<p>Anybody have experience with the language departments @ Berkeley? Specifically German, Russian, Hebrew, or Japanese? (I’m not going to attempt to study all those, though that would be really cool, but those are ideas of languages to study should I attend.) Good experience, bad, indifferent? Any opportunities to practice the languages outside of the classroom (clubs, that sort of thing?)? Any opportunities in foreign language internships (preferably paid?)? Thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>All of our departments in language are top-notch, and the instructors are very helpful and friendly. We have the #1 German (and we still do it with less funding) department in the country a and I really would have liked to take another language, but it doesn't seem possible. I think a lot of the language programs have small "meetings", like the German department, where you can go and practice your skills in a casual setting. And there are plenty of opps through EAP.</p>
<p>I can only tell you what I know about the Cal Japanese program: it's pretty damn good. I did EAP in Tokyo and Tsukuba City, and on the whole, the Cal students I ran into were pretty well-prepared for the rigors of Japanese language learning.</p>
<p>However, the best Japanese student I met went to Davis. Whether or not he was an anomly, I can't be sure, but in general I found their texts to be really really good. Not that it matters, but it's a fun anecdote.</p>
<p>Again, with Japanese Cal is great, but like always, Japanese is a tough language to learn.</p>