Foreign Languages

Foreign Languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish

The foreign languages department offers proficiency-based instruction in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in these languages: Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. American Sign Language is also offered through the foreign languages department.

The study of each language includes vocabulary, grammar, syntax, pronunciation, and cultural and historical understanding. Intermediate level courses include a literature component. Courses combine classroom lectures, guided practice, and language activities.

Visit the Spanish at Citrus College page.

For further information on foreign languages at Citrus College, visit the online college catalog for an overview, learning outcomes, and course offerings.

Learning a Foreign Language: Classroom Tips+-

Attend class regularly. You have a limited amount of classroom time to master the grammar and pronunciation basics. Every minute of class time is critical to the learning process. Don't tune-out in class. Stay mentally present and engaged.
Actively engage in class activities. In order to learn a foreign language you must use it. Just coming to class and warming up a seat isn't going to do it. Class activities are designed for you to use. Therefore, to learn your foreign language, the more actively you participate, the more you will learn.
Ask questions. If you don't understand something, ask your instructor or classmates.
Learn key expressions in Spanish such as: "¿Cómo se dice...?; Repita, por favor; No comprendo; Un ejemplo, por favor; Hable más despacio" and use them in class instead of using English.
When a student is reciting in class, answer along in your mind, or quietly under your breath.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Remember, we learn from making mistakes! Take risks with the language. Volunteer often.
If you don't understand everything your instructor is saying in the foreign language, that's normal. In the early stages of language acquisition don't try to translate word for word, but try to get the general idea of what is being said. Pay attention to non-verbal cues such as facial and body gestures.
Use the vocabulary and expressions presented in class; don't try to say complicated things that you haven't learned yet.
When you are finished with your classroom assignments, don't start chatting in English. Instead, work orally with your partner; you can quiz each other on vocabulary and verb meanings, or practice verb conjugations.
Take detailed, well-organized notes. The information given to you in class will oftentimes clarify or expand upon the information given in the textbook. Many times the instructor will give you "tips" to aid you in your studies. Even if you understand the lecture during class, you will probably not remember it at home. Notes will help you retain the concepts with concrete examples that you can refer to later.

Learning a Foreign Language: Learning Styles+-

Honor your learning needs. Do you need to see the big picture first, then work on the details like spelling and conjugation endings? Or, do you systematically organize and break down the details into charts and lists to work towards developing a big picture? Do you learn best when you study alone, in silence, while sitting down at a table? Do you concentrate best when you sit curled up on the sofa with your cat and music playing in the back- ground? Or, do you think most clearly when you study outdoors in the fresh air and natural lighting? Do you learn best with long period of uninterrupted time, or do you retain more if you study in "spurts?"
Know your learning style. Most people have a primary, secondary (and even tertiary) learning style. Tailor the material to your fit your needs by figuring out which style best helps you learn, and using those senses as much as possible during class and when studying.
- Listening (auditory) learner - you comprehend and process the material better when you hear it.
- Visual learner - you need to see the material (either in print, charts or pictures) in order to process, understand, and have it stick in your brain.
- Verbal (oral) learner - you need to say things out loud in order to process the material or memorize it.
- Tactile-Kinesthetic learner - you might need to move around as you study; perhaps you need to keep your hands moving by doodling or sketching while the instructor is presenting a lesson. You may need to write things down or act things out in order to memorize or learn them.

Learning a Foreign Language: Study Tips+-

Study actively on a daily basis. You will learn more of the language (and retain it) with twenty to thirty minutes a day of studying than if you try to cram it all in the night before an exam. Foreign language learning is a cumulative process; if you don't study regularly, you will have big gaps in your knowledge and will fall behind.

Rule of thumb: Put in two hours of study for each hour of class time - for most students that's 10 hours per week of study, in addition to attending class.
Check to see if you really know the material by quizzing yourself without using your book.
Check your vocabulary recognition by writing down the words, then reviewing the ones you've missed.
Make up songs, silly rhymes, acronyms, and word associations to help you memorize.
Conjugate verbs on paper, then check your answers. Then, practice saying them out loud (without looking at your paper).
If you have a hard time saying a long word or sentence, break it into smaller units; get comfortable pronouncing each syllable or word until you can string the whole thing together.
Involve as many of your senses as possible.
Write down words.
Listen to and practice accent, tone, and rhythm.
Pronounce words and read out loud.
Speak with friends and classmates, or talk to yourself. Speak and think in full sentences, using the phrases, expressions, vocabulary and grammar that you are learning.
Study with a person or a group that is doing well in the class.
Not all of these tips may work for you; experiment to find the ones that work best.

Study the grammar and vocabulary before the instructor presents it in class. Some class lectures will be given in the foreign language. That means that not only do you have to understand the material, but you also have to understand it in a foreign language! It will help you tremendously to better understand the lectures and to absorb the much material if you have grappled with it and tried to understand the grammar and the examples on your own from the textbook before your instructor presents it.
Keep up with your workbook assignments. After you have studied the corresponding grammar or vocabulary section in the text and you have reviewed your class notes, you should do the workbook exercises without looking at the text or your notes! When you are finished, go to the answer key in the back of the workbook to check your answers.
Complete the homework assignments. Your instructor writes exercises to help you to think through and practice some of the more challenging grammar points. The homework sheets help you to identify trouble spots, and some exam questions may be modeled on these and/or may use the same format.
Carefully write the essay sections of the workbook. Think about the question, organize your thoughts and write them down, and look up any necessary vocabulary before the exam, you should improve your writing. In the early stages of language acquisition it is best to keep your writing brief and focus on accuracy rather than length. Use vocabulary and grammar that you have learned rather than rely heavily on a dictionary to express creative ideas. Your instructor would be happy to review these writings with you during office hours in advance of the exam.
Organize your time and set your priorities. A foreign language course will take up a lot of your time. If you think that you don't have enough time to study and complete the assignments, ask yourself how much time you spend watching T.V. or talking on the telephone. If you are working forty hours per week, and are taking twelve units, and you have a family, realize that something is going to suffer. Perhaps you might look into cutting down on your work hours. Or, you might have to drop a class or two. That's O.K. Part of your education is learning how to make those tough choices. You will not be a failure if you can't do everything! And you certainly don’t have to complete your course work at Citrus in two years!
Seek help early if you don't understand. If you think that you might even remotely struggle in this class, get a tutor right away! Don't wait until the eighth week of the semester to get help, for by then it will probably be too late. Study with someone in the class that has a firm understanding of the material and is doing well; studying with a Spanish speaker usually doesn't help. Form study groups and study together on a weekly basis. Also, see your instructor for extra help. You don't have to sit in his/her office for a full hour to get help. Many times 10-15 minutes is all that is needed to answer a question, clarify a point, or review a writing assignment.
Don't make excuses. If you are not making improvements in the foreign language or are not getting the grades that you want, honestly ask yourself if you are putting in the necessary time and effort to achieve your goals. Not everybody is good at everything; some people will have to study twice as hard at a particular subject to do half as well as someone who has a natural aptitude for it - that's just as true for foreign languages as it is for math, science, history or music. If languages don't come easily to you, you are going to have to work extra hard to survive in the class, which means an extra commitment in time and energy, which you may or may not have. If you find that you don't have the time and energy to devote to the challenge of learning a foreign language, then you should consider taking this course at another time when you have fewer commitments.

Learning a Foreign Language: Online Language Dictionaries+-

Dictionaries (Electronic Reference Sources): Foreign Language from Rutgers University

WordReference.com

Careers in Foreign Languages+-

Arts
Artist
International Art Dealer
International Art Historian
Musician
Recording Specialist in Multilingual Music
Singer - Multilingual
Business
Advertising Copywriter
Advertising Manager
Bilingual Clerks
Business Executives
Fashion Buyers
Finance Director
Financial Planning Associate
Hotel Manager
Importer/Exporter
Income Tax Consultants
International Account Manager
International Agency Staff
International Business Manager
International Buyer
International Consultant
International Lawyer
International Sales Representative
International Trade Economist
International Trade Specialist
Market Researcher
Multi-Lingual Port Receptionist
Overseas Personnel Manager
Overseas Plant Manager
Paralegal
Patent Attorneys
Personnel Manager
Production Supervisor
Public Relations Expert
Quality Control Supervisor
Receptionists, Secretaries and Sales Personnel
Specialists for Import/Export Firms
Textbook Representative/Sales
Transport Equipment Manager
U.S. Representative for Foreign Companies
Church Work/Religions
Missionary
Medical missions (Doctors/Nurses)
Bible Translators (Wycliffe)
International vocational missionary
Vocational missionary to U.S. minority groups
Communications
Advertising for ethnic or foreign markets
Editors for university and other presses
Film production and entertainment media
Filmmaker
Foreign Correspondent
Foreign News Photographer
International Communications
International Radio Correspondent
International Telephone Operator
International Teletype Operator
International TV Correspondent
Media Specialist
Newspaper Correspondent, Foreign Desk
Simultaneous Interpreter
Translator of books, articles and review
"Voice of America"
Writer/Editors
Education
Bilingual Educator
Educators in special commercial schools (e.g. Berlitz)
Elementary Teacher (bilingual programs)
Foreign Student Advisor
Overseas teaching for private corporations
Overseas teaching for diplomat families
Professor
TESO/ESL Teacher
Textbook authors or editors
University comparative literature departments
University foreign language departments
University foreign study offices
University linguistics departments
University schools of education
University teaching English as a Second Language
Finance
Accountant in ethnic communities
Bilingual Teller
Banking Correspondent
Bank Officer
International Banking Officer
International Finance Consultant
Government
Bilingual Staff in Federal Agencies (e.g. Social Security, Red Cross, etc.)
Court Interpreter
Cultural Attaché
Cultural Officer
Customs Official
Customs/Immigration Officer
Diplomatic Corps
Foreign Consul
Foreign Diplomat
Foreign Exchange Trader
Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Peacekeeping
Foreign Service Specialist
Foreign Service Officer
Intelligence Officer
Intelligence Researcher
Intelligence Specialist
Interpreter
Linguist
National Security Agent
Negotiator
Peace Corps Volunteer
Peace Corps Worker
Representative
U.S. Customs Agent
U.S. Naturalization Service Agent
U.S. Postal Service
UNESCO Official
VISTA Volunteer
Information Services
Classifiers of foreign documents
Copywriter
Editor
Librarian
Library Acquisition Specialist
Library Technician
Publishing Specialist
Research Librarian
Translator of Foreign Publications in Libraries
Medicine
Botanical Medicine Specialist
Doctors working with minority populations
Emergency Medicine
Health Services
Hospital Management
Hospital Admissions
Laboratory Technician
Nursing and Medicine in ethnic communities/minority populations
Pharmaceutical
Studying or practicing medicine overseas
Tropical Disease Specialist
Science
Archaeologist
Museum Curator
Researcher
Scientific Interpreter
Scientific Linguist
Scientific Research and Translating
Scientific Translator
Technical liaison for U.S. businesses operating in a foreign country
Social Services
Bilingual Police Officer
Bilingual Social Worker
Case Worker
Civil Service Employee
Court Interpreter
Fire Fighter
Foreign Social Worker
Human Resources Director
Immigration Counselor
International Police Officer
Law Enforcement Officer
Multilingual Defense Attorneys
Nursing in Ethnic Communities
Public Assistance Interviewer
Social Work Specialist
Travel Services
Airline Flight Attendants
Airport Personnel
Foreign Travel Advisor
Hotel and Resort Staff Manager
International Conference Planner
Restaurant Staff Manager
Tourist Guide
Travel Agent
Travel Writer