My son is a junior this year and is thinking about applying Dartmouth. His passions lie in Languages, Linguistics and Music. He is in his fourth year of both French and Spanish and plans to be fluent in both Languages before college and then plans to learn one or two more in college. He also loves linguistics and studies that on his own time. He is thinking about a double major in Language and Linguistics (perhaps a minor in music although he really plays for himself and doesn’t plan to make a career of it). Can any of you out there give us any information on the Language and Linguistics programs at Dartmouth? Is it particularly strong/big/small etc. We would love any and all info anyone has to offer. Thanks!
He sounds a lot like me, haha, though I’ve opted instead to head for an History Major - I’ll be headed to Dartmouth in September, so I’ll let you know when I can.
My S, a '12, took both Spanish and French through the AP level in HS, and in French also did AP French Lit, a 2-year course. (I’m not sure it’s offered now.) He took a year of Russian at D, but scheduling made it difficult to continue. He did the Paris FSA, and ultimately majored in French. He also took several linguistics courses, which he enjoyed, but decided against a major or minor. The year after he graduated, he spent at the ENS in Lyon, as that year’s participant in the post-grad exchange. (You can find info about it on the web site.) He was mentored by John Rassias–a remarkable character and educator–and worked as a “drill instructor” for a number of terms, and in the summers for the Rassias Institute.
I think that the language programs at D are very strong: certainly the French offerings are. His interest was in literature and philosophy, and there was plenty available at the higher levels. The opportunities to study languages abroad, and to do so more than once, are unusual, thanks to the D plan.
Dartmouth is one of the best in the country in Greek and Latin. Not “live” languages, I realize, but …