Optional Language Courses

Mark200 · 01-09-2008 5:50pm #1

So yeah as soon as I open my information pack there's a page about this. Not something I would have considered before, but after reading the page about it I'm oddly tempted.

So what's the story with this anyway? Does it cost anything like?

I'm doing computer science, which has a fair few hours already....will it add many extra hours?

Would it be easy to drop out if I just felt it wasn't for me?

I did ordinary level German, but got an A2 in it. I know there's different levels you can do, but it's not like I plan to ever use the language...it'd just be nice to have.

So info please!!!

Podge_irl · 01-09-2008 6:07pm

There is no extra cost and you are free to drop out whenever you choose once you tell them. For some (all?) courses it can give you an extra 5% in your final grade (which is of no real consequence).

I must say, I did the French one and I was not a big fan. Did it for much the same reason as yourself but found it was unenlightening and kinda boring. Dropped out after 2/3 weeks. You may as well give it a shot if you're interested though

PurpleFistMixer · 01-09-2008 6:38pm

Got my info yoke today and was all geared up and wanting to do Spanish, having heard about this... but they don't have any classes for absolute beginners. : ( End of that idea... I'll have to learn it on my own. Bastards, really.

Jimdw · 01-09-2008 6:54pm

Mark200 wrote: »

So yeah as soon as I open my information pack there's a page about this. Not something I would have considered before, but after reading the page about it I'm oddly tempted.

So what's the story with this anyway? Does it cost anything like?

I'm doing computer science, which has a fair few hours already....will it add many extra hours?

Would it be easy to drop out if I just felt it wasn't for me?

I did ordinary level German, but got an A2 in it. I know there's different levels you can do, but it's not like I plan to ever use the language...it'd just be nice to have.

So info please!!!

From what I know you can join only one language course i.e. French or German etc.
And if you fail it, it won't affect your main course in any way.
The best thing for me about the Language Course is that Teachers are native. I did French for my leaving. Our teacher was Irish - it was horrible, she didn't speak French at all and had a terrible Irish accent. You better off watching French movies at home.

tabouli · 01-09-2008 7:10pm

I'm going to hijack this thread a little bit, but does anyone know anything about the language courses that you have to pay for? More info.

I presume there wouldn't be any problem in a first year doing one of those?

Jimdw · 01-09-2008 7:21pm

tabouli wrote: »

I'm going to hijack this thread a little bit, but does anyone know anything about the language courses that you have to pay for? More info.

I presume there wouldn't be any problem in a first year doing one of those?

May be but since there's not French or German I'm not interested. It's easier to hire a native French tutor for one hour once a week for €15 - offers are all over the notice boards in Trinity. I've seen today. I might as well share my accommodation with a French student, then I'll be full time learning French and learning verbal communication - which lectures cannot give but is the most important in life- direct conversation. Se la vi
Or join the language societies.

PurpleFistMixer · 01-09-2008 7:48pm

tabouli wrote: »

I'm going to hijack this thread a little bit, but does anyone know anything about the language courses that you have to pay for? More info.

I presume there wouldn't be any problem in a first year doing one of those?

Oh deadly... sign language! That would be so cool to learn. Though I don't know any people who speak it, and I know lots of spanish-speaking people, so I'll probably stick to Spanish-learning.
Would it be at all possible for a beginner to sit in on a more advanced class, or would it be pointlessly difficult?

Pet · 01-09-2008 11:53pm

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

Oh deadly... sign language! That would be so cool to learn. Though I don't know any people who speak it, and I know lots of spanish-speaking people, so I'll probably stick to Spanish-learning.
Would it be at all possible for a beginner to sit in on a more advanced class, or would it be pointlessly difficult?

The guidelines state that you need a Leaving Cert standard to sit in on the intermediate ones, so it'd be pointless to go.

[Like you, I really wanted to take up Spanish this year, and am similarly annoyed by the lack of a beginner's course.]

for-why? · 02-09-2008 9:57am

Yup I wanted to take up Spanish aswell. Bitterly disappointed! Is there anything which says how many languages you can do? I want to do French anyway, but seeing as beginners Spanish isn't an option I was thinking maybe Italian, but I dunno if your'e allowed more than one.

Edit: just emailed them there and nope, you cant.

Bajingo · 02-09-2008 10:26am

Doing two languages plus all your course classes and your sport/societies meetings and stuff would really take a lot out of you wouldnt it..doing one language is enough I would say...

To apply for these courses do you just fill out the first two pages of the booklet and send them to Trinity by post?

illiop · 02-09-2008 11:10am

I'm tempted by this too. I'd love to do Iirsh, I love irish and I am quite good at it. I got a B1 in pass in the LC which I was so disapointed with I spent so much time helping the others in my class with the actual langauge that i never bothered with the poems/stories. But I irsh is a bit useless isn't it?
I'd like to do spanish. I got a B1(h) in it but I don't actually like it. But if there are native teachers I would be tempted. My teacher in school was french. Not good

PurpleFistMixer · 02-09-2008 11:50am

I'm considering applying for the Irish one now... It'll be my intention to join the cumann gaelach, but classes would be good for keeping it in good shape I think. I got an A1 in HL, guessing that'd definitely be B2 standard! Now here's hoping there's nothing else I want to do on a Thursday evening...

choran · 02-09-2008 11:56am

Why can't people doing BESS apply for these language courses? I was really looking forward to doing one.

Cokehead Mother · 02-09-2008 12:17pm

choran wrote: »

Why can't people doing BESS apply for these language courses? I was really looking forward to doing one.

http://www.tcd.ie/bess/prospective/coursechoices/jfbess.php

lilmizzme · 02-09-2008 3:10pm

Yeah Im tempted to go for one too.....we had a terrible french teacher who totally turned me off the language, but I think I might give it another shot..

Would do the Irish one just to keep up the conversation skills...was planning on joing Cumann Gealach too, so hopefully the classses would help..

Peslo · 02-09-2008 3:49pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

For some (all?) courses it can give you an extra 5% in your final grade (which is of no real consequence).

Can anybody confirm??
How come for German, there is a choice of all the levels (A1, A2, B1, B2)
BUT for French there is only two!! (three B1 classes and one B2)

PurpleFistMixer · 02-09-2008 4:00pm

Peslo wrote: »

How come for German, there is a choice of all the levels (A1, A2, B1, B2)
BUT for French there is only two!! (three B1 classes and one B2)

I would imagine for the same reason that only some languages are on offer, and not every language ever. The classes that are being offered are the only ones that whoever is running is able to put on, due to whatever reason.

Peslo · 02-09-2008 4:06pm

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

I would imagine for the same reason that only some languages are on offer, and not every language ever. The classes that are being offered are the only ones that whoever is running is able to put on, due to whatever reason.

Yes, but german and french would be in the top three most popular languages for the LC which is why there is 4 classes of each!! but for EVERY other language the have on offer, whether they have 2 or three classes, each class is for a different level. except french! I was wondering, could this just be a typo??

PurpleFistMixer · 02-09-2008 4:13pm

It could be a typo, or it could be due to expected high demand in that particular class, especially as you've said, most people coming into TCD will have done either French or German, so they have less need of A1 or A2 level classes. German is less popular (at least it was in my school), so more people may need beginners classes. This is just speculation, though.

Peslo · 02-09-2008 4:22pm

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

It could be a typo, or it could be due to expected high demand in that particular class, especially as you've said, most people coming into TCD will have done either French or German, so they have less need of A1 or A2 level classes. German is less popular (at least it was in my school), so more people may need beginners classes. This is just speculation, though.

But still, they should have at least one "A" class!! from my experience also, French is more popular, but not everyone does higher level! infact far fewer do!

Optional Language Courses

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