<p>Hi everyone, I am an incoming freshman in the Elliot School, and I have a question for anyone who might be able to answer it. Registration for classes last month went very well, and while I am very happy with my courses and excited for the upcoming school year, I need some advice about the Elliot School language requirement. I emailed my advisor, but apparently she's on vacation for the rest of this month. Greatttt.</p>
<p>Anyways, during my college years within the Elliot School, I plan on pursuing a degree in International Affairs with a concentration on Conflict & Security, and perhaps a secondary concentration in Middle Eastern Studies. That being said, I think it would also be beneficial to learn Arabic sometime in the next four years. </p>
<p>Here is my dilemma however - I originally planned on satisfying the Elliot School language requirement by continuing with Spanish. I was placed into Spanish 3 with the placement exam, and earned a 6 on my IB exam, so I will most likely begin taking that class in the spring. However, I do really want to start Arabic, so I can head in the right direction for the Middle Eastern studies concentration. </p>
<p>I would like to know which is the wisest course to take...
Continuing with Spanish and getting the Elliot School requirement out of the way with a language I am already familiar with, or should I go for my true goals and start all over with Beginning Arabic I? Or could I do both? Would that be a reasonable idea, taking on two languages? Do I even have the option of learning two within the Elliot School? </p>
<p>Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!</p>
<p>My “S” is in a very similar situation to you except he placed into SPAN 4. His advisor recommended he complete the SPAN sequence requirement- SPAN 4,9, and 10 to fulfill the ESIA req for lang. He is planning on taking Russian second semester Freshman year. His advisor told him it is common and practical for ESIA student to take 2 languages.</p>
<p>The advisor’s logic was that SPAN was a lang he knew and did well in, so completeing that would be pretty “easy”. Although, you do have 1 additional SPAN course compared to him. However, what happens if you don’t complete your SPAN and take Arabic for ex and do poorly. You’re then a little more pressured since you have to have 3 yrs of language and you might have forgotten some of your SPAN.</p>
<p>It’s a difficult choice given your placement in SPAN 3. I’m sure another advisor in ESIA would be willing to talk to you about the pros/cons since yours is on vacation.</p>
<p>Maybe some current students taking Arabic can give you an idea of the difficulty. </p>
<p>Take Spanish your first semester. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll forget, even if you wait.</p>
<p>If you want to learn Arabic later, take it as an **elective. **</p>
<p>Do Spanish first semester. **Get the requirement out of the way. **
It’s easier to find Spanish classes (there’s more) at more language levels.
After the requirement is done, you can learn Arabic for “fun.”</p>
<p>Wait, I just realized you meant Spanish 3-as in 3rd semester, not third year.
If you only placed one year up, it really doesn’t matter. I thought you’d skipped almost all the levels and had just one more semester. Even so, I suppose skipping one year of it is better than nothing… get the language requirement out of the way ASAP. If you want Arabic, take it this semester- and next- and the next- until it’s done.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses!
CJ, I agree that it is a really really tough decision. I’ve been going back and forth for a couple weeks now on this. Just to clarify, you mentioned that your son will be taking Russian in the spring semester? Does that mean he will be taking that class on top of his Spanish classes? I think that’s what I’m trying to avoid, taking both at once, but if that’s the only way, I guess I’ll have to consider it…</p>
<p>When I was at CI, my Cabinet member (an incoming junior) told me that Arabic was reallyyy hard to learn, but definitely worth it in the end. She also told me that had she had the opportunity again, she would have stuck with the language she learned in high school (French) instead of starting over with Arabic to complete the ESIA requirement. Like gwgrad said, I’ll probably just end up learning Arabic as an elective.</p>
<p>Also, if I do Spanish 3 this semester, Spanish 4 in the spring, and Spanish 9 & 10 sophomore year, that would mean that I’d have to begin Arabic junior year right? Do you guys think that is too late to start learning a new language within the Elliot School?</p>
<p>i was in literally the same exact situation as a freshman…and my advisor told me to take spanish and get the requirement out of the way. HOWEVER, i took arabic instead. of course the advisor will say to take spanish bc that is the easiest decision to make and u will get the requirement out of the way. BUT, i chose arabic bc its more of a risk, yet with a bigger payoff. if u dont take arabic as a freshmen, in my opinion, u jus dont have much time to to take it all and become proficient. if ur really interested in learning and becoming proficient in arabic, i HIGHLY reccommend taking arabic over spanish. u can always take spanish as an elective later on, for u probably are already have basic skills at the very least in spanish. i took arabic and i was so happy with my decision. I am starting my 3rd year of school and my 3rd year of arabic, and now i am taking spanish classes for the first time at college as well. people will say to take spanish bc its the easiest and smartest route. however take arabic and get a bigger payoff in the end</p>
<p>Academia22, thanks for your input! May I ask what you are studying at school? Like, what concentration are you going for within the Elliot School? And what do you consider the big payoff? If you’re like me, I’d like to work for the State Department one day, and I know they loveeee people who speak 3+ languages!</p>
<p>Also, its encouraging to know that you will be starting Spanish this year, meaning you’re taking on two languages. I think that’s the route I will be taking - completing the language requirement with Spanish, and beginning Arabic perhaps junior year (:</p>
<p>I’m majoring in International Affairs with a dual concentration in conflict and security and the Middle East with a minor in economics.</p>
<p>It’s funny that you mentioned the State Department because this summer, I have been doing a student internship there. That is just one example of a bigger payoff because of the fact that Arabic is more demanded now in the field of International Relations and conflict and security.</p>
<p>Wow, you’re me two years later! Haha (: I’m planning on doing a dual concentration in Conflict & Security along with the Middle Eastern regional concentration as well.
How hard did you find Arabic your first year? And how exactly did you go about studying for it?</p>
<p>I’ve studied German, Spanish, and Arabic, and I must say, Arabic was the easiest for me to learn. Once you get the Arabic alphabet down, it is quite simple. It’s all memorization for me, and if you are good at memorizing, you will get it very well I think. Arabic 001 was easier than I was expecting. It’s something where you will do as good as you put forth. So if you take 15 minutes everyday to review the material you covered in class, you will be fine.</p>
<p>I’ve actually never heard anybody say that Arabic was easy! You must be very good at it! (: I’m excited to learn and get started on it, if not this year than in the coming years at least. Thanks for answering my questions!</p>
<p>A majority of the people in my class share my opinions. I mean there will still be the small few amount of students who drop it within the first couple of weeks</p>
<p>agree with gwgrad…If you want to learn Arabic, you really need to start as a freshman and take it all four years including studying abroad if possible.</p>