<p>We have some confusion about the foreign language requirements for <em>IR</em> majors. Catalog says "eight semesters (or equivalent) of university-level language instruction. Courses used to fulfill this requirement may not overlap with the core or thematic concentration requirements."</p>
<p>Does this mean that IR folks MUST take take all eight semesters in language vs. the Arts & Sciences option to complete their six-semester requirement using the Culture Option?</p>
<p>We have pulled off the IR graduation checklists and are not finding much specific guidance. Help, please!!</p>
<p>I’m not much of a big help, but I definitely know that IR majors MUST take all 8 semester of language.</p>
<p>You need to be able to demonstrate 8 semesters of foreign language proficiency. That doesn’t necessarily mean you take 8 semesters of language at Tufts, as you can place into high levels, but IR majors do need to demonstrate more developed language proficiency than the undergraduate population as a whole.</p>
<p>Thanks, Dan. S will have Part 1 credit based on AP/IB scores in one language, but wants to switch to another language in college that more closely fits his long-term interests (which we understand means eight semesters). </p>
<p>Do I understand correctly then that culture courses would not apply to the eight semesters of language requirement?</p>
<p>Whereas the broad Tufts language requirement concerns the development of cultural fluency - hence the broader options in its fulfillment, including splitting the requirement amongst two languages or taking culture classes in English - the IR requirement is specifically about language proficiency.</p>
<p>The culture courses taught in English would not fulfill the IR language requirement, and the 8 semesters of proficiency are need to be cumulative. So, you can’t do 4 semesters in one language and another 4 in another.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, my son called the IR folks and got somewhat reassured about the foreign language requirement. I think he said that if he spent a term abroad and took courses that were conducted in that foreign language they would all count. If he’s serious about IR, he’s going to need some immersion time - because as far as I can tell he doesn’t have a natural gift for languages. (I don’t either, but speak two fluently despite the lack of natural talent.)</p>
<p>Dan, thanks for the clarification. Mathmom, S2 and I were talking in the car tonight about credits towards the language proficiency requirement he’d get if he went to St. Petersburg for a semester. He said when he called one of the IR mentors last week (who, BTW, are very helpful), the student said he got three semesters’ worth of credit for his term overseas.</p>
<p>S was glad to see that he might not have to take a FL <em>every</em> semester! It’s one of those things where he does decently with it, but it’s not intuitive.</p>
<p>There’s no better way to advance in a FL than to go live in a country where that language is spoken. We’re not trying to make students take FL classes, but we do place a priority on a high degree of FL proficiency. There are, as there nearly always are at Tufts, many ways to get there.</p>