<p>Hey, </p>
<p>I was wondering if Dartmouth provides any way to study languages not directly offered by Dartmouth. </p>
<p>If not, would we be able to study a foreign language independently and use that study to satisfy the language requirement?</p>
<p>As you know, language is part of the degree requirement at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Are you currently studying a language that Dartmouth does not offer on campus? If yes, then you can be tested for proficiency once you get on campus (during orientation) where they will determine if you have met your foreign language requirement.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Language: Foreign language courses numbered 1, 2, and 3; or proficiency equivalent to three terms of study in one foreign language at the college level, or fluency in some language other than English. </p>
<p>A student must demonstrate the ability (1) to read with understanding representative texts in a foreign language; and in the case of a modern foreign language, (2) to understand and use the spoken language in a variety of situations. Every student will take qualifying tests upon entrance. If the student passes these examinations, he or she will have fulfilled the Foreign Language Requirement. </p>
<p>Where no department or program exists to determine a student's fluency in a language, the Associate Dean of Faculty for the Humanities shall make whatever arrangements are necessary for such a determination.</p>
<p>Unless exempted, as above, a student must normally complete the requirement before the end of the seventh term, either in a language offered for admission or in another language begun at Dartmouth. There are two options: (1) study on the Dartmouth campus in any of the languages offered, or (2) participation in one of Dartmouth's Language Study Abroad (D.L.S.A.) programs offered in several of these languages (pages 86-88 and 462).</p>
<p>Language courses numbered 1, 2, or 3 and other beginning language courses (e.g., Greek 11, 12, and 13) may not serve under any circumstance in partial satisfaction of the General Education requirement. They may not be taken under the Non-Recording Option (pages 72-74) until the Foreign Language Requirement has been satisfied in another language (and then only if the department so authorizes); no course studied off-campus may be taken under the Option.</p>
<p>The language requirement may be waived under certain special circumstances: see pages 54-55.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well I meant starting a new language upon entering Dartmouth. It sounds like this isn't really possible, right?</p>
<p>What is the language that you are interested in that Dartmouth doesn't offer?</p>
<p>It's part of the trade-off between an LAC and a larger research university. You get a more thorough education at the LAC or a broader one at the university.</p>
<p>Heck, Dartmouth didn't even have Korean until a few years ago.</p>
<p>Big schools like Harvard, Columbia, and Penn have incredibly thorough foreign language program.</p>
<p>Here are some of the more bizarre languages you can take at Penn:</p>
<p>Amharic
Bengali
Czech
Chichewa
Gujarati
Hausa
Hungarian
Igbo
Gaelic
Kannada
Kinyarwanda
Kikuyu
Oshiwambo
Panjabi
Pashto
Shona
Tagalog
Tamil
Telugu
Twi
Urdu
Wolof
Yoruba</p>