which college?

waterbabe1

I'm trying to decide between Bus wit French in TCD and Int. Bus wit French and Spanish in D.I.T...

Is it better to just have one language but the degree being from TCD?? Or having two languages, but from D.I.T??

i hear TCD is internationally recognised, and the standard of the degree is higher...

PapaRatzi

I wouldn't bother applying to DIT. It's not a real university and you'll be surrounded by people destined to airbrush their academic history for the rest of their lives.

Jammyc

waterbabe1 wrote: »

I'm trying to decide between Bus wit French in TCD and Int. Bus wit French and Spanish in D.I.T...

Is it better to just have one language but the degree being from TCD?? Or having two languages, but from D.I.T??

i hear TCD is internationally recognised, and the standard of the degree is higher...

I'm sorry I dont know anything about this degree, I would, however advise you not to listen to this kinda crap

PapaRatzi wrote: »

I wouldn't bother applying to DIT. It's not a real university and you'll be surrounded by people destined to airbrush their academic history for the rest of their lives.

djcervi

I cannot speak for business, but I can speak for the languages (TSM French/Spanish). I know my cousin did Business and French. She loved it, and she went away for the year to Tours. Business and French only deal with a few members of the French department, which is an advantage since the French department are a bit of a pain (sometimes) for TSM imo. Also the two main teachers seem really nice. For French you have small classes for Civilisation and written language(AFAIK). I cannot say anything specific about teaching of French for B&L French students as we're segregated from them. I'm guessing you'd have oral and class on Business French. My cousin had to get work experience in a French company and did her final dissertation in French.

It's pretty much up to whether you think you can manage a business course and two languages. Do you speak Spanish or would you be a beginner in college? If you're interested you could take up Spanish in college, although for B&L can you take up a beginner language? If so and you're considering Spanish you could pursue that. The teaching of the Spanish department in Trinity is very good, and they really do cover all the different aspects of language with you. With their work I think it's realistic, if you're interested in the language, to reach the same level of non-beginners.

I know there's a business and languages course in DCU as well. I was talking to some one recently and he loved it. He also got to do an Erasmus in Alcalá de Henares. That's probably worth looking at in terms of a business and 2 language course.

Anyway good luck with your choices.

Denerick

Go to TCD if you care about the subject you want to study. If not, go to one of the crapper institutions. Remember to curtsy the older students too.

waterbabe1

yeah i'd be takin up Spanish as a beginner...but u cant do that in tcd, not with business anyway...

do you think it would benefit me to hav two languages??:rolleyes: or is one just as useful?

ive always had this "thing" about going to trinity... like i feel like its the irish equivalent of Harvard or Yale.. nd i kinda feel like d.i.t and the like are "lesser" if you get me.. BUT i would like to do two languages..

i really can't decide between tcd or two languages..

p1akuw47h5r3it

PapaRatzi wrote: »

I wouldn't bother applying to DIT. It's not a real university and you'll be surrounded by people destined to airbrush their academic history for the rest of their lives.

Denerick wrote: »

Go to TCD if you care about the subject you want to study. If not, go to one of the crapper institutions. Remember to curtsy the older students too.

Just want you to know that the majority of TCD students aren't snobs like these two posters are. I know TCD students have a certain stereotype but it isn't true, though you wouldn't believe it with these to posts.

I do BSL (though not with french). Have to say I love the Business side. It is different from Business in school in that a lot of what you do is based around debating certain topics and formulating arguments and backing them up instead of just learning of ****e like Maslow's Hierarchy of needs etc..

Economics is fairly boring imo though if you are interested in it than it shouldn't be too bad. It is Economic policy so there isn't a lot of maths (compared to what BESS students have to do in their Economics module). It isn't too difficult. The Macro lecturer is quite bad though the Micro lecturer is very good. She does in class "experiments" which are good craic.

Maths and Stats is fairly difficult (there is a 30% fail rate more or less every year afaik). Though if, from day 1, you stay with it you should manage to pass. Though I stress you must work at it from day 1. Again the lecturers are very good imo.

Hope this helps, any questions feel free to ask.

Mark200

DanDan6592 wrote: »

Just want you to know that the majority of TCD students aren't snobs like these two posters are. I know TCD students have a certain stereotype but it isn't true, though you wouldn't believe it with these to posts.

+1

Denerick

I was sure that my helpful reminder that she should curtsy the elder students would be a sure giveaway that I wasn't serious.

djcervi

waterbabe1 wrote: »

yeah i'd be takin up Spanish as a beginner...but u cant do that in tcd, not with business anyway...

do you think it would benefit me to hav two languages??:rolleyes: or is one just as useful?

ive always had this "thing" about going to trinity... like i feel like its the irish equivalent of Harvard or Yale.. nd i kinda feel like d.i.t and the like are "lesser" if you get me.. BUT i would like to do two languages..

i really can't decide between tcd or two languages..

Well if what you really want to study two languages, then maybe you should follow that course of action. Then again if you really want to study in Trinity, maybe B&L is your answer. Perhaps it's better to concentrate on one language and gaining expertise in French for a business career. There's always the option of studying Spanish through Broad Curiculum, then following Business Spanish courses in Instituto Cervantes.

You could do Economics and Spanish in TSM, but Economics do not allow people do an Erasmus year in Spain, so it's worth bearing in mind. Also I have heard from those in my class that do is that Economics is a hard subject.

waterbabe1

djcervi i think i saw on another thread that you were doing european studies in trinity, can you tell me about this course, whats the languages like is is more learning the language grammer etc or literary stuff

shay_562

OP, what are the study-abroad options like with the DIT course? If you're Business & French in TCD you have to spend 3rd year abroad, from talking to various people who did Erasmus years it's that year that actually gets you fluent in the language you're studying. If you're taking up Spanish from beginner levels in DIT, will you be spending any time in Spain during your degree? If not, then consider whether you could get as much from the TCD degree by just finding classes in beginner Spanish outside of college and spending a summer there or something.

That said, it depends on where you see yourself going. Two European languages are definitely better than one, though with fluent French and English you could work in most parts of Europe with no problems. The business school in Trinity are less good than UCD, but probably better regarded than DIT, and that does make a difference when you start looking for jobs, especially if you're looking internationally (for better or worse, people outside of Ireland only seem to have heard of Trinity College, and in England in particular it seems to have quite a good rep).

Also consider the holistic aspects of each college. You're going to be spending 3 years in these places, enjoying the non-class parts of college is also important, and helps get you through the tougher parts of your course. Are you finishing up 5th year now? If so, go to the Open Days next year and check each place out properly, see which one appeals to you more in terms of clubs, atmostphere etc. If you're about to sit you LC and are doing this for change of mind forms, at least look at those aspects of the colleges in their online stuff; it makes a huge difference to how much you get out of college.

andrew

waterbabe1 wrote: »

djcervi i think i saw on another thread that you were doing european studies in trinity, can you tell me about this course, whats the languages like is is more learning the language grammer etc or literary stuff

For what it's worth, I've a friend doing European studies and from what I can tell it's entirely based upon learning the language through grammar, translation etc.

djcervi

waterbabe1 wrote: »

djcervi i think i saw on another thread that you were doing european studies in trinity, can you tell me about this course, whats the languages like is is more learning the language grammer etc or literary stuff

Well I was doing European Studies, but then I changed to another course 6 weeks into the first term. Although I can give you a rough idea of the course.

For first year you study Social Science (Politics, Economics and Sociology), European History (from 1500s onwards), History of ideas (after christmas, which is kinda historical and philosophical from what I've been told) and your 2 languages.

Languagewise you can choose French, German (only if you studied them for LC)
Spanish as either non beginner and beginner
Italian, Russian and Polish at beginners level

Second year you major in one language and minor in the other language. So if you major in Spanish you will spend third year in a university in Spain. You also study in 2nd year a complusory course in European Politics and Society (I'm not sure if that's the right name). You choose another module from either Economics, Politics, Sociology, History and International Relations.

In fourth year I only know you spend more hours on your major language than your minor. Also you do a bit of literature.

With regard to the languages, I was studying French and Spanish.
French: Grammar lecture, 2 written language tutorials and 1 oral tutorial. In the written and oral language you are expected to do assignments including listening work on TV5monde and 200 words based on a comprehension piece/topic covered each week. Personally I didn't find I was learning any French in ES from the written tutorials, and I was doing the assignments/reading the texts. There is no literature, since you were quering this at all in ES until 4th year)

Spanish : (I was a non beginners) the teaching is great. You have 2 small grammar classes (3 for beginners), oral tutorial, listening comprehension tutorial and text analysis (You read a Spanish text then you translate into English) a week. Also a Modern Spain lecture (Spanish society) weekly after christmas. For 1st year language beginners and non beginners are separated, but they sit the same exam in summer. Literature is only studied in TSM.

To be honest I would not put down European Studies unless you are sure you will like most (if not all) of the subjects on the course. It is a very academic course, and it can be very intensive especially if there's elements you don't like. I made this mistake, but luckily I managed to change courses. I'm now studying TSM French and Spanish, which is language, literature and French/Spanish cultural studies. For me I made the right choice to change. Even though I didn't really excel at English for LC I've managed well with the literature. Other people were in the same position (started in ES) and changed to similar language courses, like BSL French and TSM History and French. There are as happy as I am, and have no regrets.

I hope I haven't turned you off the course. I just think you need to know what the course is about, but more importantly whether it is for you. There is a lot of work, and it can be stressful at times. Although many of the people I still talk to can manage and like it. They lso have the 'right' to call themselves Eurostuds . Best of luck with your decision.

el cule

UCD also has a very well renowned international business course, with spanish or french, but not both. Although you can do spanish or french as an elective along with your course.

FUNKYTOWWWN

i wonder could someone help me here.
I'm completly stuck between french & spanish TSM in tcd, or just french in UCD. I know TCD has such a superior name and its a brilliant college, but ive heard some things about its french dept not being great. whereas ucd, (all my friends are going there) and it seems to be a pretty great uni!

any help?

waterbabe1

Hi there, i am doing french as part of tsm in trinity and i find the french dept are grand but if all your friends are going to ucd and you can do the course you want there i would say go to ucd,trinity has a great name but so does ucd so theres not much of a difference in that regard.

Lisandro

FUNKYTOWWWN,

I can't comment on the strengths of the respective departments in each college because my academic experience is in science and mathematics, not arts. However, I can say that Trinity opens doors in a way few other universities do. It never hurts to have a degree for your CV from a college as old and renowned as Trinity and you'll meet some truly unique people from all around the world.

You will inevitably meet great people at UCD too, but watch out for the comfort zone there. Since UCD is a bigger campus with bigger numbers, it tends to attract larger groups from schools and there's more of a tendency to become insularised and not truly reach out and join the experience of being in college. This doesn't really happen much in Trinity because people come as part of smaller groups (if not alone!) from a wider spread of schools in Ireland and abroad and there's a much bigger incentive to get out there and make new friends because there isn't the same safety net of secondary school friends on which to fall back. There's also the incentive of the "Trinity Experience" (make of that term what you will, some people believe in it, others think it's nonsense).

I speak from personal experience because I went into Trinity with the intention of building a completely new social circle, and I've found that most people are willing to interact and engage in a way I rarely saw when I was in secondary school. Most of the people I knew from school go to UCD and only a small minority have actually broadened their horizons. It's something I've heard more than a few times now, and apparently it happens rather often; people just keep on hanging around with their old friends as if they're still in secondary school.

I don't mind it personally, it's simply how people choose to mould their social lives. I do realise that there's variation everywhere, you can't generalise, etc., but it's best to know what you really want in college when you put down your choice on the CAO. If you want to take a slightly less cautious leap, you can go to Trinity where you won't have the same safety net of friends but have the possibility of reaping the benefits of a rather unique university life. Or you can go to UCD and enjoy a more certain, fixed social life with your friends while social opportunities are readily available anyway. The choice is yours; if you're able to set aside the quality of teaching issue (which may or may not actually be a problem), then it really is a case of which you'd prefer.

FUNKYTOWWWN

You've defiently opened my eyes. Opting to break away could be good, rather than stick to what i know. I think i'll probably leave TCD down as my first choice (points are insanely high) and if i get them, well then i'll go there and if i don't then going to ucd is fine by me. TCD would look so good on my cv in later life... and it would be worth breaking the mould for that reason (i'll thank myself in later years)

Thank you

Lisandro

Glad to be of help, Funkytown. Best of luck with the Leaving Cert, and if you get into Trinity, make sure to come along to events organised by the French Society. You'll meet more than just French students and French people there - I occasionally pay a visit, and I'm in Theoretical Physics, not French!

languagenerd

FUNKYTOWWWN wrote: »

i wonder could someone help me here.
I'm completly stuck between french & spanish TSM in tcd, or just french in UCD. I know TCD has such a superior name and its a brilliant college, but ive heard some things about its french dept not being great. whereas ucd, (all my friends are going there) and it seems to be a pretty great uni!

any help?

I've just finished my second year of that exact course (TSM French/Spanish) and it's a great course. The French department can be annoying, but in fairness to them, they are very well organised and everything is properly done. Don't mix up the department with the course!

There are a good few people doing both languages (I think there's 14 of us in my year, out of the 35~ who do Spanish) so it's a popular combination. I won't call it a "perfect" course, there are weak points, but for the most part it's really good and it has a good reputation.
I can't really speak for UCD, but I have heard that TCD teaches a higher level of language/Arts in general.

Whatever you do, don't pick your college just because it's where all your friends are going! Dublin is a small city, you can meet up with them fairly easily no matter where you go to college. (My friends go to UCD and they're always hanging round the TCD campus with me, it's a only 20min bus journey between the two )

And Lisandro is right about the social side. It may be worth noting that the language courses in TCD are a lot smaller than UCD (especially Spanish, TSM only has about 35-40 students, French has about 70 which is one of the biggest ones - compared to the 200 or more in UCD) so it can be easier to make friends.

Good luck!

FUNKYTOWWWN

languagenerd wrote: »

I've just finished my second year of that exact course (TSM French/Spanish) and it's a great course. The French department can be annoying, but in fairness to them, they are very well organised and everything is properly done. Don't mix up the department with the course!

There are a good few people doing both languages (I think there's 14 of us in my year, out of the 35~ who do Spanish) so it's a popular combination. I won't call it a "perfect" course, there are weak points, but for the most part it's really good and it has a good reputation.
I can't really speak for UCD, but I have heard that TCD teaches a higher level of language/Arts in general.

Whatever you do, don't pick your college just because it's where all your friends are going! Dublin is a small city, you can meet up with them fairly easily no matter where you go to college. (My friends go to UCD and they're always hanging round the TCD campus with me, it's a only 20min bus journey between the two )

And Lisandro is right about the social side. It may be worth noting that the language courses in TCD are a lot smaller than UCD (especially Spanish, TSM only has about 35-40 students, French has about 70 which is one of the biggest ones - compared to the 200 or more in UCD) so it can be easier to make friends.

Good luck!

Can i ask, did you take spanish up as a beginner or .. ? Cause i'd be taking it up as a beginner and i'm wondering how you found it?

languagenerd

Unfortunately, I didn't, I did two languages for the LC... Lots of my friends were beginners though and they're doing fine now. A beginner in Spanish got Schols this year (the Foundation Scholarship is the biggest Scholarship TCD offer) and another went on Erasmus (a year studying abroad in that language) in Spain a year after they took it up, so it can be done .

Beginners have separate grammar classes to non-beginners in first year and they have extra classes for literature too. Also most of the books can be bought in English and the literature lectures are through English too. It does require a bit of effort, but if you're interested in languages, it's worth it. Also, having French is helpful, they are quite similar so with reading comprehensions and stuff you'll be able to guess words if you're stuck

StrawberryJazz

Trinity degrees are 4 years while I believe DIT can be 2-3 years (correct me if Im wrong). The courses although on face value may look similar, will probably be structured very differently.

My advice to you is to get in contact with the heads of these courses and see the differences from the perspective of those who will teach you