<p>Hi! So this fall I will be a freshman at tufts and I've been wondering about the tufts language requirement for part II. I've already placed out of part I (the first 3 semesters) because of AP and now I know I can choose to continue with spanish (or start a new language?) or take culture classes for 3 semesters.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any recommendations -- are the language classes difficult? Are the culture classes difficult or boring? What do most people choose to do to fulfill their requirement? Does studying abroad fulfill any part of the language requirement?</p>
<p>ALSO do most/many people place out of all language requirement with the placement test during orientation?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I would estimate based on absolutely nothing at all that the median Tufts student probably places out of part I of the language requirement. I didn’t want to take more language classes all, so I pieced together a few random humanities classes (which all double counted for arts/humanities distribution requirements) to make the culture requirement which wasn’t too bad. It was harder than I thought it would be though to find courses that I was interested in to fit into my schedule, because it’s not like you can mix and match courses.</p>
<p>Language classes aren’t terribly more difficult than normal classes (with the exception of Mandarin, Arabic, and maybe Japanese). I have no idea what the average student does to fulfill the requirement. Study abroad does not fulfill the requirement, though language classes taught abroad will and you might be able to get some culture credit out of it.</p>
<p>Most people take the language placement test in addition to their AP score and I would highly encourage you to do that.</p>
<p>My son didn’t take AP language in high school. He took a placement test and placed out of the 4 semesters. So he only had to do 2 semesters to fulfill the language requirement. He finished it his freshman year. He didn’t enjoy it much, but that’s because it’s just not his thing. He did OK in it, not fantastic. In fact it was his lowest grade in freshman year. In retrospect he should of taken culture classes. I think he would of enjoyed it better and maybe gotten a higher grade. But he’s done with it so he’s happy.</p>
<p>My DDs both placed out of most of the requirement with AP scores and the placement test. Both chose to continue in Spanish language, and both liked their Spanish classes very much. They had immersion Spanish in HS and felt the classes at Tufts were similar in style, small classes, lots of reading and discussion. Continuing in one language may give you more options to study abroad as an upperclassman. The program my D1 went to junior year requires the equivalent of 6 semesters of college language because it allows students to take classes at the local universities in Spanish.</p>
<p>My inclination would be to continue the language, but I don’t think one option or the other is easier or better - it depends on your interests. Since my son was planning to major in International Relations he’s fulfilled the Language requirement with Arabic (very hard, don’t choose it if you are looking for something easy).</p>
<p>@1012mom, do you know if the 6 semester (or any) language requirement is common for study abroad programs?</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your input!</p>
<p>Tufts in Chile requests 6 semesters of Spanish.
Tufts in China requires 4 semesters of Mandarin.
Tufts in Japan requires 2 semesters of Japanese.
Tufts in Madrid requires 6 semesters of Spanish, and recommends at least two more.
Tufts in Paris requires 6 semesters of French and recommends at least one more.
Tufts in Tübingen requires 4 semesters of German.</p>
<p>The other Tufts study abroad programs (Ghana, Hong Kong, London, Oxford) do not require any foreign languages. I don’t really know what the language requirement is for non-Tufts programs. Tufts has a list of programs at <a href=“Education Abroad Overview | AS&E Students”>Education Abroad Overview | AS&E Students; – see what the requirements are for some progrmas that you are intereted in.</p>
<p>@tamelion
My D1 did a non-Tufts program, although many Tufts students go to the program. Many Tufts and non-Tufts programs require at least 6 semester equivalent of a given language. The programs that don’t are generally either in English speaking countries, or programs where you take classes only with other Americans in the program. You still get a great experience, often living with host families, etc. However, if you want a program where you take classes at a foreign university, with the local students, you need significant language skills.</p>
<p>Does the amount of semesters include the period the student is abroad? For example, if most people study abroad their junior year, how can they obtain six semesters of a language?</p>
<p>Generally it is the number of semesters before going abroad. Therefore, in these programs, it is mostly people who have placed out of some of the language requirement through the placement test or AP credit. There are plenty of other programs where the requirement is less, but you do have more choices if you build on an AP base.</p>
<p>My son had four semesters of Arabic before his first program and five before the second one. (More really since he’d just done intensive Arabic!) Anyway, it really varied, but given that he always placed into the most advanced level class - either other schools teach way less in their classes or you could have had only a year or so for those programs. For programs he was looking at - they did test his knowledge I think as part of the application process, though there were usually more placement tests once he arrived.</p>
<p>tamelion, if you’re considering becoming an IR major keep in mind that major won’t allow you to use culture classes to fulfill the language requirement. Or at least that’s what I remember from when D1 was considering the IR major. </p>
<p>As for what you should take–a lot depends on what your goals are. Do you want to study or work abroad in a specific country? Would knowing more languages be helpful for some of your future career plans? Do you hate language classes? Love them? D1 hated the supplemental language program she took in high school, loved starting a new language (German), disliked one of her professors, loved the other. She’ll be studying abroad in the fall with four semesters under her belt. She’ll take a placement test to see if she will be in German or English lectures. For her purposes, either will be fine. Based on her Lufthansa flight at the beginning of the summer, her understanding is good, but her attempts to speak got her smiles and responses in English from the flight attendants. :)</p>
<p>Looks like the Tufts study abroad programs requiring more than 4 semesters are for languages that are commonly offered in high schools (i.e. French and Spanish).</p>
<p>Yes, IR is a real pain in the neck with their own language requirement. I agree with them in principle that as an IR major you should have fluency in at least one foreign language in practice if you come in with a useless language (i.e. Latin), it’s pretty onerous. It doesn’t help that while you can go overseas to learn the language in the ideal situation - they hardly ever give credit for any course that’s not in a Tufts program.</p>
<p>SlithyTove, if she places into the German lectures she’ll learn much, much more German, even if she feels lost in them at first.</p>
<p>I don’t think any study abroad program could require more than 4 semesters of Arabic since so few high schools offer it.</p>
<p>I’m a rising senior in high school and Tufts is one of my top choice colleges - I am not taking an AP language this year (would not fit into my schedule) and don’t particularly like languages in general. I did well in my high school chinese classes - I’m worried about the significant foreign language requirement at Tufts, any way I might be able to get out of any of the courses without any AP credit?</p>
<p>My son took 4 years of language in high school but no AP. he placed out of 4 our of 6 semesters of required languages. So if you do well on the placement test you can place out of a portion of the requirement. In addition you don’t have to take all 6 semester of language. I believe 3 semesters can be culture classes</p>