how to take a different language course for college

• Taking language classes at a local community college. You are likely to find evening or weekend courses that work with your high school schedule, or you may be able to ...
• Taking online language classes. If there is no college in your area, you can find many options for online college language classes. ...
• Self-studying to take an AP language exam. There are lots of programs out there such as Rosetta Stone, Rocket Languages, and Babbel that can help you learn speaking, reading, and ...

Full Answer

Do I need to take a foreign language to get into college?

Feb 27, 2020 · But if you’re hoping to be admitted to the College of Literature, Sciences, and Arts, you must take at least two years of second language classes, if not the recommended four. Long story short, foreign language requirements definitely matter for college applications, and should be considered seriously. If you want to attend a top school, in ...

How long does it take to study a foreign language in college?

Jun 03, 2017 · 2. Chinese (Mandarin) While there are many different dialects of Chinese, Mandarin is the most common. It’s so common, in fact, that it is spoken by approximately one billion people worldwide.. Of course, it’s widespread usage isn’t the only reason to learn Mandarin; if you plan on studying business, finance, international relations or anything along those lines, …

Do colleges care what language you study in college?

Mar 20, 2017 · The starting point for making the list of the easiest foreign languages to take in college was the data we collected from language schools about the period of time needed for learning a new ...

Should I take AP Foreign Language courses in high school?

Answer (1 of 15): I took two years of Spanish in high school, then one year of Spanish in college. The high school Spanish was almost entirely worthless, as the college course covered all two years of the high school material in the first quarter. But I …

Can you take a different language in college?

Even if you don't have the time or credits to commit to a foreign-language major or minor, you can still take some foreign-language classes as electives. You likely won't reach anything close to fluency, but taking classes can set a good foundation for future language study.Jul 29, 2021

What is the easiest foreign language to take in college?

And The Easiest Language To Learn Is…Norwegian. This may come as a surprise, but we have ranked Norwegian as the easiest language to learn for English speakers. ... Swedish. ... Spanish. ... Dutch. ... Portuguese. ... Indonesian. ... Italian. ... French.More items...•Nov 9, 2021

How do you study multiple languages in college?

The Best Way To Study Multiple Languages 1) if you are at roughly the same level with each language, study them simultaneously. They will separate themselves in your head over a short period of time, as long as you dedicate enough time to internalize those languages.Dec 30, 2014

Do colleges care if you switch languages?

In general, colleges want to see foreign language proficiency, and they don't really care which language you study. Most students, in fact, have few choices. Many schools offer just a couple of languages such as French and Spanish.Sep 30, 2020

Does French or Spanish look better for college?

College Studies Potential business majors might be better off learning French, the language that has been traditionally used for diplomacy because of its formality, clarity and precision. Those students who are considering teaching would benefit from learning Spanish.

What language is closest to English?

The closest language to English is one called Frisian, which is a Germanic language spoken by a small population of about 480,000 people. There are three separate dialects of the language, and it's only spoken at the southern fringes of the North Sea in the Netherlands and Germany.

Should I learn French or Spanish?

If you live in the United States or plan to travel throughout Latin America, Spanish is probably going to be much more useful to you. However, if you're in Canada, or planning to travel or do business there, knowing French is going to be more helpful — it's an official language of the country, after all.Jul 11, 2021

How can I learn 3 languages at once?

Our 5 Tips For Learning Several Languages At The Same TimeDO Make Peace With Slower Progress. ... DO Commit To The Schedule. ... DO Use Multilingual Resources. ... DO Use Your Environment. ... DO or maybe DON'T Start 2 At The Same Time. ... DO OR DO Choose Languages From The Same Language Family. ... DO Relish The Challenge For Your Brain. ... Finally…Feb 13, 2018

Can you learn 2 languages at once?

Learning two languages at once isn't Easy—but it's Doable: It can be difficult at the beginning to frequently switch back and forth between two languages will challenge your brain and feel overwhelmed. However, this improves your language learning skills and supports future language learning faster and easier.Dec 29, 2020

Does Harvard require foreign language?

Harvard recommends four years of foreign language study in high school, but schools do not have to actually teach the language because students do not need to demonstrate knowledge to Harvard in order to gain acceptance.Nov 12, 2021

Do colleges care about 3 years of language?

Yes. However, most colleges require a minimum of two years of a foreign language to be considered for admission. Many colleges recommend at least three years of the same world language in high school for a student to be competitive in the admissions pool.

Does speaking multiple languages help get into college?

Studies have shown bilingual students perform better in school and tend to be effective problem solvers [source: Center for Applied Linguistics]. Furthermore, numerous studies show a positive correlation between learning a second language and college admissions test scores.Feb 16, 2010

How to choose a language course?

Should reading all our tips and recommendations not help you choose your ideal language course, try making your own course tailored to your needs. But don’t forget the four pillars of learning a language: 1 Pick multiple effective learning METHODS. Try our blog articles – podcasts (to improve listening), TV series, self-talk (for improving speaking), efficient online conversations. 2 Devise a SYSTEM to rotate these methods. Podcasts on the way to work, five book pages before bed, half an hour of grammar after breakfast. Learn when you have the time and make it regular. The best way is to schedule your activities so that you spend at least half an hour with your language every day. That way, you’ll make your learning a habit. 3 Set up your system to spend as much TIME as possible learning the language, within the confines of your daily routine. Try thinking of places to put one more activity in, even in small doses. Fifteen minutes of listening during the morning traffic jam, ten minutes of reading during the afternoon coffee break, twenty minutes of goldlisting before bed… Surround yourself with the language. That way, it will become a natural part of your life. 4 Have FUN doing it! Not a fan of the book you’re reading? Take a different one! Is this podcast boring? Download another one. Always remember, the most important thing is to have fun while learning. It really makes a difference. Trust me.

How often should I learn a language?

As a rule of thumb, the more often you do something the better. You learn a language only by spending a lot of time with it. As they say, learning a language is a marathon run, not a dash to the finish line. Once-a-week courses are not very efficient. These courses in particular require additional self-learning during the week.

What language did Hana Jokelova learn?

Hana Jokelová started formally learning languages at primary school, but even before that, at age nine, she was already attending extra-curricular language courses of English and German in language schools. Later, she also started French and Spanish courses.

How long is a once a week class?

The duration of classes varies, but in most cases, they take between 45 minutes and the dreaded three hours. Intensive courses are a category in their own right.

Can I learn a language by attending a course alone?

Don’t expect to learn a language just by attending the course alone. Don’t expect any wonders from your teachers, they are only there to guide and accompany you on your way, the learning part is all up to you.

Do native speakers make better teachers?

But make no mistake – a native speaker does not always make a better teacher. Your success with a native speaker depends mostly on your language level.

Requirements vs. Recommendations

In general, competitive colleges require at least two years of foreign language classes in high school. As you'll see below, Stanford University would like to see three or more years, and Harvard University urges applicants to take four years.

Which Foreign Language Is Best

In general, colleges want to see foreign language proficiency, and they don't really care which language you study. Most students, in fact, have few choices. Many schools offer just a couple of languages such as French and Spanish.

Examples of Foreign Language Requirements

The table below shows the foreign language requirement at several competitive colleges.

Strategies if Your High School Doesn't Offer Adequate Language Classes

If you're a high achiever and want to graduate from high school with three or four years of language classes but your high school offers only introductory-level classes, you still have options.

Languages and International Students

If English is not your first language, you most likely won't need to worry about foreign language courses as part of your college education. When a student from China takes the AP Chinese exam or a student from Argentina takes AP Spanish, the exam results aren't going to impress anyone in a significant way.

A Final Word About Foreign Language Requirements

As you consider whether or not to take a foreign language in your junior and senior years of high school, keep in mind that your academic record is almost always the most important part of your college application. Colleges will want to see that you have taken the most challenging courses available to you.

Years of Foreign Language Requirements at Different Top Schools

Not all schools expect students to have the same number of years of studying a foreign language. Some require or recommend two years; others ask for three. Many schools recommend that you actually commit to the component for all four years of high school.

Table Key

Number of Years Required: This number indicates the number of years that you have to take a language besides English during your time in high school in order to gain acceptance at the university.

School-Specific Foreign Language Requirements

As you can see, most top schools at least recommend that you pursue a language outside English for two years or more - schools such as NYU, Tufts, and Pomona require three. As you start thinking about your college list, you can check out the websites of each college to view the specific requirements.

How Foreign Language Requirements are Viewed in the Admissions Office

You might wonder how strict foreign language requirements are and whether they’re necessary, especially if they are recommended, as opposed to required. A lot of students don’t pay attention to the importance of taking a second language as much as they prioritize getting the math and English components each year.

What is the most common language spoken in the world?

2. Chinese (Mandarin) While there are many different dialects of Chinese, Mandarin is the most common. It’s so common, in fact, that it is spoken by approximately one billion people worldwide.

How many languages are there in the world?

By Lexi Lieberman, University of Pennsylvania. There are thousands of spoken languages in the world. Yes, not just hundreds, but thousands. Despite the enormous array of dialects, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who could even name thirty of these different languages, let alone speak more than four of them.

Why is it important to learn Portuguese?

Learning Portuguese can benefit you in ways that more commonly spoken languages in the U.S. cannot. This is partially because the demand for Portuguese-speakers has gone up at a faster rate than the supply of actual Portuguese-speakers has. Portuguese is the sixth-most spoken language worldwide.

How many countries speak French?

However, French isn’t just used in France; in fact, French is spoken on five continents and has an official language status in twenty-nine countries. If you’re interested in journalism and news production, understanding French can expand your available employment opportunities.

Is French spoken in France?

Growing up, many students are told to take Spanish instead of French, since Spanish is spoken on a more global scale. However, French isn’t just used in France; in fact, French is spoken on five continents and has an official language status in twenty-nine countries.

Is Portuguese a language?

Portuguese is the sixth-most spoken language worldwide. There are just under one million native Portuguese speakers in the U.S., and since Brazil’s economy has skyrocketed, now is the best time to pick up this language. Brazil is now being viewed as one of the world’s economic powerhouses.

Is learning Mandarin a skill?

Knowing Mandarin will give students access to millennia-old pieces of writing. And while learning Mandarin is no simple feat, it is a skill highly prized by employers on a global scale.

Where did Portuguese originate?

Although it originates from Romance languages, Portuguese fully evolved from Old Portuguese in the Kingdom of Galicia in the 16 th century. Thanks to the colonization, the language widely spread all over the world, including Asia and Africa, so the current number of its speakers all over the world reaches 260 million. Speakers say that it sounds similar to Spanish, containing many words common in Romance languages, but there are many dialects and variants in the USA, Asia, India and Bermuda. Its simple grammar and pronunciation make this language easy to learn. And now, let’s see the top three entries in our list of easiest foreign languages to take in college.

Is Danish a foreign language?

As one of the Indo -European and North Germanic languages , Danish is similar to those usually found on the list of the easiest languages to learn. Thanks to its special qualities, it is even easier than Swedish, which originates from Old Norse, a common Germanic language, so it deserves to be placed on the list of the easiest foreign languages to take in college. Apart from Denmark, native speakers of Danish can be found in Germany, Sweden, but also in the USA and Canada, which makes the total of 6 million of native speakers.

Which language is easier to learn?

For languages more similar to English (such as Spanish, German, etc) it is much easier to complete lessons more quickly than languages with different writing systems, tonal languages, etc... (Chinese, Japanese, Russian). So please keep in mind, these category names are rough estimates and they vary by languages.

Why is learning a foreign language important?

Learning a foreign language opens many doors for the learner. Even if you don't go into something that is directly related to the language (s ) you learn, it can greatly benefit your career. You don't have to be a translator or a foreign language teacher to have the language make an impact on your career.

How many pages are there in the manga "The Last Jedi"?

It was a manga that was a little over 100 pages & it used super basic language so it’s not like some massive achievement but it still feels good. Just felt like sharing so yeah :)

Do you have to have a masters to be a professor?

The classes in college are much better structured, professors are generally trained very well (as any college professor, you generally have to have at least a master's, if not post-graduate to doctoral level education to become a professor), and often are native speakers of the language.

Requirements vs. Recommendations

• You have a passion to learn about culture and a desire to take your career to the next level. We have the solution for you: Online language courses where you'll learn a new language and enhance your global awareness and intercultural skills, setting you up for career advancement.

See more on ecampus.oregonstate.edu

Which Foreign Language Is Best

Examples of Foreign Language Requirements

Strategies If Your High School Doesn't Offer Adequate Language Classes

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Languages and International Students

A Final Word About Foreign Language Requirements