Best way to impress professor

College Life
1

<p>This is not what it looks like XD. Ok, here's my situation. I got a 3 on the AP Spanish exam (not at all what I or my teacher were expecting, but whatever) and my school doesn't traditionally grant credit for 3's. So, I just talked with a prof at my school and she said that I would probably start in either 110 or 210 Spanish....she wants me to come talk to her at the open house at Orientation in August to see which class I should be put in.</p>

<p>Now, obviously I want to be in the highest level that I can get into. However, going up to a complete stranger and talking to her in Spanish sounds kind of intimidating to me, just because she's judging me the whole time. I'll be nervous, that's for sure. I guess I'll do it, though. </p>

<p>I really want to be in that 210. As of right now it's the highest level that's open, actually. Any advice on what I should do?</p>

2

<p>See if you can take a proficancy exam. If you score high enough, you should be allowed into a higher level.</p>

3

<p>yeah? Is there a specific one that I should be looking at? A specific company or anything?</p>

4

<p>Ask your school. Proficiency exams are usually through schools.</p>

5

<p>The college usually schedules its own proficiency exams. But, watch yourself. It’s not hs or your hs’s AP. I knew a language well, had travelled in the country, got myself into a higher level in college- and was blindsided. Sometimes, it’s better to start low, do well. If you’re better than that class, you can usually transfer after a week.</p>

6

<p>Nope, my school doesn’t have placement tests. What they do is have an open house for departments during orientation and the teachers will converse with me and they may give me a short test.</p>

7

<p>Why don’t you practice your Spanish with people who were not in your Spanish class? That might make the “talking in Spanish to a stranger who is judging me” thing a bit less scary. </p>

<p>

Since it’s easier to go down a level than to go up a level (who wants to miss the first few lectures and be behind on a homework assignment in the harder class?!?), I’d be inclined to start with the higher class and go down if necessary.</p>

8

<p>Realize that in college, foreign language classes are a whole different animal than in high school. Gaining oral proficiency is expected, and at a high level. You will also be doing a lot more reading and writing in the foreign in language. For example, one of my sons had to read poets on each side of the Spanish Civil War and write an extensive paper…and then make an oral presentation in which he also had to respond to quesitons from the professor and the class…of course, all in Spanish…</p>

<p>This was in the first semester of intermediate Spanish (third semester overall).</p>

9

<p>^Ditto. In my second semester of japanese, we were expected to do a presentation in it, not to mention a play… @_@</p>

10

<p>Well, they did say that one year of hs Spanish is like 1 semester of college Spanish…^</p>