I'm wondering how older students are handling the foreign language requirements in their PhD programs. I'm going into an English PhD program and have

[rtrgwnd]

I'm wondering how older students are handling the foreign language requirements in their PhD programs. I took three semesters of French as an undergraduate and did well (As), but it's been over 15 years and I've had no practice with the language since then. I'm thinking that I'll have to start from scratch -- first year French-- and hoping that I'll progress rapidly since I do have some former knowledge of the language. I can't really imagine going into a higher class having done nothing with the language in 15 years.

[Medievalmaniac]

I'm wondering how older students are handling the foreign language requirements in their PhD programs. I took three semesters of French as an undergraduate and did well (As), but it's been over 15 years and I've had no practice with the language since then. I'm thinking that I'll have to start from scratch -- first year French-- and hoping that I'll progress rapidly since I do have some former knowledge of the language. I can't really imagine going into a higher class having done nothing with the language in 15 years.

Ideally, you will then enroll in a summer intensive language program either prior to entering the program or during the first summer session after that. There are a number of language institutes held throughout the States and I believe even abroad for the purposes of accelerated language acquisition. In fact, if you are in medieval studies, the Medieval Academy of America actually offers tuition waivers for the summer Latin programs in several locations.

Less ideally, you will either take for credit or audit the foreign language classes necessary to accomplish proficiency during the school year while you are working on your doctoral courses.

[BelleOfKilronen]

I'm wondering how older students are handling the foreign language requirements in their PhD programs. I took three semesters of French as an undergraduate and did well (As), but it's been over 15 years and I've had no practice with the language since then. I'm thinking that I'll have to start from scratch -- first year French-- and hoping that I'll progress rapidly since I do have some former knowledge of the language. I can't really imagine going into a higher class having done nothing with the language in 15 years.

Are you already admitted into a program for the fall? If so, I'd suggest talking to current students to see what the language requirements really entail. For many programs, the language exams boil down to translating passages with the aid of a dictionary, and many other programs offer summer language courses designed specifically to teach grad students what they need to know to pass the exams--even in languages of which they have no prior knowledge.

I hope that helps calm your nerves a bit, and good luck!

[wordslinger]

I haven't taken Latin in years, but I had five years of it back when, so I'm finding that it's coming back easily enough as I review for the exam. Now French will be different matter, since I've only got one year of high school French plus a few semesters of foreign exchange student tutoring in curse words and sexual innuendo.

The other grad students don't seem too worried about it, so I'm not stressing either. I'm sure you'll be fine too.