Hi I was wondering if anyone has experience with minoring in a language in. I am going to college next year and I am very interested in minoring in either German or Spanish. I was wondering if taking I take minor in a language, practicing daily, and using the language regularly, how well will I be able to speak the language. I am not expecting to be fluent but do you think it will take me to a good conversational level where as I could understand foreign television and be able to travel to native speaking places and communicate with speakers decently. Thank you also please tell me your opinions on taking foreign languages in college. Is it worth it or should I be studying something else?
Hi. I did not officially minor in French, but did take three years of it in college as part of a Comparative Lit major requirement.
No, I never became “fluent” - i.e., being able to speak fluidly with no hesitations - mainly because, even though I read books in French, wrote papers in French, spoke French in classes, and even lived for one year in a dorm community called “French House” where we spoke French to each other - half the time - I really believe you have to be IMMERSED in a place and culture in order to become fluent.
I never studied abroad btw, and everyone I know who is fluent in a foreign language, either studied abroad for a year in high school or college, or otherwise lived abroad for a year or more.
I know a woman who regularly travels to France, has a second home there, but still is not what I’d call “fluent”. My theory is, she’s not there long enough for each visit…
So - my advice is for you to study abroad, if at all possible, and for the entire academic year.
From observing other people in the German department at my university (I’m a German minor), you’ll likely be an okay speaker of the language if you stay at the college, meaning that you’d be able to communicate with native speakers and watch TV, but at a level below fluency and with frequent gaps in comprehension.
I agree with @BeeDAre in that if you want to truly be able to speak/read/etc the language well, study abroad. In the first couple months in Germany, my language skills have increased a lot. One problem with studying abroad for a full year though would be that the course quality at the foreign university may be lower than what you’re used to in the US, as I and most of the other people in my program are experiencing.
If you have passion for learning the language (and like / don’t mind learning about cultural and literary stuff as well), and it doesn’t detract from progress toward other goals that are more significant for you, then I say go for a minor!