<p>So, I’m going to be attending a boarding school next year which offers the opportunity of receiving a classics diploma when graduating if you complete two years of one classic language and three years of another (Greek and Latin). Now, since I’ve never actually taken either of those languages, I decided to start teaching myself through Rosetta Stone. Do you think there is a possibility I could test out of Latin 1 and Greek 1, and maybe even test high enough in one of the languages to test out of the second level, next year if I’ve learned enough of each language, cause I was kind of also hoping to take AP Spanish Language next year (I dont think they would allow me to take 3 foreign languages)? Thanks.</p>
<p>You can try. But I’ve heard that Rosetta Stone doesn’t teach proper grammar. Is there a class or private tutor in your area that could help you learn Greek or Latin?</p>
<p>You should send an email to the head of the Classics Department, or the Dean of Studies. It sounds like a very ambitious plan to me. You would also sacrifice a great deal of flexibility pursuing it.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know it sounds pretty ambitious. I’ve tried contacting the dean of studies several times, but he hasn’t replied yet. I’ll continue to try to contact him. Thanks.</p>
<p>Periwinkle, when you say that it sounds like a very ambitious plan, do you think it sounds like a do-able plan? Or do you think I might just be wasting my time by learning these two languages?</p>
<p>I say this with great affection - not a chance. The point of getting a Classics degree is to prove to the college you did most of the work at the school you attended (or schools). It would be like the students I see that load up on AP courses hoping to place out of MIT’s freshman year (chuckle). Likewise, an international student wouldn’t be able to “place” out of a language requirement by simply taking placement tests for their native language.</p>
<p>Rosetta Stone is geared towards helping people who plan to visit a country learn to communicate. There are no written components, no structure or grammar instruction, no foundation. </p>
<p>So although ambitious, the only way to do it is to take the classes and perhaps negotiate taking additional classes during the summer (at college) to supplement.</p>
<p>Only your school will know what will count for their degree and what will not.</p>
<p>I love the Classics. I would never tell anyone it would not be worth their while to study them. It is never a waste of time to learn Greek or Latin. On the other hand, to jump into second year Latin, and first year Greek, in your first year at boarding school, which happens to be your Junior year (if you’ll be class of 2012) would be a very challenging year, to say the least. </p>
<p>You may have a gift for languages. I’m only a parent, not a teacher. Maybe someone’s done this before, and the Dean of Studies and the head of the Classics department can give you a good idea of the sacrifices you would need to make to pursue your plan.</p>
<p>I believe you need three years of foreign language study for college. It should be the same language, I believe. Aiming to reach Latin III next year is a gamble. What will you do if it doesn’t fall into place for you? Also, perhaps you’ll discover that you love ceramics, or singing, or history, next year. If you aim for the Classics diploma at this point, you’re giving up the opportunity to pursue anything else in your senior year.</p>
<p>If you were my son, I think I would be counseling you to take AP Spanish next year, and Latin, if possible. It is always possible to study Greek and Latin in college. Your love of languages may mean you’re a budding linguist, and they don’t seem to stop learning languages.</p>