Foreign Language requirement

I have to sign up for a foreign language next semester and am trying to decide what to take. Everyone tells me I should go with Spanish because it is easier than some of the others, and the most often used. But sign language also meets the language requirement and I thought it would be fun to learn that. What do you guys think?

Originally Posted by squirtle

I have to sign up for a foreign language next semester and am trying to decide what to take. Everyone tells me I should go with Spanish because it is easier than some of the others, and the most often used. But sign language also meets the language requirement and I thought it would be fun to learn that. What do you guys think?

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I took Latin and it has helped me more than you could ever know. If that is on the list I'd take that over any other language.

Either one should be very helpful in your later career, Tanya. What language did you take in high school? If it was Spanish, you could always "refresh" it - I imagine it would be very useful, especially in your state. Being able to sign might be an "edge" over other applicants when you're job hunting, though.

Originally Posted by jcat

Either one should be very helpful in your later career, Tanya. What language did you take in high school? If it was Spanish, you could always "refresh" it - I imagine it would be very useful, especially in your state. Being able to sign might be an "edge" over other applicants when you're job hunting, though.

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You're going into the medical field, right? Either one would probably be good to know in that field, I say go with what interests you the most!

Originally Posted by jcat

Either one should be very helpful in your later career, Tanya. What language did you take in high school? If it was Spanish, you could always "refresh" it - I imagine it would be very useful, especially in your state. Being able to sign might be an "edge" over other applicants when you're job hunting, though.

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I took spanish in high school. I had the sign language in mind for just that reason, Tricia. I was just checking out the signing courses and the only set back is that they are only 3 credit hour courses, Spanish is 4. I have to meet the 8 credit hour requirement, so with sign language I would have to take 3 courses...

Oh my gosh, take sign language!!! I took it in highschool and in college for my requirments, not only was it interesting and fun, but you can totally use it in real life. Not only does sign language let you communicate with the deaf, but you can also sign with your friends and no one knows what your saying...lol.

The classes I took went by fast cause it wasnt like a normal boring class, and I think its a lot easier to learn sign language then Spanish, because its visual too. You catch on real quick.

Also if you look online, you can find a chart for the alphabet, very easy hand signals anyone can do, if you get those down before classes start, you will be a step ahead of everyone in the class!

Now i want to go back to school

Sign language would be cool I think..

Originally Posted by squirtle

I took spanish in high school. I had the sign language in mind for just that reason, Tricia. I was just checking out the signing courses and the only set back is that they are only 3 credit hour courses, Spanish is 4. I have to meet the 8 credit hour requirement, so with sign language I would have to take 3 courses...

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Do the sign language if it interest you!! It'll be very helpful.... Spanish isn't that tough,, but can be also equally gratifying... I wish I had enough time during my classes to take Spanish.

Both would be great. I took sign language courses quite some time ago and have found it to be very helpful. There are a lot of hearing impaired people in the area so it's very handy to be able to sign. I would do whatever interests you most!

Id say signlanguage, when ever i go with my parents out somewhere i always have to talk for them, it would be nice if some of the shop assistants knew how to sign too.

Many Spanish classes will teach you TPR which is a form of sign language that helps you learn the language better. I would take spanish...that way you can do both!

I would think about it in terms of your career. I think alot of people will know spanish in the hospitals you work in but not as many would know sign language. If you did sign language it might give you a tick beside your name not alot of others might have

how about taking arabic? I would LOVE to learn arabic... gonna do that one day if I ever get some spare time.

The language classes offered are Spanish, Sign Language, French, and Chinese. So sorry Dan, I can't take Arabic Latin would have been helpful in learning terminology, but it isn't offered either.

I am so frustrated because I really do want to take the sign language course but it isn't fitting well with my schedule. It's so frustrating! There aren't many professors who teach it and the few classes they offer overlap my others... one by only 15 minutes
It looks like I am going to be stuck with the spanish. I am not overly excited about that.... but I can always take sign lanuage as an elective later on... I have a few classes completed that other will be taking while they are in the nursing program, so I will have space for an elective class or 2

French is Quite usefull where I live but I would personally love to take Japanese or Arabic. I already speek French, Inuit and some Gaelic.
I can see spanish being very useful. I hope you enjoy any language you end up taking.

I have three languages (English, Malay and French), Japanese and Arabic I have a smidge. Between the two, Japanese is easier. If I were you I'd do either Sign or Chinese. Chinese is very hard to learn but very gratifying! My nephew and niece speak Mandarin with a Beijing accent (that's what they try to teach in Chinese schools here) and it has come very, very handy when we travel abroad...even to countries where Chinese is *not* the fourth language!

sign language is good, I know a little and it has come in useful a few time.
hmm spanish i had in High school, dont like but would be really useful.

however i vote for japanese or chinese.hehe

Trying to look at this from a practical point of view, I would say Spanish. You are already going to have enough on your plate by taking the classes, and working. Why add extra stress by taking something unfamiliar, with less credits? As you mentioned, you can always take sign language as an elective.

A nurse who can speak in sign language would be very valuable, but spanish would also be extremely helpful...I'd take the spanish and as you mentioned, take the sign language as an elective. Both are very good choices!

Well, I took 4 years of French in highschool and have never needed it. Now Spanish I could have used a few times in my life!

Tanya, you can learn sign language on your own. That's what I had to do. My neice is deaf, so we all had to learn sign. I can do most house hold things, foods, ?'s, colors etc. But obviously not all words. I am still slowly learning. It's fun to learn, and has helped me even with speaking people. I have to have someone cover for me at my desk if I need to use the ladies room, and instead of screaming "I have to pee!" in front of clients, I just do the sign for toilet which is the letter T and the you knock it like your knocking on a door. Oh, the letter T is, think when you play with a baby "I got your nose!" it's your thumb in between your pointer & middle finger. I probably know over 200 words or so. There are alot of free resources out there too, the library, online, etc. But some signs are better shown to you cause they are action signs and it's tough to tell on paper! Good luck with whatever you choose!