Studying languages as a uni student

[KYtho]

Hey guys, I'm a high school grad who will most likely  study commerce as an undergrad at Melbourne University this year. Also, I studed Japanese and Chinese (both second languages) as part pf VCE and would really like to continue to study those two languages throughout uni.

However, I am unsure as to whether I should study languages as part of Melb uni's breadth program, as I have been advised by current students to not do so. So I'd like to ask current uni students doing a L.O.T.E on their experiences as well as where would be the be best place to study a foreign language; (i.e. at uni or at some language school or perhaps even a tutor?). Also @ any other students in a similiar position to I am, what do you plan to do?

Thanks for any advice!

[PhishPhillets]

Monash also offers you the opportunity to study languages as part of your electives,  or with a diploma of languages.  I'm not entirely sure whether it would be possible to study two languages, however,  with just a single degree.

I recommend taking a look at maybe studying commerce/arts at Monash,  which would only add an extra year to your studies, but allow you to major in Chinese and Japanese studies with your arts degree

[appleandbee]

I'm planning to do two languages at Melb uni (Biomed) too, Chinese at an advanced level and Japanese, which I studied up to year 11. I'm considering Spanish in the place of Chinese because I head that it's not overly worthwhile if you are native. As for fitting in in the degree, I'm pretty sure you can do one language in the breath and  the other as a diploma of languages.

[Alter]

If you do the diploma in languages you get the last 50 credit points of the diploma HECS free, iirc. I'm of the opinion that doing it through the university's system is a much better plan as a diploma will definitely stand out on your resume, and you can complete all of your subjects through the uni. It'd also theoretically decrease your workload if you're doing the subjects in the place of breadth instead of outside of uni in addition to breadth subjects. You might need to either overload or extend your degree to 4 years in order to complete the diploma concurrently, however. I'm not sure how it works if you want to study two languages outside of Arts, though.

[KYtho]

I'm of the opinion that doing it through the university's system is a much better plan as a diploma will definitely stand out on your resum

Yeah I've always thought of it like that. But I've been told that languages should be avoided because it affects your WAM and hence overall grades? As in, its one of the harder subjects compared to other breadth subjects, and so it'll lower the overall score

[PhishPhillets]

I wouldn't necessarily say language subjects should be avoided,  but they can get quite time-consuming. Saying that, I've had plenty of friends take a language as elective units,  or as their minor/major and manage to do very well in all of their units.

Like with every unit,  if you enjoy it and manage your time well,  maintaining a high WAM won't be an issue.

[spectroscopy]

i have no idea where the idea that languages at uni are bad. granted, i have limited experience with subjects beyond level 5, but i dont think ive ever heard a complaint about a language subject from levels 1 through to 4. i personally did chinese 1 and 2 as a breadth in commerce and it was awesome. friends doing units 3 and 4 and 5 of chinese and jap have said they had a blast as well. also people tend to do very well in language subjects at uni. the pace is alot fairer than high school with alot clearer outlines on what you do and dont have to learn. also in uni its alot easier to practice and the teachers get really into it. i definitely would recommend doing chinese at uni and i have heard good things about jap too. one thing to note though is that when you are studying romance languages (french italian spanish etc.) you start to hear complaints across the board starting from level 5, though this doesnt really apply to your situation.

[vox nihili]

Hey guys, I'm a high school grad who will most likely  study commerce as an undergrad at Melbourne University this year. Also, I studed Japanese and Chinese (both second languages) as part pf VCE and would really like to continue to study those two languages throughout uni.

However, I am unsure as to whether I should study languages as part of Melb uni's breadth program, as I have been advised by current students to not do so. So I'd like to ask current uni students doing a L.O.T.E on their experiences as well as where would be the be best place to study a foreign language; (i.e. at uni or at some language school or perhaps even a tutor?). Also @ any other students in a similiar position to I am, what do you plan to do?

Thanks for any advice!

Spanish was probably the best thing I did at Uni. Great fun, really well organised and you really felt like you achieved something. What I achieved in six years of French, I manage in 1 and a half years of Spanish...it's just done better at Uni.