Language
A demonstrated ability to learn a language is an important factor in being selected as a Peace Corps Volunteer. About half of Peace Corps programs require either 2 years of college Spanish or 1 year of college French. Other languages that applicants are encouraged to study are Arabic, Russian, and romance languages.
Some regions Peace Corps serves have specific language requirements which are subject to change at any time. It is at the country’s request that a language may be required
For most of Latin America, a minimum of 2 years of college-level Spanish is needed to be considered for many of these countries (for UF students, you need to get into the 2000 levels at least). For certain programs and countries, this may vary, but your goal should be to achieve this minimum requirement to be considered for most of this region.
For West Africa, French is widely spoken. We are always looking for French speakers. Should you be interested in Africa and wish to have as much of Africa available to you, consider taking French courses. For these countries, 1-2 years of college-level French is needed to be considered, though certain programs and countries may vary in this requirement.
Native speakers and applicants who spend a considerable amount of time immersed in a French- or Spanish-speaking country can also be considered for these areas.
Everywhere else is non-language required at this time. However, any language background an applicant has will be useful anywhere the applicant is placed. Even if you do possess language efficiency in a certain language, always remember to be flexible as to where you are placed. For example, just because an applicant may have taken 3 semesters of Swahili does not mean that the applicant is guaranteed a Swahili-speaking country. There are many factors that go into play when considering an applicant suitable for Peace Corps and the countries we serve.
See your recruiter should you have any questions about your language abilities or interests.
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