One of the great things about anthropology, especially with field research, is that you required to ALWAYS specify your approach to research. Fortunately, English is a very common language in W. Africa, and even better, majority of research is printed in English too. French is also a really common language, so yes, please highlight that you are going to learn French. If you have a working knowledge of these two languages it will be easier for you to acquire a translator when doing field research. When you write up your methodology to apply for grants and prove to the board that you AREN'T going to do unethical things with your research subjects, you need to explain how you are going to talk to people - one of this is explaining how you can come with a translator.
Therefore, the second language is most likely your own choice. You can pick a language which has a lot of research (maybe German? I don't know what your area of interest is), or maybe there's a second region you are interested in like India. If you are in cultural anthropology you really do have the freedom of having several areas of interest if they are categorized under one umbrella (like gender studies). Explaining something like this to a committee is pretty exciting despite that you aren't learning to cohesive languages.
So, don't feel pressured to learn just W.A. languages. But, like everything else, it really depends on your circumstances and context.
2. Do not submit a 40 page paper. I'm sure you have written an entire body of work since beginning college and I would definitely touch up on a less intensive paper with less pages. When a committee looks at a writing sample they are looking for 1: Bibliography - what resources you know how to use, 2: writing comprehension, 3: cohesive thought process and 4: an ability to make an argument and support it.
If you have a working knowledge of these two languages it will be easier for you to acquire a translator when doing field research. When you write up your methodology to apply for grants and prove to the board that you AREN'T going to do unethical things with your research subjects, you need to explain how you are going to talk to people - one of this is explaining how you can come with a translator.
Therefore, the second language is most likely your own choice. You can pick a language which has a lot of research (maybe German? I don't know what your area of interest is), or maybe there's a second region you are interested in like India. If you are in cultural anthropology you really do have the freedom of having several areas of interest if they are categorized under one umbrella (like gender studies). Explaining something like this to a committee is pretty exciting despite that you aren't learning to cohesive languages.
So, don't feel pressured to learn just W.A. languages. But, like everything else, it really depends on your circumstances and context.
2. Do not submit a 40 page paper. I'm sure you have written an entire body of work since beginning college and I would definitely touch up on a less intensive paper with less pages. When a committee looks at a writing sample they are looking for 1: Bibliography - what resources you know how to use, 2: writing comprehension, 3: cohesive thought process and 4: an ability to make an argument and support it.
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