Do I need to take a foreign language?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>I'm currently a student at De Anza college. I have quite a long time to go units wise, but my dream is to transfer to UCLA for their Archeology program. Afterwards, I want to go to graduate school to get a PhD in Archeology, focusing on Scandinavia and the British Isles (That's why I want to go to UCLA. They have a program for Medieval Scandinavian studies.). I never took a foreign language in high school. I have yet to take one at De Anza, but my current education plan has me taking Spanish in Fall '14, Winter '15, and Spring '15. I am starting study of Old Norse on the side as soon as I get my hands on the books I have scoped out, however, because, while it is a dead language, it is useful for someone in my degree field, because inscriptions in the language are present on many artifacts and sights in Scandinavia and the British Isles, and I would have a better understanding of Medieval Scandinavian life and culture if I could read the Sagas in their original language.</p>

<p>My question is whether speaking Old Norse reasonably well would allow me to skip the foreign language requirement that UCs have on the basis of already speaking a foreign language, or whether I have to take formal classes, not just prove knowledge of a second language. Or can I prove knowledge of a second language, but not a dead language like Old Norse, even if it is useful to my field?</p>

1 Like
2

<p>UCLA also has an Old Norse program. If I expressed intention to take courses in this program, would that make any difference?</p>

1 Like
3

<p>Wouldn’t studying German and Latin help you learn Old Norse?
Spanish seems an odd choice since you have your specific field of study mapped out.</p>

<p>Italian, French, Greek are better choices than Spanish for your goals. </p>

4

<p>Latin and Greek aren’t offered, Italian is probably going to get shut down soon, German is way too hard a language for me, and we never had a Scandinavian language (which sucks, because those are easier than most and match where I want to go). It’s between French and Spanish, and I’m from California.</p>

5

<p>Ease of learning is a big worry, because I have educational disabilities. That’s what killed me in German. Old Norse shouldn’t be too bad, because the structure is actually pretty similar to English. Moreso than German by quite a bit. Spanish is supposed to be another easy one.</p>

1 Like
6

<p>Are you comfortable studying a foreign language by yourself? If yes, you can use “SAT II: Subject Test in language other than English” to satisfy the LoTE requirement. Check this link out (#4):</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.deanza.edu/transfer/pdf/igetc_lote_certification.pdf”>http://www.deanza.edu/transfer/pdf/igetc_lote_certification.pdf&lt;/a&gt; </p>

7

<p>It looks like I just have to take French or Spanish. Old Norse is not on the LOTE list, and why would it be? It’s a dead language. I am thinking about what an above poster said about French. There are a lot of Norman artifacts over there, after all. I emailed UCLA to ask whether I can hold off on foreign language until I get there so long as I have a clear plan, but I don’t have my hopes up.</p>

8

<p>how about me?!
I am a recent immigrant(resident), I finished my high school in another country, and obviously my first language is not English…what do I need to do to fulfill the language requirment?!</p>

9

<p>I did some research, and spoken Japanese is apparently comparatively pretty easy. The hard part is reading and writing kanji. Written grammar and vocabulary are my strong points and spoken language my weak point, so maybe I should observe a class or something. Japanese may be the answer to my linguistic difficulties. I could expand Japanese studies into a backup focus even, so I have somewhere else to look when digs are sparse.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p><a href=“University of California Counselors”>University of California Counselors;

<p>For IGETC foreign language, native or heritage speakers have the following options for a non-English language without taking courses:

  • SAT subject test.
  • AP test.
  • IB HL test.
  • A-level or O-level exam.
  • Proficiency/placement test by a college.
  • Two years of school sixth grade or higher with primary language not English.
  • High school graduation where both the high school and country primarily use a language other than English.</p>
11

<p>thanks much ucbalumnus</p>