<p>Can anyone tell me how hard foreign language classes are at elite(top 25) schools. Languages such as spanish/french etc. How much work, reading, and the general level of difficulty. No one say its relative to the person! I'm just trying to get a general feel.</p>
<p>"Can anyone tell me how hard foreign language classes are at elite(top 25) schools. Languages such as spanish/french etc. How much work, reading, and the general level of difficulty. No one say its relative to the person! I'm just trying to get a general feel."</p>
<p>Dude. That's like asking someone what 2 + 2 is and then telling them you don't want to hear that it's 4.</p>
<p>it will depend on the teacher and the level of the course: is it beginning, intermediate, advanced, etc...</p>
<p>I don't really see a point to taking a foreign language in a college as a side or some hobby. Unless you are going to devote a lot of time to it and study abroad in college or later, you probably will never be fluent. I can understand learning Spanish because it might be useful, but learning French or some other Romance language just because you think it would be cool or nice to know French probably isn't worth the amount of work you would have to put in. I would say for most people a foreign language course is much harder than a normal course.</p>
<p>Your college will have you take a placement exam to determine the proper level course you should take. Also, if you took the AP exam you may get some credit. If you take the placement exam with 4 years of high school language, I think you should be able to place at least into the sophomore intermediate level language aquisition courses. Maybe even higher. Are you used to classes conducted in your foreign language or in English? Can you debate in your foreign language? The language aquisition classes (freshman and sophomore) are usually conducted partly/mostly in English. I think that the upper level classes assume you can listen, read and write your papers in the foreign language. If you are just starting out with no prior experience, a foreign language class would probably take a disproportionate amount of time relative to other classes, unless you have a facility for languages. At least that was my experience.</p>
<p>cmaher, Foreign language is a requirement!!!!
LKF, i've already taken a placement test and i am taking an intermidiate spanish course, but i have heard uva has very difficult foreign language deptms.
Sdizzle, LOL, yeah i guess you are right, no use in seeking comfort.</p>
<p>uvajoe, it's not required at every school.</p>
<p>Yes, introductory languages are VERY difficult and time-consuming at first. But once you get past that, it's not too bad. I've heard that French literally swamps students' schedules at Smith with the amount of work to do. My friend at UMASS always seem to be studying for her French class. Usually the prof will have lectures and discussion times, and then probably additional time in the labs working with the computer programs.</p>
<p>But if you have the drive and a goal in mind, you'll get through! However, like science and math classes, they can be "weeders," kicking people's butts if they're in there just to have that skill for the workforce. You need to have a passion and interest for the language.</p>
<p>After awhile, it will be just like an English department class: read, discuss, review and write papers.</p>
<p>
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Foreign language is a requirement!!!!
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uvajoe, not all majors require any foreign language. Take a look at the degree requirements for the E-School at UVa! Or any engineering degree, for that matter.</p>
<p>I know that!</p>
<p>"I don't really see a point to taking a foreign language in a college as a side or some hobby. Unless you are going to devote a lot of time to it and study abroad in college or later, you probably will never be fluent. I can understand learning Spanish because it might be useful, but learning French or some other Romance language just because you think it would be cool or nice to know French probably isn't worth the amount of work you would have to put in"</p>
<p>I was just responding to this person who seemed to think that i was seeking a foreign language for sheer enjoyment.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know that!
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Sorry for bashing you. Yeah, I've got to agree with you about the thought of taking a language "for fun".</p>
<p>I'm just ticked off right now by the idiots posting the hoax of CC shutting down! ;)</p>
<p>I took Russian freshman year at Dartmouth and it while it was challenging and a lot of consistent work, it was paced well. Plus we all started on the same level. I then took French 1 my sophomore spring and found it much more difficult. More people taking French 1 have background knowledge of the language (HS experience.) I think it is actually <em>easier</em> to start a non-romance language than one a large number of people took in high school.</p>
<p>there's nothing wrong with taking a language because you think it would be fun or interesting.</p>
<p>Intro language classes pile on the vocab like crazy.</p>
<p>Once you get past 202 (4th semester, 101 102 201 202) expect the classes to be completely in the other language. I took a "upper intermediate conversation" course, and a culture class (Spanish history, exploration, daily living, etc), both completely in spanish. They also required solid 750-1000 word essays multiple times throughout the semester.</p>