<p>I'm an incoming freshman and I'm starting German as my new language. The department offers an extensive track, which brings me through the Intermediate II level in 4 semesters, and an intensive track, which does it in 2. Elementary German I (extensive) is MWF, and Intensive Elementary German is MTWRF. Should I take the intensive track to get to the advanced classes sooner, or will this be too much of a burden on my schedule?</p>
<p>I'd personally do the 5 days a week because I love foregn language. If they offer it, then people obviously do it and handle it, but it depends on your schedule and how much you are willing to work for it and how much free time you have (work, sports, clubs etc)</p>
<p>The intensive track might be too much for you as a freshman, depending on what the rest of your schedule looks like as well as your own abilities/study habits/foreign language background. What is your major?</p>
<p>Also, are you by any chance going to school in CT?</p>
<p>If you're a language major, I'd probably go with 5 days/week. Otherwise 3. When I learned German outside of high school, I only went twice a week (well I started three times a week for a while, but I had schedule conflicts), and it was fine. After I got comfortable with the language, I basically learned German by playing computer games on German servers. German definitely requires some serious studying at first but after you get into it, I don't think it's too demanding.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses so far!</p>
<p>To goldshadow: I'm going to NYU, most likely as a history major. I'm pretty good at languages - I've learned Spanish and some French so far. Here's my schedule besides German:</p>
<p>Seminar: Russia's Multicultural Empire - T 9:30-12
Human Evolution - MW 11-12:15, Lab R 5-6:10
Expository Writing - TR 2-3:15</p>
<p>Intensive Elem German - MTWRF 12:30-1:45 OR
Elem German I - MWF 12:30-1:45</p>
<p>hmm I've never heard of not taking a language class 5 days a week. I would go for the intensive. If you don't like it, you can always drop it and sign up for the regular. My Japanese classes meet MTWHF, and I like the fact that it forces you to practice every day.</p>
<p>In light of the new information, I think you'd do fine with the intensive course.</p>
<p>Well it depends on how good the language class actually is. I had four days a week of Russian and sometimes I felt I just had to do the assignments, and it wasn't necessarily the most efficient way to learn the language. With German, however, I had class twice a week and basically just spent some of my free time gaming and within 10 months I was ready to take the SAT II for German (and was fairly proficient in it). In other words, you could have class five days a week and not learn as much as you could; on the other hand, you could have class three days a week and spend a little extra time outside of class and get a lot further.</p>
<p>Make sure you watch a lot of TV in the language you want to learn. This is by far the best way to learn for me. It gives you a wide vocabulary and also teaches you how people use the language in daily life.</p>
<p>Do the 5. You will learn the language better because you will be using it every day. Studies have shown this method to be better for retention. On a side note, good choice with German.</p>