Foreign Languages at St Andrews

I'm applying to St. Andrews to study languages (German and Russian.)

Does anybody currently study languages here? What is the course like? How challenging is it?

Particularly, has anybody started a language from scratch?

Reply 1

jonnythemoose

15

I'm of no use here, except to say that I'm also applying for languages at St. Andrews!

Reply 2

Chicklet21

Well, I'm not sure how much help I can be, but I will have a go. I just started at St Andrews last week, doing French, German and Linguistics.

For German I have one lecture and 3 tutorials a week. The lecture is a literature lecture, and is backed up with a tutorial, in small groups (about 10 people) where we discuss the literature, have the chance to ask any questions, work out any problems etc. Lectures are also quite small as there are only about 40 people doing German post A Level/Highers. The other 2 tutorials are language tutorials, so grammar, vocab, oral work etc, in small groups.

There are many more people in French, about 200, so lectures are fairly impersonal, and we have 3 a week, one "Language Learning Techniques", one "Grammar" and one "Literature" (unfortunately always at 9am) We then also have language and literature tutorials once a week and an oral class, in much smaller groups so it is much more personal than the lectures and you can go over any of the topics covered in lectures.

I find the courses challenging, but do-able. Getting used to lectures and being more responsible for my own study is actually more difficult for me than the level of language, but there are some people that have self taught, so can study very independently but find the actual work more challenging. There is such a mix of levels, some people already near perfect and others can barely string a sentence together (me in French) so the course caters for everyone, but obviously, some find it easier than others.

Linguistics (for Jonnythemoose :biggrin:

) so far is really interesting. We have 3 lectures a week and one tutorial. Lectures in first year are "Words and Meanings", "Sounds in Language" and "Structure of Sentences" I have only actually had one lecture so far, so I can't really elaborate more I'm afraid!

Hope that helps a little bit, but if you want more info later in the year, just ask! xxx

Reply 3

Luser

I'm doing Linguistics too! Everyone's being all philosophical about language :s-smilie:

. Are you slightly confused too?

Reply 4

Chicklet21

Luser

I'm doing Linguistics too! Everyone's being all philosophical about language :s-smilie:

. Are you slightly confused too?

Confused. tres confused. And I really wish people would stop arguing with the lecturers to show off. It's annoying. Reading the text books actually makes more sense than the lectures I think.

Reply 5

jonnythemoose

15

*waves to chicklet*

You're doing the exact same course that I've applied for! :biggrin:

So if I get an offer from St. Andrews, I'll be bugging you all the time for information and help! :tongue:

Reply 6

Chicklet21

jonnythemoose

*waves to chicklet*

You're doing the exact same course that I've applied for! :biggrin:

So if I get an offer from St. Andrews, I'll be bugging you all the time for information and help! :tongue:

*waves back*

Bug me all you want, the more I can put off studying the better! :wink:

Reply 7

dragon500uk

13

And I really wish people would stop arguing with the lecturers to show off.

Omg. Im about to kill this one guy who argues with every lecturer. He complains about everything. im going to fly for him and cause serious bodily harm. he will die.

Nuff said. Just come to st a - it's clearly the best. And dont worry too much about grades - i got in and i didn't have the right grades.

Reply 8

Chicklet21

dragon500uk

Omg. Im about to kill this one guy who argues with every lecturer. He complains about everything. im going to fly for him and cause serious bodily harm. he will die.

Nuff said. Just come to st a - it's clearly the best. And dont worry too much about grades - i got in and i didn't have the right grades.

Haha, I'm considering taking some form of missile (popcorn or similar) to lectures to throw at peoples heads. Just because they love the sound of their own voice, we have to listen to their stupid and idiotic opinions. Aaargh! Bit harsh, but true.

Don't stress too much over grades... They actually told me I wouldn't get in cause my grades weren't good enough. I'm still here!