Just how hard are the language classes?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>So one of my majors (PACS) requires language proficiency, which translates to 4 semesters of a language. People have told me that either that even the intro language classes are really demanding or that most are pretty easy. Which is true?</p>

<p>I took French in highschool, but I didn't really enjoy it and I want to try something different. To not completely die in a language class at Cal, will I need that foundation of French? I kind of want to take Hebrew, but should I take French just because I have some sort of experience with it already?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

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<p>Some languages are harder than others, but languages in general aren’t difficult here (though they do give a lot of busy work, (I am speaking from experience: French 3, Latin 1, Latin 2))</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/735466-taking-language-cal-hard.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/735466-taking-language-cal-hard.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/733850-foreign-language-courses.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/733850-foreign-language-courses.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>^ Mixed messages. Guess it depends on the person/language…</p>

<p>Do classes use language labs?</p>

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<p>Hebrew is a pretty hard language to learn. The language classes require a lot of time and attention. They are not difficult, like Chem 4A is difficult, but they are difficult in that you must be constantly studying and keeping up to get a decent grade.</p>

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<p>Hi Schwartz,</p>

<p>I would actually disagree with some of the other posters. I have actually taken Hebrew at Cal, and would have to say that I really enjoyed it. It is very laid back, the teachers are very nice, and the classes are small. There is definitely homework, and it may take you a long or a short time depending on how quickly you pick up on things. However, I have found that the teachers are really relaxed about everything, including if some of the hw is a little late (though, as in any class, I would try to avoid that).</p>

<p>If you’d like more info, feel free to PM me. I, too, was not sure if I wanted to add the stress/time commitment of learning a language to my college schedule. It has turned out to have been a great decision.</p>

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<p>What about Chinese?</p>

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<p>Are there any language classes that aren’t MTWThF?</p>

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<p>Well, there are classes that meet in the morning twice a week, two hours a day.</p>

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<p>are those classes after level 4 of a language? seems like the first 4 levels meet every week :(</p>

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<p>If you get into the right level, it’s relatively easy to get a good grade. Most language classes are 80%+ A’s.</p>