>they struggle to hire people who can actually speak foreign languages I was career Foreign Service. This observation is rather wide of the mark. State's for

>they struggle to hire people who can actually speak foreign languages I was career Foreign Service. This observation is rather wide of the mark. State's foreign language school is the best of its kind as it certainly needs to be - State requires all diplomats to achieve fluency in one foreign language or face termination. A two year, or more, intensive language assignment at State's Foreign Service Institute is mandatory for nearly all diplomats. As I mentioned, ALL diplomats are required to achieve fluency or they are terminated. In fact, if you want to be paid while learning and achieving a language fluency, I can unreservedly recommend State. edit: This "learn a language or get fired" applies only to career Foreign Service diplomats. Executive branch appointments via the spoils system (plum book) avoid such requirements.