suggestion for all coming to uva

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
21

<p>i take italian. Don't get me wrong, I like my t.a.</p>

<p>But I feel like, the class in general is just stupid. I'm just not very good at foreign langauges (never was in high school - took minimum required) and I feel that its one of those classes where you have to "get" it. Unfortunately, I am just not really good at it. I find the biggest problem with the program is that, unlike other requirements, you can't opt into an easier class to fulfill it. For example, say when you're filling your math requirement, you arn't good at calc. You don't have to take 131, you can take 121. If you're really bad at math you can opt out of 121 and just take like number and systems (basicly counting...). But you cant do that for the languages.</p>

<p>I guess i sound bitter, and I probably am. But 4 semesters is enough thank you.</p>

<p>A quick suggestion for those of you who have to take a foreign language. ALWAYS pick the t.a. who is NOT in their last year of his or her grad program. t.a.s in their last year will miss about a week or 2 of classes in the spring semester due to their grad exams.</p>

22

<p>Do non-native speakers have to follow the language requirement?</p>

23

<p>If you're in the college and are not echols, yes. If english is your second language, you just then may place out of it easily.</p>

24

<p>thanks.. ok, now could you explain me who are echols? i'm quite new here...</p>

25

<p>[url=<a href="http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/echols/%5DEchols%5B/url"&gt;http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/echols/]Echols[/url&lt;/a&gt;] is a scholars program. Among other things, they don't have area requirements, so they don't have to fulfill the language requirement.</p>

26

<p>excellent...because i wasnt sure about the language part since i was told i still need to take it IF i plan on taking a language</p>

27

<p>Hold up...I just read the CLAS website and I might be wrong. </p>

<p>I'll have to call Echols in the morning to get the full story. I was under the impression they had no requirements, but the language has nothing about that.
[QUOTE]
Foreign Language (0-14 credits)</p>

<p>Foreign Language Disability Accommodation</p>

<p>Students who are diagnosed by approved services, either before or after their admission to the University, as having specific learning disabilities should contact their Association Dean for information on accommodation within the structure of required courses in foreign language. Detailed information on accommodation may be found on the Disability Accommodation page.</p>

<p>Depending on their language placement examination scores, students must earn anywhere from zero to 14 credits or take the equivalent of 4 semesters of a foreign language to fulfill the requirement. The types of examinations for foreign language placement and requirement exemption include:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT II Subject Test;
* Advanced Placement (AP) Exam;
* Higher-level International Baccalaureate Exam;
* College Summer Orientation Foreign Language Placement Test;
* NYU 16 point Foreign Language Proficiency Test (for students who wish to be tested for proficiency in foreign languages not taught at U.Va.)
</code></pre>

<p>For specific foreign language placement and exemption qualifications based on the scores of these exams, consult the Foreign Language Placement Index.</p>

<p>Some or all of the requisite14 credits can be earned by transfer students, prior to matriculation to the College, in coursework completed at a previously attended college or university. Dual enrollment courses, however, do not satisfy the requirement.</p>

<p>Languages taught at U.Va. that can fulfill the requirement are American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, or Urdu. It is also possible for students to fulfill their requirement by gaining exemption through taking the NYU 16-point Foreign Language Proficiency Test.</p>

<p>Students who intend to transfer to a School in the University that does not require a foreign language (e.g., Engineering), should still continue to work toward fulfilling their language requirement while enrolled in the College.</p>

<p>Language courses through the 202 level (212 in Portuguese) may not be offered in fulfillment of a minor or major.</p>

<p>The requirement must be fulfilled before beginning a seventh semester in the College.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

28

<p>Dean J, we don't have a language requirement to graduate from the college.</p>

29

<p>Thanks Cav!</p>

30

<p>ok...so no testing unless u want to take a language...im not sure if i do</p>

31

<p>You can take the placement tests at any time, Bklyn2Cornell. If you decide as a second year that you want to start a language you've already taken, then you can take the placement test then. Or, if you want to start a new language, you can start out in 101.</p>

32

<p>How is the placement test for languages set up and how hard is is? I haven't taken spanish in two years and I am wondering if it is worth it to study for the test in order to place out of some language courses?</p>

33

<p>It's not a matter of how "hard" the test is. If you do well enough to place into 4th semester spanish, trust the test. If you do well enough to place into second semester spanish, again, trust the test.</p>

34

<p>cav, i have to disagree</p>

<p>the tests are hard. after completing my 4 semesters, i am nearly 100% positive i wouldn't place into the 4th semester, let alone out of it.</p>

35

<p>Well, in all fairness, you did take italian, and I haven't heard many good things about the italian dept here. I have, however, heard many good things about other language classes.</p>

36

<p>This works for all schools. Get out of the foreign language requirement if at all possible. This is a good GPA killer.</p>

37

<p>Have anyone here taken American Sign Language at UVA? How was it?</p>