Language requirement

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>I would like to get out of the language requirement. I tried to self-study the spanish AP, but found that I wasn't familiar enough with the grammar to do well on the AP, so I didn't take it. My school placed a lot of emphasis on speaking, writing, listening and just general communication in spanish, and did not at all focus on vocab memorization or grammar drills. I am very good at actually communicating in spanish, but I don't use super-complex grammar or vocab. I knew most of the grammar being tested on the AP, but just wasn't all that familiar with it. The book I was using (Barrons) had GREAT AP practice questions, but almost no grammar review exercises, which are the things I need to do. I could have handled the material in the Barrons book if I had a solid review of spanish grammar, but Barrons didn't provide me with that.</p>

<p>I positively don't want to have to dedicate 5 quarters of study, most likely in my freshman and sophomore years when I have the weed out intro science classes to deal with to studying something I have almost no interest in and something that will not help me out with my intended career path (PhD in neuroscience, then academia or government or pharmaceuticals, whatever I can get). I may not be prepared to skip out of spanish, but I really want to try. I've heard the spanish placement test is very similar to the AP Spanish language test, which is why I'm worried. I REALLY don't want to have to take more language. Can anyone recommend a way to prepare for the test over the summer so I don't have to spend FIVE more quarters taking a language? Is there a nice review of the spanish grammar used on the test? Yes, I know it's possible that I'd only have to take 1 or 3 more quarters of spanish, but I want to knock out as much as I possibly can with the placement test, preferably all 5 quarters or 4 of them at least.</p>

2

<p>put this plea up in the AP section of CC and you will get a ton of responses in regards to study tips, guides, and general advice</p>

3

<p>1) Good idea, thanks.</p>

<p>2) I'm really not THAT desperate to get out of spanish. I actually really like speaking spanish with people, I just don't like the class and I don't wanna take more of it.</p>

<p>On a related note... are there options for people who want to keep up with their language outside of class? Like, conversational spanish clubs or things of that sort? Like I said before, I really don't like spanish class and don't like it taking up space in my schedule, but I DO like conversing in spanish and would kind of like to find people/find a club that would allow me to keep up spanish informally.</p>

4

<p>Look at the website. This is from WCAS Foreign Language Requirements:</p>

<p>"Placement Exams in Foreign Languages</p>

<p>All foreign language departments at Northwestern offer placement exams. Many of these exams are available online during the summer. Exams are also given during New Student Week each fall and (for students entering Weinberg College part-way through the academic year) at other times as well. Information on language testing is sent to incoming freshmen each summer.</p>

<p>If you do well enough on a foreign language placement exam, your performance can be used to fulfill your Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement. If your score is not sufficiently high to demonstrate proficiency, you will be told what course you should start with if you want to fulfill proficiency in that language, or you may be given a choice of courses. "</p>