I want to learn multiple language, even minor in one, but I really don't want to learn Spanish.

College Majors
1

<p>Hello there,</p>

<p>Currently, I am trying to figure out my major (long story there, but I do know I want to do something in regards to international stuff and one that requires lots of travel, also recently gained a big interest in politics) and I'd like to take a language as a minor. Spanish seems like an easy choice, it's considered to be one of the easier language to learn and more people are learning Spanish everyday as a second language (it's the most studied new language in the United States IIRC).</p>

<p>Here's the thing, I don't want to learn Spanish. I have no desire to learn it and the thought of taking Spanish again in college bores me to death. Even though I had three years of Spanish at my high school, I wasn't involved in it and I was thankful that after the third year (I took it in 11th grade), I never again had to worry about Spanish. It was especially reflected when I got high Cs in the latter two years of learning Spanish.</p>

<p>Those Cs bother me because I know the college I transfer to (not sure, either Texas Tech or Texas A&M, 3.22 GPA right now, really need to get that up) will be looking down on my Spanish if I don't take a foreign language course while I am at community college. Yet when it comes to fulfilling a language requirement in my community college, I'm stuck with either Spanish or French, neither of which interest in at all.</p>

<p>The languages I do want to learn; Japanese (self-studying it right now, my most desired language), Chinese and Arabic, are not offered at my community college. If I want to learn Japanese, Chinese or Arabic, I have to transfer to a college that offers one of these. What I'm asking here is, should I leave my foreign language requirement unfulfilled until I transfer to a college that offer one of these desired language or should I just suck it up and just take Spanish again (and hope to get an A on both semester so I don't have to worry about it again) and then minor in one of my desired language?</p>

<p>Also, I'm curious if learning multiple language at a time would be a good idea. My desire for learning Japanese will always be the strongest, but I am also strongly interested in Chinese and Arabic. Japanese I am learning mainly for my love of Japanese culture and my hope to live in Japan one day, but I also want to learn Chinese and Arabic because of my strong interest in their culture and because they provide good job opportunities when paired with the right major. I prefer to start learning now to get ahead as much as I can. Should I try to learning three language at a time or stick with Japanese for now?</p>

2

<p>You sounds a little like my son. He took Spanish but is interested in the languages you mentioned, especially Chinese. One thing he is sure of is that those other languages will be much more difficult than Spanish. With that in mind, if you do pursue another language, just pursue the one you want the most, i.e. Japanese. On the flip side, when my son and I were talking yesterday, he seems to be leaning towards continuing with Spanish. He recognizes that it will be less stressful in fulfilling the language requirement and he will be better able to concentrate on his major subjects. Furthermore, he said, he can always pursue other languages when he is done with school.</p>

3

<p>Usually as part of a liberal arts major they require a few years of a language. It doesn’t matter what language you choose and it’s not a minor or technically part of any major. For instance. I majored in history and political science. As such I had to take 3 semesters of a language (or only 2 if I took something not using the latin alphabet like russian, arabic, chinese, japanese, etc.). I ended up taking French. </p>

<p>With languages though… if you major in them then it’s because you want to teach the language. Otherwise just being close to fluent is enough for use in a job that might require the language. It’s your primary major that actually matters. There’s no reason you need to take spanish and imo you should NEVER take a language if you don’t enjoy and want to learn it. Learning a language is something you really have to actively put some major effort into. And if you don’t use it you’ll lose it. </p>