Can you study a language just as a minor?

[ben92]

I've been told languages at ANU are only taught as majors. This is an issue for me because I'd be doing Arts/Law which would mean only one major for Arts. I'm set on majoring in French but doing a minor in another language. What are my options? I've heard I could pick up another language as an elective but it wouldn't count towards my degree.

Edit: Or could I major in say French and do electives in say Italian to count towards my Arts?

[Eriny]

ANU technically doesn't name minors, but you can of course to an equivalent to a minor. A minor is just doing a certain amount of classes from the same discipline anyway and there's nothing stopping you from doing that, it just won't be written on your degree. So, for instance you might do 7 French courses (7 is required for a major) and do 5 courses in Italian as well. Both count towards your Arts degree, but when you graduate it'll just say that you majored in French.

[ben92]

That sounds superb - I'll have a transcript or something to validate my courses in the second language anyway right?

[Eriny]

Yep, that's right.

[appianway]

Oh, and Ben92, if you want a certification, think about taking the DELF/DALF offered by the French government. DALF C2 seems to be a real killer, so perhaps it's something to aim for! I presume there are similar qualifications in other languages...

Does anyone know much about the placement tests for French? Are they difficult? Which level of the European framework do they approximate?

[Eriny]

Oh, and Ben92, if you want a certification, think about taking the DELF/DALF offered by the French government. DALF C2 seems to be a real killer, so perhaps it's something to aim for! I presume there are similar qualifications in other languages...

Does anyone know much about the placement tests for French? Are they difficult? Which level of the European framework do they approximate?

I know a tiny bit about them because a friend took it. I'm not sure which level of the European framework they approximate but apparently it's a fairly difficult test, starting off easier and then by the end most people probably wouldn't be able to finish it.

[carolynt]

Oh, and Ben92, if you want a certification, think about taking the DELF/DALF offered by the French government. DALF C2 seems to be a real killer, so perhaps it's something to aim for! I presume there are similar qualifications in other languages...

Does anyone know much about the placement tests for French? Are they difficult? Which level of the European framework do they approximate?

+1

Thinking of going for the DELF/DALF myself. Is it just grammar/written?

[Eriny]

^ nope, there is listening and speaking too. http://www.europa-pages.com/france/DELF-DALF.html
The Alliance Francaise organises them. I believe the people who did the test from ANU got reimbursed for it because they wanted to gauge the effectiveness of the French course.

[appianway]

Ooh, if anyone wants information about the DELF/DALF, feel free to message me. I took the DELF B2 less than a week before the VCE English exam, so it's fresh in my mind.

For the DELF, there are 4 sections - reading, writing, listening and speaking. The reading sections are pretty straightforward in the B2, but you don't get a dictionary. My first listening passage was incredibly fast, and I didn't finish that section as you only get to listen to the first passage once. The writing isn't too complicated, but the B2 oral was a 20 minute debate with an examiner on an issue that you receive... you have 30 minutes to prepare. I think I introduced my topic for about 8 minutes and then refuted arguments for the following 15 or so minutes.