<p>I know it is a requirment that when graduating from Princeton, you must be fluent in a foreign language. My concern is this: I'm on my fifth year of French, but I'm quickly getting sick of it, wanting to learn Spanish. Would it be a bad idea to start a new language at college next year? Or is it a regular thing for people to start fresh (with things like German or Thaiwanese) and be "proficient" by the time they're a senior?</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch</p>
<p>WHAT?!? I did not know that! I mean I am good in French but...fluent...I cannot even imagine that...I mean I am good at the gramatical stuff but I always forget how to say random words that we are supposed to know...I mean fluent! How do they test you in that? So if I went there...and never became fluent (whatever is considered fluent) I would not graduate!?</p>
<p>I don't think it's fluent. You have to take a certain amount of language, and it varies with the department - but they say that it will take four terms, MAX, to fulfill the requirement. So, at most, you'll be taking language through the end of sophomore year - but that's only if you start brand new, and your language of choice is one of those.</p>
<p>If you're sick of French and want to start a new one, go for it! It'll take 4-5 semesters of your time, though, but that's just through the end of sophomore/beginning of junior year. You'll actually find yourself loving a new language and appreciating your old one more because of the similarities and the way you'll be able to breeze through some of the harder concepts that others tackling only their second language will be dealing with. Besides, Spanish is fun. You'd be able to participate in some of the random, delightful Spanish convos around CC :)</p>
<p>Spanish? Heck no. German is way better.</p>
<p>German? Pfft. I spit on German...</p>
<p>...not voluntarily, but when I'm trying to make the dang "ch" sound. And that's only when my friend speaks it beautifully. Otherwise, Spanish trumps German any day of the week ;)</p>
<p>No way. German wins immer.</p>
<p>Although I have to admit, Spanish and or Mexican food beats schnitzel any day of the week.</p>
<p>Ha! We win! Woohoo! Spanish is the McDonald's, Wal-Mart, and Microsoft of foreign languages. Woohoo!</p>
<p>i dont agree at all. castilian spanish is great. but if you've taken french, make it a challenge and don't go for a closely related language like spanish. take arabic or latin (although latin is related, but extremely different) and french is superior to spanish. arabic is superior to both. :) :)</p>
<p>but perhaps she's arabic-phobic. Perhaps she'll break out in hives if she says "bislema." Or maybe she's drawn to the romantic sounds of potential latino lovers. It's all about the preferences :)</p>
<p>How can you be Arabic-phobic? It's so much fun!!</p>
<p>By the end of the semester, I could definitely distinguish when my teacher was speaking in Arabic and when he was just babbling. That language is HARD.</p>
<p>I believe you know a 4 or 5 on the AP Spanish Exam, or a 740+ on SATII Spanish</p>
<p>Yea you can just test out of the requirement.</p>
<p>if u are a native speaker and dont test out u only need 1 year
u can test out with a 740 or better on any SAT II or a 4 or 5 on AP im pretty sure those are the numbers</p>
<p>Hmm, I'm not taking APs. Maybe I should take the SAT French II in the spring. God, I thought I was done with the SATs last June!</p>