<p>My language requirement is to take 111, 112, 153, and 215 in my language (Italian). I am going to be a sophomore and have completed 111 and 112. While abroad the only language class that is offered is 153. In retrospect I should have waited until this year to start, but that is a moot point now. Should I take a year off of Italian and take 153 abroad (I am going next year in Fall 2008) or should I just continue and take 153 and 215 this year and finish it? I want to get good, but I also want my schedule to be efficient as possible, but I worry it will be too detrimental to take a year off (I would try to practice a bit).</p>
<p>bummmmp :)</p>
<p>Wait, what? </p>
<p>Are you suggesting to take a year off just to take a couple extra courses? Just do it, dude.</p>
<p>This is one of those things that you should ask your advisors at your school. This may be specific to where you are studying.</p>
<p>I don't know about your specific study abroad program (is it taught in English? Is it direct enrollment in an Italian U? etc), but I would suggest taking as much Italian as humanly possible before leaving. You can use the extra space in your schedule while there to take other courses there that might count for your major or just for fun--unless you're required to take a language course while you're there (I'm required to take a French language course while abroad next semester, so maybe you have a similar requirement). The extra Italian will help you if the courses are in Italian or just living in Italy. Plus, the farther you get past language proficiency, the more interesting classes you can take to fully utilize the opportunity.</p>
<p>yeah, going to italy will be a lot more fun if you know more italian. keep taking it, unless it complete screws up your schedule and graduation requirements.</p>
<p>I'm having to take a year off between Italian 153 and 215. There was no other way to work my schedule. So I hope it wont be too bad. Although I still swear that I know people who counted the lit course in Venice for their lit requirement, but they could've changed that or decided not to offer the lit course one semester I suppose.</p>
<p>I would caution against taking a year off from languages... especially if you've just completed your first year. What most people don't realize is that because you've crammed so much stuff in your head in your first year that your brain just immediately drains after you've neglected using what you've learned. Once I got past first year off from Russian, everything just.... disappeared. I'm even lucky to retain any memory from a Spanish class after a year!</p>
<p>Keep taking Italian- whatever you can. Also, you can perhaps just use the 153 abroad to raise your grade :)</p>