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Multiple Proficiencies or Specialization? | ||
Tags: Placement Test | College/University | ||
 Language Learning Forum : Languages & Work |  | |
| mikonai Diglot Senior Member United States weirdnamewriting.bloRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 4931 days ago 178 posts - 281 votes  Speaks: English*, Italian Studies: Swahili, German | Message 1 of 4 02 April 2013 at 12:30am | IP Logged |
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I'm currently studying at a university, majoring in Linguistics. I've already completed
my language proficiency requirement (and I do actually feel proficient in Italian), and now I have the opportunity to minor (take it as a secondary focus in my education) in it without causing myself too much hardship. I do like the language, and I feel that it would be a good sort of addition to my degree, and for future job applications. However, doing this in-depth study of Italian language and culture would probably get in the way of my studying other languages, which I would like to do. Granted, at this point in my school career I have a bit too much to do to make much progress in my current projects (as my neglected TAC log can attest), but my Italian studies would probably persist until graduation, assuming I graduate on time in 2015. Basically, I have the choice of specializing in a single language for the time being, sacrificing my furthering of my other language projects until later, since I would almost certainly have to push them to breaks, or else I can put aside the idea of having my degree say "Linguistics with a Minor in Italian" and focus instead on achieving proficiency in several languages. But I'd like to hear the forum's thoughts on this: which do you think would sound better? A resume sporting a degree with a minor in Italian, or one without the minor, but two or three language proficiencies instead of just one? 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Serpent Octoglot Senior Member Russian Federation serpent-849.livejour Joined 6599 days ago 9753 posts - 15779 votes 4 sounds Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish | Message 2 of 4 02 April 2013 at 1:19am | IP Logged |
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You can simply take some sort of a proficiency test, whether for Italian or a different language once you've achieved the necessary level.
Your future employer will mostly care whether your language skills fit the requirements (if there are any). If they need your German, it won't matter whether you did a minor in Italian. YMMV, but I find that being a linguistics student already makes your skills more credible. Finally... I would never take more language classes than I have to, simply because they are slow and inefficient compared to self-study. If you actually love Italian and have the right resources, you can reach a better level on your own than by doing the minor. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Majka Triglot Senior Member Czech Republic kofoholici.wordpress Joined 4659 days ago 307 posts - 755 votes Speaks: Czech*, German, English Studies: French Studies: Russian | Message 3 of 4 02 April 2013 at 10:38am | IP Logged |
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I agree with Serpent with regard to usual language classes - they are too slow.
However - look if there are any resources or courses you can take just because you are a student which would suit you. My school offered free conversational course with a native speaker, open to all students you could simply drop in if you wanted. Universities have often quite a few "hidden gems", you only need to know where to look. Try also to find out if there is a possibility to getting the credits faster than prescribed - learning at your own, testing out of classes, perhaps taking one semester instead of four or however long it would usually take. Languages are one of the easiest subjects to do it like this. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Arekkusu Hexaglot Senior Member Canada bit.ly/qc_10_lec Joined 5383 days ago 3971 posts - 7747 votes Speaks: English, French*, GermanC1, Spanish, Japanese, Esperanto Studies: Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Estonian | Message 4 of 4 02 April 2013 at 3:43pm | IP Logged |
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A person who speaks a language may be an asset, but someone who has a minor in a language is useless (insofar as the minor is concerned).
1 person has voted this message useful |
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