Applied Languages and intercultural studies?

illiop

I just accepted my offer for Applied Languages and intercultural studies. as it turns out I'm actually really happy despite the fact it was pretty far down on my list but I have a few questions about the course and was wondering if anyone could help me out;
Is there a limited number of places for the individual languages? If there is then is first come first served or how do they sort that?
I know I'm doing Spanish as one of my languages but I don't know about the other one...I was thinking about Irish (I know, I know useless blah blah blah) but I actually am not very good at Irish and I only did pass for the LC so would it be strong enough to take it up?
And, this is the make or break for Irish, if I do it can I still choose to go abroad for third year or do I have to do placement here?
...any other general info anyone has about the course would also be appreciated. Cheers!

stringy

You will either do two intermediate languages or one intermediate and one "ab-initio" beginner level. Having done Spanish in school you will do this intermediate, I don't think there is an ab-initio Irish option so you would need HC3 in Irish, you should check this with the school, http://www.dcu.ie/salis/

If you can do Irish and Spanish, the option will be a year in a Spanish speaking country or with Irish you can do an INTRA work placement in Ireland.

The other language options are French, German, Chinese and Japanese, there usually is no problem getting the language options you want.

If you want further information, it is best to contact the School of Applied Languages http://www.dcu.ie/salis/

illiop

thanks!

dory

Would also like to add; I also thought Irish was useless when I started out. Only did it in college because I'm fluent and thought it would be easy.
In the end just about every job I've had I got because the boss was impressed with my Irish. In the roles I've had I've been used to liase with the Irish language media (ok, this is only relevant if you work in a sector that needs PR). Also if you ever go into teaching there is a lot of work with Irish. I got a job teaching Irish at night straight out of college.

If you are allowed into that intermediate class (I got into the Spanish intermediate class of that course without LC Spanish) - then you will have to work hard. You'll need conversation classes, watch TG4 etc. go to the Gaeltacht for a few months. It won't be easy but I think it'll be worth it.

Dinxminx

I've accepted this course as well, very happy because it was top of my list. Do have a question though - do you have to have taken at least one of your subjects before? I wanted to do French and Japanese but have never really done either before. My Japanese is non-existent and my French gets about as far as 'Bonjour, je m'appelle Dinxminx, j'ai un frere' etc...

I am already fluent in Spanish so would like to avoid doing that in college, and my German is passable. I intend to take evening classes on the side to perfect it. Am really hoping I don't have to do either of these as part of the course though!

stringy

Dinxminx wrote: »

I Do have a question though - do you have to have taken at least one of your subjects before? I wanted to do French and Japanese but have never really done either before. My Japanese is non-existent and my French gets about as far as 'Bonjour, je m'appelle Dinxminx, j'ai un frere' etc...
!

You have to take one language intermediate level, i.e. HC3 in Leaving Cert. So I imagine you'll have to use Spanish or German as your intermediate language

OneArt

I actually can't wait to start this course. I heard the Japanese language only had two tenses

Also, what does everyone think they'll end up taking? Intercultural or translation strands?