“NOTE: foreign language classes occur EVERY day for about an hour each day. So, that can create havoc with your well aid-out plans for other courses.”
I believe this statement is not universally true, at least not for the courses I am looking at in the Blue Book/considering shopping during my first week of freshman year. They all seem to meet 2-3 times/week, 50-75 minutes/class. Perhaps if you are starting a new language, then the introductory courses might meet daily, but unless I am reading it incorrectly, the fl course times are reasonable.
Math, science, science lab, foreign language, and one other (likely philosophy) is what I am thinking my first term may be… science major for now.
One warning about the foreign language placement test: if you are the kind of person who generally does very well on tests, it is possible that the placement test could place you in a level of language that’s actually too challenging for you. This happened to me, and I was pretty miserable. (This was a long time ago, but I suspect that this can still happen.) If you’re not really confident about your language ability, talk to an advisor about what level to take; don’t just rely on the test results.
http://yalecollege.yale.edu/foreign-language-requirement
This chart illustrates the most common paths for fulfilling the foreign language requirement. I answered Yes to the question, “Did you get a 5 on the AP (French) test?” and it recommends taking one L5 course, which is a course at the 150 and above level. This one class will complete my fl requirement.
FREN 150 01 (12053) Advanced Language Practice Staff MWF 9.25-10.15
FREN 150 02 (12054) Advanced Language Practice Françoise Schneider MWF 10.30-11.20
FREN 150 03 (12055) Advanced Language Practice Candace Skorupa MWF 10.30-11.20
FREN 150 04 (12056) Advanced Language Practice Constance Sherak MWF 11.35-12.25
FREN 160 01 (12057) Advanced Culture& Conversation Staff MWF 10.30-11.20
FREN 160 02 (12058) Advanced Culture& Conversation Françoise Schneider MWF 11.35-12.25
FREN 170 01 (12059) Intro Study of Lit in French Maryam Sanjabi MW 11.35-12.50
FREN 170 02 (12060) Intro Study of Lit in French Lauren Pinzka MW 2.30-3.45
FREN 195 01 (12061) Advanced Writing Workshop Lauren Pinzka MW 11.35-12.50
FREN 211 01 (12062) French Poetry: First 500 Years Edwin Duval MF 11.35-12.50
FREN 233 01 (12063) French Fiction since the 1990s Morgane Cadieu F 1.30-3.20
FREN 265 01 (12064) French Classical Tragedy Christopher Semk TTh 2.30-3.45
FREN 309 01 (12066) Shopping and the Novel TR Morgane Cadieu TTh 11.35-12.50
FREN 366 02 (12067) Writer&Artist inParis1780-1914 Marie-Hélène Girard MW 1.00-2.15
FREN 394 01 (12017) FrenchCinema throughNewWave TR Dudley Andrew MW 11.35-12.50
FREN 399 01 (12299) Modernities Steven Smith R. Howard Bloch MW 9.00-10.15
Every single one of these classes is offered 2-3 days/week, 50-75 minutes/class.
Maybe an L5 class is too difficult to take in my first semester? @donnaleighg, @hunt, @gibby
MODERATOR’S NOTE: @cttwenty15 You are not the original poster and your comments are not applicable to the OP’s situation. What you are doing is hijacking a thread and is rude to the OP. If you have a question related to your own situation, start your own discussion.
I would take a language class as soon as possible. D struggled because she had a long break from using the language she took. It had been a whole year since she had it in HS.
Suck it up and take Spanish, especially if you are not that interested in languages. AP plus two college semesters of Spanish and you will really know a lot of Spanish. Three college semesters of Mandarin (a) will be significantly harder, and (b) won’t leave you anywhere near competency at Mandarin.
High school language instruction in the US is so awful it makes me cry. It killed my kids’ interest in languages, and for me reading and watching/listening/ speaking foreign languages are really important and enjoyable.
All of the classes I have seen in the Blue Book meet everyday of the week. @JHS I am thinking about just continuing Spanish like you said because I have such a solid foundation in the language, but I am hoping I won’t be placed into a class that is overly difficult for the level I am at. You’re right that hs FL instruction is not very good because I had to teach myself most of what I learned to get a 4 on the AP test.
OP, I think you’re a QuestBridge kid? Just want to be sure you’re aware that Yale will provide the same percentage of financial aid as you receive for tuition for one summer of international coursework through its ISA program:
My son took his language level 1 and 2 requirement in the summer and spent half of it with a host family in Sienna, Italy. The shorter summer classes are intensive, but time spent in Tuscany? Priceless!
He loved it, @biggestsunsfan! It was, I believe, 3 weeks of study at Yale, then 3 weeks at the University of Sienna. Then he, like a lot of the kids in the program, did more traveling in Italy after his class was over. He still keeps in touch with his host family…it was a great experience for him.
Yale’s got lots of surprises in store for you! Read your emails from Yale, talk to people (especially your professors), follow up on what interests you - there will be more opportunities than you can keep up with!