Arabic good?

navyorairforce19

Prospective Cadet/Mdshpmn
5-Year Member
Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
29
I was just wondering if Arabic at Usna:
1)Can be taken in the plebe year
2)What level one can reach, as in understanding Arabic,with the program.
and
3)If it matches the program at Usafa
If anyone can answer any of these q's i'd be pretty happy
 
1) It can be taken plebe year.

2) It's the same as any other language -- you'll go as far as you want with it. If you just want to make passing grades, then you'll never become proficient, and on the flip side, you can take advantages of opportunities abroad to practice speaking and become fluent in the language.

3) I doubt there is any way to measure whether or not it matches USAFA's program. I'm currently studying Russian at USNA and the teachers are great. The other language professors are great as well from what I hear.
 
Arabic is VERY tough to become sufficiently proficient in. Too many dialects, too complex, too many other requirements, too little time. I'm only aware of one who passed the proficiency exam this year at a level to receive additional pay. And she had a substantial background in the language in coming to USNA.

That said ... I'd venture speculation it is one of the best programs in the USA, and I'm confident equal to and superior to USAFA. Location works against the latter.
 
Thanks for both of those responses! You both answered all of my questions. But i do have one more. Will the core curriculum in the plebe year interfere with taking electives, such as Arabic. Oh, and can you declare a major before the start of the firstie year?
 
Arabic MAJORS are usually allowed this dispensation, i.e. to commence study Plebe season. This assumes no remediation required in the core.
 
Wow! That's encouraging. I thought that I would only have three years of instruction because of the plebe year, but now i have some hope that usna will hold out on my list of colleges.
 
btw, the instructors in Arabic are virtually all top-shelf! Many very devoted, student-focused, engaging profs who really want to be there. Many are native linguists. I know one Ph.D. who teaches for $1/year for the love of it.
 
Thanks for both of those responses! You both answered all of my questions. But i do have one more. Will the core curriculum in the plebe year interfere with taking electives, such as Arabic. Oh, and can you declare a major before the start of the firstie year?

All Mids are required to declare their major in the spring semester of Plebe (freshman) year, usually either during the week before or the week after spring break. At the start of Firstie (senior) year, you will be declaring your professional Service Selection requests!

W/r/t your question about Plebes taking a foreign language: The average Plebe who does not validate one or more classes will NOT take a foreign language, even if they intend to major in a language. I say that because the Plebe standard class matrix includes core courses that total 16 hours in one semester and 18 hours in the other semester. (This does not include Plebe "pro knowledge" study.) However, if you can validate classes, you might be able to start your language immediately.

Another issue that could impact your ability to start in a language "out of the standard sequence" is the timing of course offerings. If your first required course is only offered in the fall, and if it is a prerequisite for the rest of the course sequence, you're probably going to have to wait until the beginning of sophomore (Youngster) year.

These are questions that you might want to address to the USNA foreign language department chair. You can find faculty contact information via the USNA web site under "Academics."
 
All Mids are required to declare their major in the spring semester of Plebe (freshman) year, usually either during the week before or the week after spring break. At the start of Firstie (senior) year, you will be declaring your professional Service Selection requests!

W/r/t your question about Plebes taking a foreign language: The average Plebe who does not validate one or more classes will NOT take a foreign language, even if they intend to major in a language. I say that because the Plebe standard class matrix includes core courses that total 16 hours in one semester and 18 hours in the other semester. (This does not include Plebe "pro knowledge" study.) However, if you can validate classes, you might be able to start your language immediately.

Another issue that could impact your ability to start in a language "out of the standard sequence" is the timing of course offerings. If your first required course is only offered in the fall, and if it is a prerequisite for the rest of the course sequence, you're probably going to have to wait until the beginning of sophomore (Youngster) year.

These are questions that you might want to address to the USNA foreign language department chair. You can find faculty contact information via the USNA web site under "Academics."



A clarification, I think. Perhaps others can correct or confirm what I'm about to share.

For the priority languages including Arabic, Chinese, perhaps some others, they play by their own rules which I believe include commencing study in year #1 assuming remedial work in core courses is not needed, in which case all bets are off. Again, though, the rules are different than a German, Spanish, French lang Mid.
 
Last edited:
A clarification, I think. Perhaps others can correct or confirm what I'm about to share.

For the priority languages including Arabic, Chinese, perhaps some others, they play by their own rules which I believe include commencing study in year #1 assuming remedial work in core courses is not needed, in which case all bets are off. Again, though, the rules are different than a German, Spanish, French lang Mid.

That is my understanding based on what they've told BGOs. If you want to major in Chinese or Arabic AND have the aptitude, your plebe courses are modified so you can start taking the language as a plebe. If you aren't majoring in those languages (and those are the only two in which you can major), then you take language like anyone other mid.

That means that -- unless things have changed -- if you're a Group III (humanities major), you will need 4 semesters of a language (taken or validated). Group I & II majors can take language as their humanities requirement but must do so at the 300 or 400 course level (meaning they must have validated 4 semesters). Otherwise, you have to have the extra time available in your schedule to take a language and that can be very difficult if you haven't validated more than a couple of courses.

Please correct me if things have changed.
 
A clarification, I think. Perhaps others can correct or confirm what I'm about to share.

For the priority languages including Arabic, Chinese, perhaps some others, they play by their own rules which I believe include commencing study in year #1 assuming remedial work in core courses is not needed, in which case all bets are off. Again, though, the rules are different than a German, Spanish, French lang Mid.

This is true.

And yes, you can take Russian or any other language with any major. I'm majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in Russian. However, some overloading may be necessary -- I had 18 credits first semester plebe year and 19 second semester, and am scheduled for 22 credits for first semester youngster year. It really just depends on how well you can handle the courseload.
 
This is true.

And yes, you can take Russian or any other language with any major. I'm majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in Russian. However, some overloading may be necessary -- I had 18 credits first semester plebe year and 19 second semester, and am scheduled for 22 credits for first semester youngster year. It really just depends on how well you can handle the courseload.

ok thanks!
 
1) It can be taken plebe year.

2) It's the same as any other language -- you'll go as far as you want with it. If you just want to make passing grades, then you'll never become proficient, and on the flip side, you can take advantages of opportunities abroad to practice speaking and become fluent in the language.

3) I doubt there is any way to measure whether or not it matches USAFA's program. I'm currently studying Russian at USNA and the teachers are great. The other language professors are great as well from what I hear.

Когда я был курсантом военно-морского училища (много лет тому назад), я тоже учился русскому языку. Но я начал учиться когда я еще был во высшей школе.

Good luck, moderators. :smile:
 
Когда я был курсантом военно-морского училища (много лет тому назад), я тоже учился русскому языку. Но я начал учиться когда я еще был во высшей школе.

мне тоже, но не в средней школе.
 
Anybodywannaplayagameofdominose ... anno domingo! :confused: :tongue:

Clean it up, fellas! Knowing sweet ol' Mongo who headbutts army mules and eats beans about the campfire ... this could not be anything sweet and "nice."
 
Когда я был курсантом военно-морского училища (много лет тому назад), я тоже учился русскому языку. Но я начал учиться когда я еще был во высшей школе.

Good luck, moderators. :smile:

мне тоже, но не в средней школе.

И сегодня любой человек может писать на любом языке, используя компьютер и Google Translate
 
Ok, folks. It's funny . . . to a point. Let's stick to English going forward. Thanks.
 
Now a question to Memphis and Mongo -- to what extent, if any, did you ever end up using Russian in your military careers? I'm really enjoying the language and plan on going to the Ukraine next summer for language immersion, but I'm not really sure how much I'll ever use it after leaving here.

Basically, what are some of the language opportunities in the fleet?
 
Back
Top