jobs?

[Genevra Gerhart]

Dear Mr. McClelland,

 1. Though a year's residence abroad may produce a certain fluency in
the
 language, it falls short of producing "native-like" speech.  Witness
 most foreigners who have lived in the United States for a year.
Perhaps
 we have differing views on "native-like".
 2.Advanced degrees, or any sort of certification, are not offered for
 language ability.  The latter is merely assumed and judgement in fact
 rests on a stellar publication record and great research promise in
 literature or linguistics, neither of which require the same faculties
 or facilities as language.
 3. It has been the practice of teachers of anything anywhere at every
 level to encourage students to study their subject.  That there is no
 future in the subject at advanced levels is something the student can
 worry about when the time comes.
 4. Therefore, it is a kindness to assure job-seeking Ph.D.s that there
 is a world beyond the Academy.  The worry is, of course, that only the
 smart ones will see it, leaving the Academy to deal with what's left
 over.
 Yours, etc. gg
--
Genevra Gerhart
http://www.wolfenet.com/~ggerhart/

2134 E. Interlaken  Bl.                 Tel. 206/329-0053
Seattle, WA  98112                      ggerhart at wolfenet.com