Doing languages outside one's degree

Dreamer...

just wondering are there many opportunities to do languages in first year and if so where and how do you apply?! thanks

Anita Blow

Yep there is. You'll get information about it with your Orientation pack. Competition is tough though so I'd recommend you fill out the form, scan it into your computer and e-mail it to them as soon as you get it.

tolosenc

The CLCS offer evening courses. Not everyone can count them for extra credit, though.

ScienceMad

do most people do them for extra credit or just for themselves??

which is recommended?

Irish_wolf

Do you want to have credited language course or do you just want to study a language for fun.

If it's the latter there are a multitude of foreign language societies that can offer lessons at a very cheap rate or even for free, also you'll have plenty of people to talk to as you learn the language.

If it's the former I believe it depends on your course and the options are relatively limited.

languagenerd

The Modern Languages Society ran a load of evening courses last year, in French, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, German, etc. I didn't do them, so I can't tell you what the classes are like, but they were pretty good value IIRC. It won't count for any of your degree/modules/credits etc. though.

EmmetOT

languagenerd wrote: »

The Modern Languages Society ran a load of evening courses last year, in French, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, German, etc. I didn't do them, so I can't tell you what the classes are like, but they were pretty good value IIRC. It won't count for any of your degree/modules/credits etc. though.

So these classes are different from the "official" ones the college offers?

languagenerd

EmmetOT wrote: »

So these classes are different from the "official" ones the college offers?

Yeah, they're run by the Mod Lang Soc. They aren't "official" in any sense, and I don't think you get any official certification, but if you're just looking to learn a new language/keep up an old one, they could be worth doing.

I just searched my email inbox for last year's stuff - it was around €20 for the whole term, and they offered 11 languages (incl. European, Scandinavian, Asian and Arabic languages) with two levels of French & Spanish.

Like I said, I didn't sign up for any of them, so I don't know if they're any good, and I don't know if the exact same ones will be run again this year. But they might be something to think about if you can't do one as part of your degree. If anyone from DU Mod Lang is on boards, feel free to clarify/correct anything I said!

Apart from that, the Alliance Francaise and the Instituto Cervantes are both on Nassau Street (beside Trinity) so you could sign up for French or Spanish classes in those... though they can be quite expensive.

Bottleopener

Just want to second the recommendation of the Modern Language soc, as well as other societies such as the Japanese Soc who run similar lessons. Stuff is done on a rather informal but enjoyable basis - would seriously recommend giving them a look, and 20€ for a terms worth of lessons is awesome! =D

blubloblu

Sign Language soc also run a year's worth of lessons for something like €50