College Life
College Life
Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major
State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major
- University of California—Los Angeles
- University of Wisconsin—Madison
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Washington State University
- University of Texas—Austin
Classes in the Major
Languages. Pick a language, any language. There are plenty to choose from. Maybe you enjoy the rhythm and cadence of Spanish or Italian, or perhaps you'd like to challenge yourself and learn a whole new writing system with Hebrew, Korean, or Russian. Get ready to conjugate, listen, read, absorb, and practice (which we've heard makes perfect). What they say about adults learning a language is a complete myth—you are indeed just as mentally capable of becoming competent in another language as a baby is. Repeat after us: I am as smart as a baby. And if anyone makes fun of you for your horrible accent or English-influenced syntax, just flip your hair and keep practicing.
Translation and Written Communication. How would one translate "gotcha" into another language? Well, the literal translation might be I've captured you, which probably comes off a little more creepy than you'd like. These courses will cover total rookie mistakes like false cognates, idioms, and the influence of your native language. Taking translation and written communication courses will ensure you don't freak out the locals. You'll cover the difference between translation (exchanging one language for another) and transliteration (literal translation from one language to another), and what to do when people are using slang. Pro-tip: don't transliterate.
Communication Studies. Humans are the only species on Earth that have language. Having big brains and advanced communication is really the only reason we're at the top of the food chain. After all, our perfectly manicured fingersnails stand no chance against a tiger's claws. A communication studies class discusses the rhetorical concepts and development of speech skills. Communications involve the principles of argumentation, conflict resolution, and interpersonal relationships. If you're going to call yourself fluent in another language, you'll need to learn how to communicate in diverse situations, and then some.
Intro to Literature. You might think literature is just for English majors, but foreign language gurus spend their fair share of time hitting the books. You can learn a lot about a culture by checking out what they read. We're pretty sure if aliens attacked Earth, they'd pick up a copy of Hamlet to see what we're all about. Likewise, foreign language departments have their students check out the literature that was originally written in their language of choice. This will give you a really interesting perspective, not to mention major cool points.
Culture and History. It's not enough to learn the language to major in it. You also have to learn the history and culture behind the speakers of that language. For example, if you choose to focus on Spanish, you might learn about how different countries feel about being colonized by Spain through their literature or art, and how this might affect their sense of humor or general perspective. For Hebrew, you might learn about the plight of Jewish people all across Europe, and how the Yiddish language resulted from their constant emigration. After all, what's the point of learning a language if you can't relate to the speakers of said language?