<p>ny_lubber--</p>
<p>If you've been looking at Yale as a place you apply, you might have noticed that all Yalies (every single one of them) are required to take a foreign language at one point or another. The requirements have changed slightly since my class ('07), but from what I understand, every student has to show proficiency in a language, meaning either 1) five semesters' worth of courses, or 2) a successful score on a placement test (APs or a Yale-administered exam) with one additional semester at Yale.</p>
<p>With that said, Yale's emphasis on global education and cultural understanding extends to its language programs. The school (as far as I know) offers one of the most prolific language programs in the country, second to Brigham Young (I think), which treats it language learning as part of its mission as a missionary institution. Yale offers at least thirty languages every semester, and over fifty formally. (<a href="http://www.cls.yale.edu/page.asp?file=2/364%5B/url%5D">http://www.cls.yale.edu/page.asp?file=2/364</a> has the list; I've never even heard of some of them: Nahuatl? We teach ancient Aztec?) If that list isn't long enough for you, you can opt to do independent study via the Center for Language Study (at Yale's bill; they'll even help you hunt down a native speaker to teach it to you). If you add in the languages that CLS has ever administered, that list grows to over 90 languages.</p>
<p>With that said, the languages are decentralized outside of CLS into their regional departments (There are departments for Slavic Languages and Literatures; African Languages; Near Eastern Languages, etc.), and so it'd be an approximation and a generalization to say they're amazing across the board. I personally took (and take) Russian at Yale, and I can say, without exaggeration, that they're single-handedly the best instructors I've ever had (at Yale or otherwise). My Russian, from taking summer courses at programs elsewhere, has been much better than peer institutions, and the professors I've encountered elsewhere have always lauded the Slavic program at Yale. </p>
<p>Linguistics is a small but good, popular, and respected program at Yale. (I've taken several courses myself.) Within the major there are several tracks (cognitive, theoretical), and while some of the professors can be hit-or-miss, most programs are, anywhere, and all of the linguistics majors I've known are nothing but positive about the program and the faculty. I'd check out the linguistics site (<a href="http://www.yale.edu/linguistics/%5B/url%5D">http://www.yale.edu/linguistics/</a>) if you're looking for more information.</p>
<p>With that said, remember that double majors are not unheard of (though most people don't follow through in the end: two senior theses becomes really daunting), and triple majors aren't even logistically possible under Yale's curriculum. </p>
<p>Hope this helps; let me know if you have any other questions!</p>