ROTC Language Learning

AvgHser

5-Year Member
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Jan 26, 2014
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9
Are there any opportunities to learn a language without majoring in it, offered by the army through AROTC? I know there's CULP, but that seems more focused on cultural immersion rather than language development.
 
Service members of all branches of our military have an opportunity (provided their aptitude score is high enough and their job requires it) to go to the Defense Language Institute. It's a secondary school you might be able to attend after commissioning.
 
Project Go is a good one, different programs require different levels of proficiency though (I.e some accept beginners, but most expect you to be at the Intermediate level). If you are interested in a language it would be good for you to enroll in the beginner class at your institution the 1st semester. If you are on scholarship in AROTC or AFROTC you can get paid for each language class. The rates vary by how critical the language is and what grade you get in the class. There are plenty of language based opportunities for cadets, but usually you need to take the initiative and enroll in classes yourself because most of the language programs open through project go are during the summer.
 
Project Go is a good one, different programs require different levels of proficiency though (I.e some accept beginners, but most expect you to be at the Intermediate level). If you are interested in a language it would be good for you to enroll in the beginner class at your institution the 1st semester.
I was interested in doing Project GO since I don't contract next year to be eligible for CULP - and that's the one thing I noticed, which kind of stinks because (especially for STEM majors) taking a language course during a regular semester can be quite challenging on top of other classes. Which is why I abandoned any hope for doing Project GO.
 
I was interested in doing Project GO since I don't contract next year to be eligible for CULP - and that's the one thing I noticed, which kind of stinks because (especially for STEM majors) taking a language course during a regular semester can be quite challenging on top of other classes. Which is why I abandoned any hope for doing Project GO.

Some institutions have courses over the summer if you find yourself unable to land a summer job. I know NC State did at one time. Of course there are other hurdles with that approach but thought it might be worth mentioning in case it works out for someone.
 
Oops forgot that part. I'm already planning on taking summer courses (for sure) ... and trying to find internships.

But +1 to kinnem!
 
I was interested in doing Project GO since I don't contract next year to be eligible for CULP - and that's the one thing I noticed, which kind of stinks because (especially for STEM majors) taking a language course during a regular semester can be quite challenging on top of other classes. Which is why I abandoned any hope for doing Project GO.

I'm also a STEM major so I feel your pain. But honestly, for me, it's the only guaranteed A I have every semester. If you pick a language your really interested in, it's not hard to do well in it on top of everything else. All language classes really require is 1) interest and 2) a good effort, if you have both it'll be more of a release from all your STEM classes rather than a chore to do on top of everything. Even STEM majors have to take at least 2 humanities, it might as well be a language if your interested. You're on scholarship right? I have an Army buddy and the Army pays really well for critical language classes...when they get around to paying you that is :shake:.

I just got a Project GO scholarship to China this summer for ~$10,000 which covers everything except for partial air fare. That's a pretty sweet deal. The program I'm doing requires 2 yrs of prior study, you can find straight up beginner summer programs, but it would be better if you had at least a year under your belt. There are also domestic study programs (I hear North Georgia has some good ones) which would be more suitable for brand new learners. I'd imagine it'd be hard to fully enjoy being in-country when you don't know a lick of the language.

If you hurry, you may be able to apply to a beginner study abroad/domestic study program through project go this summer. Most Project go deadlines are coming up fast. If you get to go you're going to need to mark out a slot for next fall for you to take the next class in your language. It's important to work to maintain a new language, you'd be surprised how much you can forget even over a winter break.
 
Yes, AROTC.

Really? I thought taking a language was time consuming ... at least for my roommate (Arabic) it is. And for me, I've been having issues just having an additional time at all outside of my current schedule, this semester and last semester. Not sure how well taking a language on top of that would go.

I was digging around for Project GO options, and noticed that for many of them you had have prior language class experience as a prerequisite and/or a letter of recommendation from the language instructor (some did have the ability to switch it out with an academic professor, if one hadn't taken a language yet). Or you'd have to be taking it this semester in order to be eligible for Project GO ... which neither of the two works for me.

... unfortunately I'm not too keen on going to China.
 
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