I’m an incoming math major (possibly CS double major/English minor), and I’m trying to plan out my schedule as best as I can. I’m torn with the language options: I have a few years of experience with Spanish (probably not enough to place out of more than one semester, if that), and I would like to finish learning the language. However, I would also like to learn Mandarin Chinese or some other language in addition. I could do 3 semesters of each, but I want to make sure that I can be as fluent/competent as I can, and if three semesters is not enough to manage that then I will probably just stick with one language for 6 semesters. My question is: are three semesters enough to master (obviously not truly master, but obtain reasonable expertise in) a single language, or should I stick with one in order to make the most of the time?
Thanks.
If you have a few years experience with Spanish, arguably one of the easier languages for an English-speaker to learn, and don’t think that you can place out of more than one semester, haven’t you answered your own question?
You cannot master Mandarin in 3 semesters. For that matter, you can’t master it in 6.
My son took Spanish AP in high school. So he only took one semester Spanish to fulfill the 6 semester requirement. If you took a few year Spanish and did not think you can place out of more than one semester, you might want to stick with one language. Seems your language skill is not strong. Mandarin is not hard to talk and listen, but very hard on reading and writing to remember those characters.