards readiing for research (though not specifically for the mathematics discipline). Also, I don't think any of the grad students I have talked to take it very seriously. They all say that you can get by with very minimal preparation. I still think that it would be extremely useful, so if I have time, I plan to take the course.

For number theory I definitely recommend French as a lot of major recent advances in number theory from Weil and co are in French.

[qbranch]

I intend to study German for use with number theory. At most schools, there is a course you can take specifically designed towards readiing for research (though not specifically for the mathematics discipline). Also, I don't think any of the grad students I have talked to take it very seriously. They all say that you can get by with very minimal preparation. I still think that it would be extremely useful, so if I have time, I plan to take the course.

For number theory I definitely recommend French as a lot of major recent advances in number theory from Weil and co are in French.

This is true. I hadn't thought about that. I was thinking about all of the older stuff like Hasse, Hecke, etc.

[PNT]

The thing is, most of the older stuff has been translated and covered in English books ect. Where as most of the stuff in French has not (legally I don't think people are allowed to publish translations of Grothendieck's and Deligne's work ect) and they still publish papers in French today. Certainly in my own work already I have come across a lot of sources in French that I have had to decipher, I think French would be the most useful.

[BYA]

I second PNT. Even though I have a minimal knowledge of another international language, I am keen on learning to read mathematical French for reasons already given above.