French/ Spanish Departments in Trinity

djcervi

Hey,
I'm a 6th year who is interested in studying French in Trinity. (either through TSM or European Studies). What's concerning me, at the minute, is I'm hearing complaints about the French department and have not really heard anything positive as of yet. Can somebody put me at ease with regard to studying French in Trinity?

Also If there is anybody who does Spanish either in TSM/ European Studies. How's that going for you? Just on the Spanish front preferably

Thanks

Unregistered.

Couple of places to start....(on this forum)

Learning languages at college
French not good?
European Studies in TCD? (I know you said preferebly Spannish but how and ever..)
Spanish (TSM)


U.

djcervi

Thanks U. I'm interested in European Studies anyway. (I started that thread lol)

tolosenc

The main problem with the French department is that you have to dall all of the work. An awful lot of students expect to be spoonfed, which they may or may not be by other language departments, upon entry to third level. This doesn't happen.

A lot of the staff just don't give a monkey's about it too, though this term - after a year and a half of French - I've finally got tutors that seem to be very good at what they do.

If you want to cop out and doss off, it ain't for you.

Unregistered.

djcervi wrote: »

Thanks U. I'm interested in European Studies anyway. (I started that thread lol)

Ahhh i see..

Ravelleman

Hola.

I do Spanish and French in European Studies.

I agree with obl about the French department in the main. However, I think its reputation is generally deserved.

As a second year European Studies student I only have 3 hours of French class a week. Last year it was 4. Although I do think it is quite reasonable for the French department to expect you to do work on your own, 3 hours of class per week is simply not enough to address everything. Grammar is taught in a weekly lecture. There is an hour of oral class weekly, as well as an hour long general tutorial where we cover most of the course work. In first year there are two of these classes . As it stands now, the general tutorial is used to cover written French (both the reading journalistic pieces and the composition of short essay), grammar, current affairs and French history. As you can imagine, things can become quite confused. Our current tutor is particularly interested in French history and tends to neglect grammar, despite our protestations. A lot of the staff also seem to have a major problem with assigning and correcting homework, to the point where I haven't received any marks in about 3 weeks, despite handing up all of my assignments.

But as with most things in life, there are ways around these problems. If you make an effort yourself outside class, you can make a lot of progress. I just wouldn't expect a lot of help as you do it, that's all.

In contrast, my experience of the Spanish department has been totally different. I began Spanish last year as a beginner and found the experience of learning it as a new language to be very enjoyable, so much so that I'm spending an Erasmus year in Salamanca next year. The staff members are approachable and sympathetic to students. The course work is varied and balanced. Last year I had three tutorials dedicated solely to grammar, an oral class, an aural class and a class on Spanish history (through English). This year, I have two hours of grammar and written Spanish, one hour of vocabulary and syntax, one hour of oral, two hours of modern Spanish history (through Spanish) and an hour of more rudimentary grammar for ex-beginners. While we don't study literature, I find the focus on history and politics is enough to keep me interested and inspired.

Beware though, if you enter Spanish as a beginner you will be expected to take the same exam as the non-beginners in June. It is a very manageable goal though if you work steadily. The truth is that, I now consider myself to be more competent in Spanish than in French. Either that's a terrifying indictment of the French department or a wonderful reflection of the Spanish deparment. Or both.

If you have any more questions later on you can pm me!

stary eyed

Hmm.. usually I'm more of a lurker around here, but seeing as I'm studying TSM French and Spanish, I thought I should make the effort to reply!
Like Ravelleman, I also started Spanish as a beginner, and whilst that overall is not as daunting as you first may think, it is still tough.. Also alot of my Spanish tutors are quite nice and very approachable but don't conduct classes in the most constructive way.. As for the French Dept.. I think its reputation is a tad harsh, they really are not all that bad and I so far have had a pretty wide variety range of tutors.. Yes a couple in particular were quite slow at corrections but in return were relaxed about submission deadlines.. I find the literature studied in French to be far more interesting than those in Spanish but maybe that is just me, and if you choose European Studies that won't affect you anyway.
Yeah any more questions, just ask away!

djcervi

Merci, Gracias for replying to my query. I really want to study French and Spanish in Trinity, as I'm studying them in school and really want to continue studying them in college. Whether that is through European Studies or TSM, I'm happy.

ohthebaby

Hi, I'm also in sixth year and so far I have French as part of a TSM down as number one on the CAO. Just have a few questions too.

For the TSM course, what length of a stay in a french speaking country is required?! I've seen 2 months in some places and then 6 in others! Can this stay be during the college holidays, as in you're working over there or does it have to be during term time? If during term time would i hate to study my second subject, say history, through French?!

Thanks guys!

stary eyed

Hehe, its actually a minimum of 3 months. You can go in the summer and take some kind of course or language work. Or you could go on Erasmus which would mean studying your 2 TSM subjects in a uni in France, all in French. Pretty much sums it up i think..!

AlexD

djcervi wrote: »

Hey,
I'm a 6th year who is interested in studying French in Trinity. (either through TSM or European Studies). What's concerning me, at the minute, is I'm hearing complaints about the French department and have not really heard anything positive as of yet. Can somebody put me at ease with regard to studying French in Trinity?

Also If there is anybody who does Spanish either in TSM/ European Studies. How's that going for you? Just on the Spanish front preferably

Thanks

People often come on this forum to gripe, I'm sure the departments are fine overall. As has been pointed out, University is about doing it yourself. Thousands of students have passed through every department without trouble, some people just like huffing and puffing.

Remember that studying languages as a full subject involves literary and cultural analysis rather than just language acquisition. Many courses also allow you to take smaller modules in the mechanics of language (or even outside of your course entirely) and then spend your JS year in another University