<p>I am looking to major in Economics, (at WP Carey Bussiness School at ASU)but one of my goals is to be trilingual by the time I finish my undergrad. I feel like this is acheivable, but I'm not sure on how to come about it. By the time I graduate <em>highschool</em> I will have at least 5 (possibly 6) years of Spanish under my belt as well as 2 years of French. I am beyond willing to take a summer/semester abroad in different countries that speak these languages as well. So how should I do this? Do I double major? Double Minor?</p>
<p>The issue is not about major or minor. No one will care about either. The question is whether you can become fluent.</p>
<p>Mini is correct. </p>
<p>In my personal opinion, double majors and minors are mud traps that universities set up in order to keep overly credential-minded students spinning their wheels and out of everyone else’s hair. There is likely no harm if you can get in and out of one quickly but it’s not a destination to aspire to.</p>
<p>Becoming proficient in a third language sounds like a great goal though. I did three in college, too. (And look how great I turned out!) Just sign up for the classes.</p>
<p>So you can just sign up for classes without majoring/minoring in it? I do only care about becoming fluent, I just don’t know the best route for that. I don’t want to self-learn.</p>
<p>Sign up, and do it. They’ll love to have you. Upper level language classes are virtually always under-enrolled, and professors and departments have to justify themselves. (They will push to major or minor, but don’t worry about it - they’ll want to have you either way.)</p>
<p>Just chiming in to agree. No need for a minor. A good grade in an upper level language course is a good measure of competency. As for achieving fluency, in my experience, (and I’m not particular adept at language learning), the only way is to spend extended time immersed in the language. Many countries run language schools with homestays. Unlike American college run programs in foreign countries you are much less likely to speak English with other people in the program (though unfortunately English is still the lingua franca of the world.) You can also look for programs that have language pledges where student sign promises not to speak in their native languages. Summers are a good time to work on language skills. I took a gap year before starting college and finally was able to speak the language I’d studied to pretty much no avail in high school fluently by the end of the year. For German I spent part of a summer at a Goethe Institute after my first year of college German. I wasn’t fluent but I learned enough that I was able to do research in Paris and Berlin for my senior thesis.</p>
<p>No need to minor. Minors (and majors) usually require literature classes in those languages which aren’t necessary to become fluent. My kids were able to skip 100 and 200 levels thru testing and then took some upper division courses that helped them (Conversational, Business Spanish, Medical Spanish, etc). They also wanted to become somewhat fluent in Italian so they took the 100 and 200 level Italian classes.</p>
<p>You may want to take the Conversational classes and then do study abroads to really improve proficiency. </p>
<p>Once you’re applying for jobs, you just put down your fluency on your resume. Not necessary to have majored/minored.</p>
<p>^I highly recommend taking some literature classes nevertheless because part of being able to speak a language is actually understanding the culture, getting the references, understanding the jokes. If you never read anything you’ll be missing out on a lot. Not to mention that reading in the language you’re learning is a great way to build vocabulary painlessly.</p>
<p>I agree with the advice above: no need to officially minor, just take the classes, seek out opportunities to actually use the language (clubs, interest housing, foreign films, etc), study abroad for French in particular. (I would think that you would be able to use your Spanish more easily in the southwest. 
)</p>
<p>Absolutely agree. The major minor stuff doesn’t matter, but get out there and use that language. Should be easy to find Spanish opportunities at ASU, but go spend a summer or semester abroad to work on your French. Being immersed is tough, but the best way to learn.</p>
<p>OP, you’ve asked this question on several threads and most keep saying, it’s not the minor, it is the fluency. And at the right level for the work you hope to do, which includes the vocab and and tech or biz lingo. Elsewhere, I think you said you’d like to work for the UN. You would need language skills at the level that job requires, even if it’s a support position. If all you want is a career where you get to travel and just need conversational skills, that’s another matter. I’d look into internships abroad. Eg, I know some Asian-American kids who have done banking or corporate summer work in China, to hone their skills.</p>
<p>I wonder if this poster just isn’t hearing the answer he/she is looking for. Many people have given sound advice for language fluency, I don’t understand the need to repeat the question…</p>
<p>"As for achieving fluency, in my experience, (and I’m not particular adept at language learning), the only way is to spend extended time immersed in the language. "</p>
<p>THIS. University study of languages is great if you want to delve into the underlying culture and great literature of a language. But fluency comes from practice, not from study alone.</p>
<p>Taking advanced music theory will not make someone a great violinist; they must also practice the instrument regularly. </p>
<p>Moreover, they must practice multiple techniques. For musicians it’s bowing, phrasing, fingering, scales, etc. For language fluency, you need regular practice in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.</p>
<p>In your shoes, I would take a few upper-division Spanish classes just for the joy of reading some of the world’s great literature in its original language, learn my French from the local Alliance Francaise, and start/join on-campus conversation groups for both languages to make sure I get plenty of practice. I’d also give myself regular reading/viewing assignments in each language - tv dramas, telenovelas, poetry. Maybe follow a few twitter accounts in each language. No double or triple major.</p>
<p>My daughter is learning both French and German, but is majoring in neither one, so yes, it’s possible. It’s not always easy to schedule, however.</p>
<p>A couple of thoughts - to become bilingual it takes years of effort part time or a year to two years full time - depending on the language. I’d assume two relatively easy languages so a year each full time. That leaves two full years for economics and gen ed. Doable, as econ is a flexible major in most places with lots of electives. </p>
<p>Doable but difficult. Again, depending on languages. Pick Spanish and French and it’s relatively doable, pick German and Chinese and you’ll be in college for a while :D.</p>
<p>Also take advantage of study abroad time, that’s where expertise comes.</p>
<p>Finally, realize that proficient does not mean bilingual. In my view bilingual means you can actually think and act in real time, and that’s tough without a good program and travel, club, meeting students from said language, etc.</p>