19 credits first semester

SmithieandProud
Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:28:11 +0000

Ah, I think I see the disconnect here. The study abroad program in Greece is in classical archaeology it looks like, so you might be somewhat confused about whether you’re required to take Greek in order to be eligible for the program. It’s not a bad idea to check with the JYA office, but according to the regulations, you aren’t required to have prior-language training to do the study abroad program provided that the language of your host country is NOT offered at Smith. With Greek it’s a little complicated, because Smith offers classical, not modern, Greek. So if you want to study in Greece you would either be exempt from the language proficiency requirement, or you would fall under the requirement for programs taught in English: i.e. you have to have one year of the host country language.

If they decide to be sticky and claim that since Smith teaches classical greek, you have to take it before you go study in Greece, you can always do so sophomore year and still have your requirement completed well in time for JYA. But I don’t think that’s the case because on the JYA website, they mention that Greek is one of the languages not offered through Smith that you can take at the 5 College language institute if you wish, but that it’s not required that you take a language not taught at Smith for study abroad.

Hope that clears things up. In truth, Greek is very difficult, and if you’ve never studied Latin before, that’s incredibly difficult as well. So again, I’d pick one or the other.