Language classes, something's lost in translation
By Jessica Stokes
Last Updated:10:41 AM EST 10/27/09 Section: Viewpoint
I was sitting in Spanish 101duriing the second week of classes when I overheard another student talking about how you can not be enrolled in the 101 class if you have previously taken four years of that particular language in high school.
I panicked and e-mailed my advisor immediately, who said that I needed to talk it over with my professor. My professor directed me to Dr. Gomez, Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, who explained the language requirements.
Gomez quoted the St. John Fisher College Undergraduate Bulletin, which states, "Students who successfully completed four years (level four) of foreign language in high school or are native speakers may not receive credit for the college 101 level in the same language." Gomez also recommended that you take 102 if you have taken three years in a particular language, so that you don't intimidate other students or become disinterested.
Associate Registrar Joan Fraver explained that if you are graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree (and for some education students graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree), you are required to take two foreign languages classes in sequence, which also fills your P5 requirement. If you have previously taken a foreign language for college credit, you can transfer it to Fisher, but you will need to share your syllabus with Dr. Gomez.
Fisher does not accept sign language as a foreign language for Bachelor of Arts students. Furthermore, the College does not require students graduating with a Bachelors of Science to take a language.
However, New York State does require education majors graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree to take a language, so for these students, sign language is acceptable.
Even if it is not required for your program of study, you might still want to consider taking a foreign language. According, to Betsy McDermott, Director of Career Services, showing that you have the ability to learn another language is attractive to prospective employers, no matter what language you choose to learn.
She said it is especially useful in fields such as international business and in "professions that deal with a diverse population" such as non-profit organizations.
"Studying a foreign language, or sign language, is always a plus," McDermott said. "Especially in the U.S., where fluency in a second language is more rare than in most of the rest of the world, it is seen as a sign of education and global awareness."
My only recommendation is, when signing up for your foreign language class, make sure that it says P5 in the title; otherwise you are going to have to take another P5 class.
jls00101@sjfc.edu
I panicked and e-mailed my advisor immediately, who said that I needed to talk it over with my professor. My professor directed me to Dr. Gomez, Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, who explained the language requirements.
Gomez quoted the St. John Fisher College Undergraduate Bulletin, which states, "Students who successfully completed four years (level four) of foreign language in high school or are native speakers may not receive credit for the college 101 level in the same language." Gomez also recommended that you take 102 if you have taken three years in a particular language, so that you don't intimidate other students or become disinterested.
Associate Registrar Joan Fraver explained that if you are graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree (and for some education students graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree), you are required to take two foreign languages classes in sequence, which also fills your P5 requirement. If you have previously taken a foreign language for college credit, you can transfer it to Fisher, but you will need to share your syllabus with Dr. Gomez.
Fisher does not accept sign language as a foreign language for Bachelor of Arts students. Furthermore, the College does not require students graduating with a Bachelors of Science to take a language.
However, New York State does require education majors graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree to take a language, so for these students, sign language is acceptable.
Even if it is not required for your program of study, you might still want to consider taking a foreign language. According, to Betsy McDermott, Director of Career Services, showing that you have the ability to learn another language is attractive to prospective employers, no matter what language you choose to learn.
She said it is especially useful in fields such as international business and in "professions that deal with a diverse population" such as non-profit organizations.
"Studying a foreign language, or sign language, is always a plus," McDermott said. "Especially in the U.S., where fluency in a second language is more rare than in most of the rest of the world, it is seen as a sign of education and global awareness."
My only recommendation is, when signing up for your foreign language class, make sure that it says P5 in the title; otherwise you are going to have to take another P5 class.
jls00101@sjfc.edu
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