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Typical college foreign language requirements?

I'm choosing my high school foreign language classes right now, but I'm curious about what college language requirements generally look like. Does anyone know how many semesters of foreign language most colleges require, or if specific languages are preferred? Thanks!

10 months ago

Hey there! College foreign language requirements can differ between schools, but generally speaking, most colleges require 2-4 semesters of a foreign language for students in liberal arts programs or for fulfilling general education requirements. Some schools might require more, especially if you're pursuing a major with a strong language emphasis, like international relations or linguistics.

As for specific languages, colleges typically don't have language preferences. What's important is that you find a language that interests you and commit to learning it over time. Most colleges offer a wide variety of languages, but the most commonly taught languages are Spanish, French, and German. There are also many other options such as Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, and more.

Lastly, colleges often use placement tests to gauge your language proficiency and determine which level of course you should enroll in. Polishing your language skills while still in high school can be a real asset in college. Good luck with choosing your foreign language classes in high school, and feel free to ask if you have more questions!

10 months ago

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