<p>I am sure your child will have a tremendous advantage over IR graduates without fluency in a second language. I just don’t know how you would demonstrate that your son is “more fluent” than others with similar training at other schools simply because he went to Tufts. Plenty of people acquire proficiency or fluency in languages through a combination of classroom training, immersion programs, and so on. Pretty much every college and university these days offers study-abroad programs, either its own or through a consortium. And, obviously, not all institutions are equally strong in every language (or offer the same range of languages).</p>
<p>Here’s a thread from a few years ago on the subject of foreign language programs. I didn’t see Tufts mentioned but I don’t doubt that the program is outstanding. The point is, many are.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/888678-best-foreign-language-undergraduate.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/888678-best-foreign-language-undergraduate.html</a></p>
<p>ETA: Also, for many foreign service-type positions I am not sure a college degree is absolutely necessary. A classmate of my son’s is at an elite 18-month Arabic immersion program for the Army somewhere in California.</p>