<p>I'm really stressing about deciding what language to take. I placed into Span 105( I took 4 semesters of it in high school, but haven't taken any classes since Junior year).</p>
<p>However, I was thinking about learning Russian. The only problem with that is, I feel like there isn't really a high probability that I'll use Russian in my future career( i'd be learning it more as a personal interest). But I would hate to waste 2 years learning a language just to forget it all (like I did the Spanish due to lack of use).</p>
<p>Should I just continue on with Spanish or should I try a new language like Russian, or even Dutch or Portguese. UNC offers so many languages its hard to pick!!</p>
<p>I know it sounds like a cop-out… but take whatever language you want to take… don’t worry about the work. I ended up choosing a completely new language and loved it. If Spanish doesn’t mean that much to you, then try something new. </p>
<p>Just don’t take Latin or Greek haha.</p>
<p>You’re right, you probably won’t use Russian in your daily life. However, as a Russian major I can tell you that the Russian department here is awesome. All the TAs are top notch and the professors are hilarious. It’s a small department but you get to know a lot of people in it and it’s pretty fun. Plus you’ll enjoy watching action movies more (all the enemies are Russian…) :)</p>
<p>Plus every spring we have Spektakl:
The Spektakl’
Every spring the Department hosts a talent night or “Spektakl’,” in which our students give a wide variety of individual and group performances – skits, songs, puppet shows, plays, poetry readings – in the languages they are learning in our program. A showcase for language skills, highly improvised costumes, and general zaniness, the Spektakl’ has earned a local reputation as an entertainment extravaganza.</p>
<p>Is it still worth taking even if one is not a Russian major? Were a lot of your classmates non-Russian majors?</p>
<p>My daughter placed out of French which means that she does not have to take a language, but she is taking Russian because she wants to read Russian literature in the original language rather than relying on translations. She is majoring in Comparative Literature so knowing multiple languages is benefical. College is the time when you can try new things so try Russian if you think it would be interesting. You have to meet the language requirement regardless so you might as well take a language that interests you.</p>
<p>Going into the class very few people are Russian majors. More people add it as a major once they get into the class (like me) but the majority of people in the class are not majors, they’re just taking it to fulfill a language requirement or just for fun. It’s definitely worth taking even if you’re not a Russian major, but don’t be surprised if you’re converted :)</p>
<p>So do you think it would be ok if I take Russ 101 first semester and then if I for some reason really hate it/am terrible at it, I could just take Span 105 in the spring( which is two semesters in one so either way I wont be behind). I could probably just relearn spanish on my own or by talking to spanish speakers</p>
<p>That sounds like a great plan, and then you’ll have a nice backup. Good luck!</p>
<p>Check your requirements, because some say 4 semesters of one language. Or six semesters of one language, with four of one, and two of another. Depends what you major in.</p>
<p>^ I think international studies requires that… most majors require 3 or 4 semesters of the same language.</p>
<p>Chinese, Arabic, or Hindi/Urdu</p>
<p>All of those are involved with very interesting cultures, plenty of classics, and are in extremely high demand these days. Carolina has great study abroad options for all three. I was a Chinese major and can’t recommend it enough.</p>
<p>I couldn’t take the Spanish class I wanted, so I decided to take Arabic instead, although I’m going to try to take Spanish in the future. It will definitely be a good language to know in the future as I’m a global studies major. Also, taking a more obscure language first semester is a good idea, especially since you took Spanish in high school. I know that they open up the same amount of spaces for each CTOPS, but I was in the first registration session and nobody in my group was able to get into the Spanish class they wanted from 105-204. Of course you can change it later, but I think it’s a good idea to not stress about getting a certain class now but still getting your mind back in language learning mode.</p>
<p>After the last Ctops - keep checking back into Connect Carolina for class openings - they come and go - can even do that the first two weeks of class.</p>