If you want to work on the history of a country other than the United States, you’ll need to possess language competence before you apply to graduate school because you’ll need to read primary sources in that language and (eventually) travel to it for research.
Some programs require non-Americanists to know two languages.
Use your undergraduate years to build your language capacity. Students whose transcripts show that they are fluent (or nearly so) check an important box for an admissions committee.
Study abroad in a foreign country is another way to demonstrate language ability/interest.
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