<p>Princeton doesn't waive it for intls, does it?</p>
<p>I don't think the requirement is waived, unless you actually can speak a foreign language like Hindi maybe since you're in India.</p>
<p>It's waived for anyone who can score well enough on either a standardized test or the department test. So it's pretty much waived for anyone who can speak a foreign language reasoably well.</p>
<p>its unlikely that my vernacular language will be offered in departmental exams...but I would probably learn a new language even if it were. Only I have no clue what :confused:</p>
<p>Such, I am sorry, if this is hijacking your thread (but did not want to open a whole new thread for a simple question)</p>
<p>I am torn between Spanish and Mandarin for my language at Princeton. I know that Spanish would be easier and equally useful. My question is (esp, to cevonia, mea, etc.) how difficult is Mandarin? Is it true that you will only learn it properly if you spend some time in main land for a semester or so?</p>
<p>Mandarin is difficult mainly because of the characters. If you want to learn it properly, be prepared to take it for all four years and spend at least one summer (why not two?) at the Princeton-in-Beijing program (which apparently is very, very good). If you study very, very, hard and get extra tuition, you might be able to learn without going to China, but I think the easiest option is to spend time in here. If you're not willing to give up a semester, then try the summer program.</p>
<p>I am in the same kind of dilemma - Italian/Spanish will prolly be easier but I want to learn Latin :-/ (Oh yeah, my mom disapproves...'When are you going to have fun?')</p>
<p>i agree with your mum
we only live once
i want less work and more fun</p>
<p>I am torn between fun of the social sort and the academic sort. And while Latin would be fantastic, I don't want to kill myself :p, specially since I have no APs or anything like that. Does anyone have any info about Princeton's own placement exams so that I can atleast place out of some of the introductory Physics and Calc classes? (I think my high school courseload has equipped me for AP standards :))</p>
<p>hopefuly someone could answer that.
i am also interested ;)
let's skip everything get a degree and party for four years :)</p>
<p>Does Pton have a strong program for the Germanic languages?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>:( i think that with the other challenging classes that i'd like to attend, language classes isnt something that i would like to be stressed about...</p>
<p>but, it'd be nice to speak 3/5 main languages of the world...</p>
<p>decisions, decisions...:confused:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>:eek: such, some1 hacked your userid and p/w :eek: that person is saying that you want to have fun??? :p j/k</p>
<p>princeton is strong in all languages and ive heard their languages are among the toughest classes on campus. my brother and friends said that most of the straight-a students struggle/get their only B in languages. most people ive talked to at princeton have suggested that u waiver the foreign language credit so u will have room for a freshman seminar instead =P</p>
<p>adides - you may have been kidding but you were right - that was my mom posting :p</p>
<p>adides - yea, characters are a biggie. Tones might be another problem unless you have a good ear. Not that spanish doesn't have accents and a whole bunch of accent thingies over its vowels, but in language classes you're always going to have a bunch of people who are americanized chinese or spanish, who speak the language half fluently (which isn't great, but is still half-fluently more than you if you're a beginner : )), right? And just imo from going to a school which teaches french (engl and chinese compulsory) the tones and characters are really things which help to have a background or some exposure to; there aren't that many accents thingies to learn in Spanish, and if i'm correct there are general rules for which bits of words you place emphasis on, whereas in Chinese you need to learn each character and associated tone one by one.</p>
<p>That said, Chinese is well worth investing in. 1/4 of the world's population and climbing steadily - whatever and wherever you go into in the future it will come in handy. Plus there's a very nice 'wow' value to it : ). It doesn't surprise people if Chinese/Caucasian peoople speak Spanish, but I can tell you, if a foreigner even says "Hello, my name is Joe. Where is the bathroom?" in China, you get a crowd. (some exaggeration - but not much ;))</p>
<p>Princeton has a FANTASTIC chinese program.</p>
<p>yes, that too adides - i've also heard great things about the chinese program. Let me know what you decide : )?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know that Spanish would be easier and equally useful.
[/quote]
How does Spanish compare to Chinese in terms of utility? Is Spanish really useful? What about Russian and Princeton's Slavic Studies department?</p>
<p>thx cevonia, mea, gea..</p>
<p>my first inclination has been to learn mandarin. I was like, hmmm...I am Indian and I can already speak a host of Indian languages; I have been brought up speaking english and now if I can only learn speaking mandarin, I can essentially communicate with over 2/3 of the world popoulation. But i also realize that it aint going to be easy. The ability to speak Hindi and Mandarin gives an advantage for opportunities in two of the largest countries (and maybe the fastes growing) in the world that very very few people would have.</p>
<p>about spanish. It is also a widely used language. It has almost become the 2nd language in the US and is the main language in Latin America (except Brazil), which is another engine of growth and untapped opportunities. Spanish has characteristics that are similar to Hindi (like verbs would have gender) etc. So its 'almost' as useful (without the wow factor) with much less pain....</p>
<p>about russian...i am looking at language from an economic advantage perspective and i am not entirely sold on russia's handling of its public sector units and how a foreigner could do biz there....dont know much about it...but it is one of the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China - engines of growth) so definitely worth a consideration...</p>