How hard are language classes at Berkeley?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>At CALSO they advise you against taking more than 13-15 units in your first semester. However, I really want to take a language class 1st semester before I forget it (all are 5 units), which would put me at around 16 or 17 credits. If I've taken the AP of a language in Highschool, do you think that taking the elementary (level 1) class at Berkeley for that language would be sort of easy? Thank you guys : D</p>

2

<p>Yes, it will be doable. A juicy 5 unit class where you will likely get an A. What language are you planning on taking?</p>

3

<p>In your case, the elementary language class shouldn’t be too difficult for you, because you’ve taken the AP course in that language and had previous exposure to it. But in general, language classes are NOT the GPA booster scenario that everyone imagines. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. I’m taking a summer language course now. I also took an introductory Mandarin course my first semester freshman year, and it was a bit hellish. 2 hour homework per day minimum, two tests per week, language lab twice a week…not exactly the easy A course you might think it would be. So yeah, you might breeze through it, but you’ll still probably have a hell of a lot of work and it will take up a bit of your time. </p>

<p>**Also, keep in mind that in some language courses, the professor will kick you out if he finds out that you’re at too advanced a level for the class. I find it hard to believe that he’ll let you stay in the class when he finds out you took an AP course in the language (unless if maybe you got a 1 or 2 on the test). You should check with the advisor of the department to see if you would be allowed into the class before enrolling in it on Telebears. In general, I wouldn’t advise more than 15 units first semester freshman year. But it’s your call.</p>

4

<p>I got a 5 without any difficulty in AP Spanish and Spanish 4 was complete rape for me . . . . I don’t think I got over 85 on any major assignment.</p>

5

<p>Many of the language departments say that students with AP credit should take a more advanced course than the beginning course.</p>

<p>[Placement</a> Guidelines](<a href=“http://french.berkeley.edu/undergrad/placement.php]Placement”>http://french.berkeley.edu/undergrad/placement.php)
[Placement[/url</a>]
[url=&lt;a href=“http://spanish-portuguese.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/course-offerings-lower-division/]Course”&gt;http://spanish-portuguese.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/course-offerings-lower-division/]Course</a> Offerings & Placement |](<a href=“http://german.berkeley.edu/courses/placement.php]Placement[/url”>http://german.berkeley.edu/courses/placement.php)</p>

6

<p>Thank you all~ I’m thinking about taking Japanese.</p>

<p>I got AP credit, but I really think I belong in the beginning level anyway-- if anything, for review. . .haha</p>

7

<p>I’ve taken Japanese and Arabic here, and the first year of language classes is always easy. Especially with Japanese… The instructors are all really sweet, and they’re always around to help. The grading is super easy too, so you’re almost guaranteed an A if you put in a little effort.</p>

8

<p>Here are the placement guidelines and sample placement tests for Japanese language courses:</p>

<p>[UC</a> Berkeley Japanese Program: Placement Guidelines](<a href=“http://japanese.berkeley.edu/placement_body.html]UC”>http://japanese.berkeley.edu/placement_body.html)</p>

9

<p>Haha, thanks ucbalumnus. I actually did look at those, and I think I’m just gonna take it easy with the lowest level. (If I can!)</p>

<p>And thanks tyrion! That’s great to hear. I’m kinda psyched now lol : P</p>

10

<p>japan 1A isnt as easy as everyone says.
you actually have to put sum effort into the class.
took it assuming it was my easiest class.
ended being my lowest grade.</p>

11

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<p>The language itself isn’t particularly easy, but the grading is incredibly lenient.</p>

12

<p>Language classes at Berkeley involve a lot of work, but if you do the work, you should be fine grade-wise.</p>

13

<p>Anyone here taken Chinese? I took the placement test and got into 10X and I’m wondering how the difficulty of it will be :)</p>

14

<p>@Conaanaa </p>

<p>If you have any experience with Chinese, 10X series should be easy. IMO it gets way harder in 100XA/100XB. I’ll be in 101 and not many people who started from the beginning are still there…</p>