Back in the day, we chemistry students at the University of Minnesota were encouraged to take German and French in preparation for language exams in grad school. I did and, yes, took and passed language exams at Princeton and used my reading knowledge in reading the relevant literature. Alas, within a few years, the journals in those languages went to translating the abstracts into English and eventually the entire journal. However, I never regret taking those language courses.
Back in the day, we chemistry students at the University of Minnesota were encouraged to take German and French in preparation for language exams in grad school. I did and, yes, took and passed language exams at Princeton and used my reading knowledge in reading the relevant literature. Alas, within a few years, the journals in those languages went to translating the abstracts into English and eventually the entire journal. However, I never regret taking those language courses.