FAQ
Check out some answers to the most common questions students have about Global Languages!
Is it true I must complete three semesters of my chosen Global Language—a First-Year Foundation—all within my first year?
No. That’s impossible! Students have until their final year at Carolina to study their Global Language of choice through level three. If you start with level one in the first semester of your first year, you’ll need another two semesters to complete your Global Language requirement.
When should I start my Global Language requirement?
As soon as possible in your first year. Don’t make the mistake of starting your Global Language requirement later in your studies. The sooner you start, the more likely your major and minor will profit from learning your Global Language.
What if I bomb the placement test?
Relax! The placement test isn’t a test. Because there no grade awarded, you can’t bomb it! It’s a device used to place you in the correct class if you’ve already studied a Global Language in high school or at another university.
What if I don’t like the course my placement exam put me into?
No problem! Write an email to the respective Director or Coordinator of the Language Program and ask whether you can meet to talk about your placement results.
Why do I have to learn a Global Language while at Carolina? It doesn’t have anything to do with my desired major. Isn’t English spoken around the world anyway?
Carolina is an internationally renowned public university that trains global citizens; learning a Global Language is part of your mission. Acquiring intermediate or independent proficiency in a Global Language makes you smarter about your native tongue. It makes you an ambassador of cultural difference. It hones your communication skills in English and the target language you’re learning. Learning a Global Language only adds new horizons to your major and minor. Relying on others to speak your mother tongue always makes for bad diplomacy.
Why doesn’t translation software satisfy this expectation?
Translation software is merely a tool. Knowing whether these tools do a good job requires knowledge about how a language works.
What kinds of options do I have to complete the Global Language require?
Carolina currently offers 24 Global Languages from around the world, all of which can satisfy the Global Language requirement. Choose a language from Carolina’s robust portfolio of African, Asian and Middle Eastern languages in addition to its Indo-European and Classical languages.
I studied Spanish in high school. Do I have to continue with that language?
No. Students at Carolina can start their Global Language requirement studying a language different than the one started in high school.
I hear it’s hard to get into some Global Language courses because of the high demand. What should I do if that happens to me?
It’s true that not all languages are in equal demand. If you can’t get into the class of your choice right away, consider waiting a semester. If push comes to shove, you might consider trying a different language.