Hello,
I am an incoming freshman college of engineering student interested in enrolling in a Chinese (Mandarin) foreign language class. Since taking a foreign language isn’t a requirement for my major, I want to know if I can still enroll in a foreign language class and whether or not it’s recommended as a freshman. Also, do I have to take the placement test if I have AP credits for Chinese (I got a 5 on the AP exam)?
Thank you for answering these questions
Each college within the university has it’s own rules for Foreign Language credit and requirement. You really need to check Engg college and its distribution requirements to see where you stand. It is not always just Major related but distribution requirements related too. So, pour over that college’s website to see what applies to you.
https://www.engineering.cornell.edu/academics/undergraduate/curriculum/liberal_studies.cfm
Foreign language is one of the categories of classes that fulfill the liberal studies requirements that all students in the college of engineering must take.
According to the Asian Studies Department, you still have to take the placement test.
http://lrc.cornell.edu/asian/programs/placement
If you’ve never had Mandarin, you don’t need to take the placement test.
Not true: http://lrc.cornell.edu/asian/programs/placement
If he has experience in Mandarin, and I suspect he does given his AP score, then he must take a placement test.
Most foreign language classes require a lot of time commitment, especially Mandarin. I would not recommend it as a first year engineer. My daughter was almost a native Spanish speaker with 12 years of Spanish in school plus living in a Spanish speaking country for 2 years, she struggled to get an A- in Spanish. She heard Mandarin is even worse.
@jfx246 my point precisely. If he has NO experience in Mandarin, meaning he has never taken a class, AP exam, etc. and will be enrolling as a first time student in that language, then he doesn’t need to take a placement exam. He will simply enroll in beginning Mandarin. Of course, if you have experience in Mandarin, then, yes, you need to take the C.A.S.E. exam. Possibly you misunderstood or I was unclear.
@TiggyB62 Just a simple misunderstanding. I thought by “had” you meant a class. It wasn’t clear in OP’s post.
And yes, non-Roman languages like Mandarin require more time. I took intro Italian, spent 30 mins max studying every day, and got an A. My friend took intro Mandarin and he spent about 10-15 hours studying a week for an A-.
In the case of Mandarin specifically, be prepared for a LOT of homework. You’ll need to memorize poems, prepare for mock interviews, do group projects, etc. Given you’ll probably be placed in a higher level class, the workload will be even more intense.
My rising sophomore daughter is taking intensive Mandarin immersion this summer at UChicago and will take the CASE exam for advanced placement at Cornell this fall.
Bingo. More difficult languages like Mandarin require a 2-3 hour study commitment per class. Depending on where you place based upon your placement test, the class itself will probably be a 5 meetings/week class. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but it will suck up a lot of time.
Just to quickly chime in, Mandarin is not 5 meetings per week. It is 7 meetings per school week with lectures on just 2 days and disussions every day of the week.
Thanks for clarifying.