A software consultant: "I do believe that knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is very important in the work I do. Because the people that I work with do not speak English as their native language, there is always a large potential for miscommunication and misunderstanding."

A former chemistry student and biology grad student: "Americans are too isolated, and I think a language requirement would be beneficial to Rice students."

A former engineering student and medicine student: "I never got to take a language at Rice but having learned a bit of Spanish from a summer in Mexico, I can say it’s invaluable for the practice of medicine."

A tax consultant: "I took a job with a public accounting firm that had Schlumberger as a client--thinking I might get to use my French and I did. A few years later, I ended up in Turkey for a six-week work assignment. My guide spoke Turkish and French. I had to use my French. No one was there to critique my accent or grammar. If the guide understood me, I was successful. Today I am a partner with a BIG 5 public accounting firm in NYC. While I still may not speak the most accurate French, speaking French has opened more doors and opportunities for me than I can count."

A graduate student in molecular biology: " Learning a new language is a challenge that continues no matter how proficient you become. My language classes at Rice were a good complement to the math and science I was taking&endash;learning a language exercised a different sort of thought process."

A woman in finance: "I have received numerous compliments on my writing and overall communication skills in every position I have held. Those skills were developed and strengthened through the study of a foreign language. It is virtually impossible to express oneself clearly in a second language without having mastered the first. Even if a student never uses the foreign language again, the effort of mastering it can pay off in many other ways."

A former biology major and now physician: "I use Spanish on a daily basis with my patients. Understanding language and culture is essential in the practice of medicine. The intensive summer program in Spanish I took was one of my best experiences at Rice."

A reservations manager at Continental: "It is amazing how useful the knowledge of German and Spanish has been. I have used my German in Portugal and Peru to get me through. I think the study of a foreign language should be required at Rice if it is not already. I wish foreign travel could be required too. It broadens your horizons and helps you become a better, more open person."

A physician: "Foreign languages are invaluable in my career. Foreign language education should be made a requirement&endash;just like P.E. Also, a program to study abroad for a semester should be made widely available."

An environmental consultant: " I would have loved to have studied abroad. However, as an engineer it was difficult to do that. I used most of my electives to take Spanish. If only I had had some language immersion I know I would now have the opportunity to work in South America. Quite regrettable!"

A former chemistry major and information systems designer: "Studying Spanish increased my awareness of Latin, which in turn piqued an interest in etymology. The general interest in communication and rhetoric and logic that comes specifically from language learning has paid off in an unexpected arena. In the field of information technology my language skills have found application to computer languages. It seems that language skills have allowed me to form an intuitive understanding of even these esoteric forms of communication."