<p>Would it be a mistake to delay taking a language until my second year? Cause I've been looking at the time schedules for Fall quarter and the languages I'd like to take all seem to conflict with the classes I need to take (namely, Chemistry). </p>
<p>Also, any recommendations for a good/fun language?</p>
<p>I don't think it matters.</p>
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any recommendations for a good/fun language?
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<p>Depends on what you like! I know someone who finds Japanese to be really fun, and hates Spanish; but many others like Latin languages and dislike East Asian/isolate languages like Japanese.</p>
<p>I personally love Italian and Portuguese. You might also want to go for a language that you could then use to study abroad. With that in mind, you might look into: Greek, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, French, German.</p>
<p>Study</a> Abroad Master List</p>
<p>Just a heads up:</p>
<p>Almost all East Asian language classes are early in the morning. And as they are 5 days/week, it can make you cranky for the whole quarter if you're not a morning person.</p>
<p>kyledavid's strategy sounds good for study abroad stuffs.</p>
<p>If you're looking for a fun language, take American Sign Language!!!! It's offered every year and probably not a language you'll be able to Rosetta Stone later in your life.</p>
<p>Russian is a blast. And the alphabet isn't that difficult to pick up.</p>
<p>I second American Sign Language (ASL). A couple years ago when they taught it at my high school there were also ASL poetry readings. I wasn't a student at the time, but I've seen videos, and they're amazing. I think it would be a really cool class.</p>
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If you're looking for a fun language, take American Sign Language!!!! It's offered every year and probably not a language you'll be able to Rosetta Stone later in your life.
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<p>I recommend that you don't take ASL, as it is usually filled with at least half of the incoming football players, due to its status as the easiest way to satisfy the foreign language requirement. That is to say, a good portion of the class is not really interested in learning ASL for its own sake. Accelerated Intro to Latin & Accelerated Intro to Attic Greek are of course on the other side of this phenomenon.</p>
<p>How comprehensive is the Portuguese program at Chicago? Are there classes beyond the intro level and is there the possibility of minoring in it?</p>
<p>1) We offer first and second-year Portuguese. My experience with second-year language (in Spanish, at least) is that after you finish your second year, you're at near fluency. We also offer a "Reading and Research" Portuguese class, which means you get to do what you want under the guise of somebody else and get credit for it.</p>
<p>2) We do not offer a minor in Portguese, per se, but we offer a minor in the Romance Language and Literature department with an emphasis on Spanish, Italian, or French. (At least, that's the case if I'm interpreting the college catalog correctly).</p>
<p>Take a look at the Rom Lang department in the course catalog, and if you have more specific questions, contact the department chair.</p>
<p>and @ CesareBorgia:</p>
<p>ASL might be an easy class, but some of my most academically intense friends loved, loved, loved it. Some took it because it's part of their field of interest; some took it as a fluffy elective. Either way, it was a worthwhile class for them, and that's why I recommended it.</p>