Student FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

The purpose of this page, which is currently under construction, is to provide students in the department with general information having to do with "foreign" languages study in the department. The format is that of a question-answer dialogue and attempts to answer questions which you may have wondered about.

Click here to ask a question

• Why should I learn a "foreign" language? (or: Why is there a "foreign" language requirement? Or: What am I doing here?)
• What language course should I take? Don't I have to start at the 101 level to pass the language requirement? (link takes you to another page)
• Does the Department of Foreign Languages offer any majors or minors?
• I grew up in Puerto Rico until I was 11 but then I came to the US and thus received little formal instruction in Spanish. Thus I don't feel confident with my Spanish, especially my written Spanish. Can I take an intermediate course?
• How should I study for my language class? And how many hours a week should I study outside of class?
• Should I buy a dictionary for my language class and which one should I buy?
• How can I write accented letters and other such symbols on a PC? (link takes you to another page)

Question: Why should I learn a "foreign" language? (or: Why is there a "foreign" language requirement? Or: What am I doing here?) [TOP]

It is true that you already speak the most widespread and "useful" language in the world. Congratulations. However, usefulness is only one reason for learning another language.

The major reason behind the language requirement, as well as most other requirements, at this and other higher learning institutions, is not that the facts you learn in those courses will be directly useful to you in a practical, narrow sense in the future, which may or may not be true, whether you are aware of it at this time or not. The major, or at least a major, reason for these requirements is that they develop your "brain", they widen your intellectual sights, they help you to see the world from a different and broader perspective, to develop critical thinking skills.

In the case of learning another language, and we won't call it a "foreign" language since it may be the language of people in your community, the potential for opening your mind is very great. Our world view is very much tied to our culture and our language andl earning to communicate with, and see things from the perspective of, a rather different linguistic community can be an extremely rewarding and mind-opening experience.

It is true that learning a language in a classroom situation is a rather artificial way of learning a language, which is why language teachers devise all kinds of games and so on to make you use and communicate in the language in as many ways as possible. Ideally, to learn a language you should be placed in a community in which only that language is spoken, the way you learned your first language, what some people call the "natural method" or the "immersion method". But if you are willing to learn, that is, if you are motivated, there is much that you can learn in the classroom. And have no doubt that if you ever find yourself in a "natural" language learning situation, you will be glad that you were exposed to all that basic vocabulary, grammar, etc., which will help you pick up the language at a much faster speed.

(Answer by Dr. Jon Aske)

For more information, follow this link: Why (study a foreign language)?

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Question: Does the Department of Foreign Languages offer any majors or minors? [TOP]

We offer a Spanish major, and minors in French, Italian or Spanish (and combinations). We also offer a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish.

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Question: I grew up in Puerto Rico until I was 11 but then I came to the US and thus received little formal instruction in Spanish. Thus I don't feel confident with my Spanish, especially my written Spanish. Can I take an intermediate course? [TOP]

Typically, heritage speakers like you shouldn't take intermediate and (especially elementary) language courses If your language level is not high enough to take a 300 level course, you should think about taking SPN220 Spanish for Native Speakers. Unfortunately it is not offered very often, due to low demand. Talk to a faculty member if you're interested in this course or want to talk about your specific case.

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Question: How should I study for my language class? And how many hours a week should I study outside of class? [TOP]

Ideally, full-time students should spend about 40 hours a week doing school-related work. Thus if a full-time student takes four courses, he or she should spend 10 hours a week per course. Three hours are spent in the classroom, which leaves 7 hours to work on each subject outside the classroom.

When students work and have other time-consuming obligations this ideal cannot always be realized, but you should be aware that getting an education is a time-consuming activity and that any shortcuts that you take to achieve it, will inevitably reflect the quality of education that you give yourself.

For more information, follow this link: A Few Brief Suggestions on Studying a Foreign Language

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Question: Should I buy a dictionary for my language class and which one should I buy? [TOP]

A good dictionary is a crucial possession when you are learning a language, especially after the beginning level.

Good, full-size dictionaries are relatively inexpensive. One of the best full-size Spanish-English dictionaries, for instance, the The Oxford Spanish Dictionary, costs less than $35 at Amazon.com. The Larousse Unabridged Dictionary, another excellent dictionary, costs about the same at amazon.com.

The same thing is true for French and other languages. The full-size Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary is a good deal.

Smaller dictionaries are good because you're more likely to carry them with you and because they don't confuse you with the less commonly used senses of words. But be careful. Not all small dictionaries are comparable. Check with your professor before you buy. These dictionaries are very inexpensive and you should probably get one, even if you also have a full-size dictionary.

Related links

• Foreign language reference at Amazon.com
• Foreign language Dictionaries & Thesauri at Amazon.com
• Spanish Dictionaries & Thesauri at Amazon.com
• French Dictionaries & Thesauri at Amazon.com

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