What does 4 years of a language mean?

MiamiDAP
Mon, 13 Oct 2014 13:35:17 +0000

From what I see and based on D’s experience with Spanish (she actually has various froficiencies in 3 foreign languages), the best is to stick to Spanish, the most useful of them all (if living in the USA). I do not remember what level of Spanish D. had in HS. It was irrelevant in her case. Her public in-state UG required taking foreign language test before one could register for first sememster of freshman year. As non-native, D. had very easy time with any languge though, we do not know why. maybe exposure to several from the early childhood (but no Spanish) and her music education outside of school has something to do with it. Anyway, her college placement test resulted in a score higher than the highest listed which placed her into 3rd year college Spanish. This class ended up being one of her best UG classes. She tool only required one sememster of Spanish and was able to speak after that. Later this class enabled her to place into intermediate Medical Spanish while at Medical School (not required class, purused it on her own initiative). Her Spanish opened up additional opportunities at Medical School, the ones that makes her residency application to stand out and she is listing Spanish on this application also along with her other foreign language which is not as profficient.
I say, stick to Spanish, do not spread yourself thinly, unless you are hoping to gain some profficiency in anohter language. In D’s case, her college experience was ONLY one sememster of Spanish and it was one of the most efficient classes with the most positive outcome for her future.