languages: does it matter where courses are taken?

[nextplay43]

(This is a long post. For the main question, scroll to the bottom)

I'll be applying next cycle and am confused about how languages are evaluated for admissions.

As of right now, I have reading ability in two European languages and three South Asian languages. However, I only have college coursework in 2 (both SA languages) of these 5. For the others, it's a mixed bag: One is a language I took 4 years of in high school and used in jobs throughout college. For the other two, I have been self-studying over the past 18 months with the help of some language instructors from my undergrad.

Getting more to the point, it's been suggested to me by a mentor of mine that for my particular research interests it will be essential to learn one Middle Eastern language before entering a PhD program. To learn it, I have three options:

1) Self study with a tutor and focus solely on reading proficiency (cheapest)

2) Take classes (5 days/week) at a top 30 university that will allow me to complete a year of elementary level by application time and a year of intermediate/advanced level by the time I enter a PhD program. (most expensive)

3) Take classes at a local nonprofit language institute (affordable) or possibly a community college

(If it matters, both the university and language institute use the same texts)

Main Question

Will admissions committees look down on self-studying or taking classes at a language institute/cc? I'm pretty good at learning languages, and some of the ones I know already are supposed to make it easier to learn this new one. I guess I'm just worried that since I don't have much coursework behind certain languages that my language abilities as a whole will be discounted. I want to do whatever is best for admissions, even if there's only a slight edge to be had.

Anyway, I'd greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks.

[Sparky]

Will admissions committees look down on self-studying or taking classes at a language institute/cc?

Self-study: They won't believe you, unless you get an LOR from a language tutor or demonstrate your proficiency with the language in your writing sample by working with an untranslated source (and pointing this out in your SOP).

Language institute: This usually works, especially if you get an LOR from your tutor or teacher. Many schools require 3 LORs but allow you to submit up to 4; a letter from a lang tutor can be a great addition.

CC: You bet.

If there is a standard proficiency test for the language you learn (e.g. an SAT II, Toronto Latin--says the medievalist--and so forth), taking that (and doing well, of course) can be another way to *demonstrate* that you know the language.

In other words: show, don't tell.

Edited December 13, 2011 by Sparky

[rising_star]

I would take the language at the community college, given the options you've listed. You'll want to send in a transcript, of course, so they can see evidence that you've taken and done well in the course.

[CageFree]

What if your reading proficiency comes from knowing other languages? I took Latin in college, and that plus Spanish, the language I grew up with, gave me very good proficiency in French and Portuguese. I can't speak either (and I don't claim to), but I can read them. Latin is the base of those languages. I would have no trouble demonstrating reading proficiency once I'm in.

[Sparky]

teachgrad, my program recommends taking the SAT II subject test in the language, if there is one. The other options would be to use sources in that language in your writing sample, or to have LORs that attest you can read them.

With Portuguese, I bet you'd be safe to claim reading ability in that without backup, though, because you do have Latin and Spanish. Or at least, such a claim, although unverified, would be treated as much more credible than "And I learned Latin all on my own!"

[TMP]

I agree with Sparky. Languages can be so tricky because of such variations in training around the US. Nothing replaces an intensive language course abroad in the host country (like Portugal or Brazil for Portuguese).

Your best best to make such claim for French and Portuguese is integrate them in your writing sample or find a way to show it off to your LOR writers. They're likely to be aware of what's on your transcript. I learned German through auditing an intensive class at my university and then went off to Germany and have worked in the language since. You can't find where I've learned German by looking at my transcripts but you will see some footnotes and clear grasp of German phrases in my writing sample (that I've added) that some of the sources were in German and I just hope that my LOR writers did mention something about my commitment to learning the necessary languages...