Russian or Spanish?

[ok_computer]

Ok, which is more useful/desirable (and easier, although I don't mind that so much) as a university degree...Russian or Spanish?
For anyone who speaks either/both taking into account grammar etc as well.
Thanks :)
xx

[jno]

Spanish at least uses the same alphabet as English. Also, it may within years to come become an official language of the USA alongside English, because of the large numbers of immigrants from Latin America. I think Spanish is a language of the future, Russian of the past. But Russian has more exalted literature, on the whole.

[jno]

PS I should have said, in fairness, that I don't speak either language. Hasta la vista baby.

[andy hughes]

I would go for Spanish. Large numbers of Europeans speak it, as well as countries in South America, and various states in the U.S.

When I was at school, French was seen as the desirable language, being the language of diplomacy - I wish we'd done Spanish, far more useful.

[Aschenbach]

The Russian alphabet takes only a few weeks to learn. It is one of the easier parts of the language to master because, unlike English, the language is almost entirely phonetic.

The more difficult apects of the language are the large vocabulary, idomatic usage, stress and grammatic rules relating to six different cases. This means the nouns and adjectives change their ending depending on context and number. Verbs also change their endings. The long sounding words and quick speech can be misleading. There has also been a large influx of English words which will accelerate learning.

A lot of degree courses arrange for one year to be spent studying abroad which is a highlight for most students.

As part of the EU Spanish is more attractive to employers but I'm sure Russians wouldn't call their's a language of the past.

[ok_computer]

Thanks, thats really helpful, especially Aschenbach.

Thanks for your time
xx

[leandrews]

I'd do Spanish.

Remembering that you have to spend a year in the country of the language you're learning, wouldn't you rather spend a year in Spain than Russia?

I'm currently in Germany as part of my degree, and it's fine, I had no idea how cold it could get here, and when I first arrived it was boiling!