This is not a translation request. Spanish major college advice.
I'm a senior, graduating from high school next year, and in Spanish four. I want to learn Spanish in a higher knowledge. If you have majored in Spanish in college, could you give me some advice, and what colleges have the best programs in Spanish. Can you tell me some stories in college and how you use your Spanish degree if you have one? I am very interested and serious. What are the possibilites of getting a spanish degree and using it.
7 Answers
I am currently a senior at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, which has a pretty good Spanish department. It is a private college, and therefore expensive, but the financial aid is usually really good, and therefore not too expensive. The best way to improve your Spanish will be to live in a Spanish speaking country. I would love to try and recruit you to come to Kalamazoo, but if Spanish is really your thing you should look into going to school in Spain, Chile, or Argentina. The degrees granted by universities in other Latin American countries (aside from Chile and Argentina) may not have the same global respect/prestige, but if you don't care about global recognition (which is kind of a prerequisite for working in the EU or the US) you could save a LOT of money by living/working/studying in another Latin American country, such as Peru, Guatemala, or Bolivia. Spain is also an excellent option, if you are the kind of person that doesn't mind their accent. There are plenty of widely respected universities in Spain, such as Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Valladolid University, or Autonomous University of Barcelona. I was looking at Malaga University for a while just as a way of getting my Spanish to a better level.
Aside from enrolling in a degree-seeking program at a University in a Spanish-speaking country, another option would be to take a year off, to study Spanish in a non-degree seeking setting (such as a private language school in Spain, which is often cheaper than most US colleges), or to work in a Spanish speaking country. That way when you start college you could be fairly fluent in Spanish already.
Good luck!
This isn't quite what you asked but- my son's ex-girlfriend somehow spent about a year in Spain- maybe her sophomore year?
She was fluent, or very close to it when she returned home. (She had 4 years of Spanish in high school)
If you'd like more info on that let me know and I'll ask.
Don't go too terribly far from home. Stay within your state and pay in-state tuition. Scholarships are wonderful things. Near you, there is a wonderful school, you just have to look hard and find it. It may not be a big school--now a days, every one is flocking toward the larger universities or the extremely expensive private ones without scholarships (the recession hit private schools--their alumni couldn't donate to the scholarship programs as much as usually and so the scholarships are not as strong as they once were).
However, within your state, you will be able to find a school at the right price with a good program. You just need to apply to many schools, tour many campuses, and ask the right questions.
Good luck! Study abroad!
Upon admission, they will probably have you take a Spanish placement test to decide what level you should begin with...do not cheat on it. Some Spanish classes can be very intimidating if you are not ready for them.
I am a Spanish major at the University of Maine. We have some excellent faculty here, but unfortunately, it is not a big money-maker for UMaine so there are trying to cut some of the programs. I would recommend that you look into a lot of different schools and find one that takes it's language programs very seriously. Also, be advised that this is a difficult thing to major in.
At UMaine, they offer what they call the MAT (Master's of the Arts in teaching). It is a one-year program for students who have gotten their bachelor's in a "teachable" subject. This way you can focus on your Spanish without worrying about an education double-major. A master's is also a very good thing to have as the job market becomes more competitive. It is theorized that foreign language teachers will be in high demand soon, so education and foreign language are a very good combination.
A degree in Spanish is also very good to have in conjunction with some other degree or specialization. You're chances of getting a job are much higher if you are bilingual. Travel will also be much more rewarding with enhanced cultural knowledge and the use of a second language.
I would suggest it be combined with any profession that works with the public, liberal arts, political science, business, or any other profession that will require travel. I hope this has been helpful.
Upon admission, they will probably have you take a Spanish placement test to decide what level you should begin with...do not cheat on it. Some Spanish classes can be very intimidating if you are not ready for them.
This is soooooooo true. I am a Spanish major in my third year at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. I am a non-traditional student, as I am 33 and a mother and wife.
At UMaine, they offer what they call the MAT (Master's of the Arts in teaching). It is a one-year program for students who have gotten their bachelor's in a "teachable" subject. This way you can focus on your Spanish without worrying about an education double-major. A master's is also a very good thing to have as the job market becomes more competitive. It is theorized that foreign language teachers will be in high demand soon, so education and foreign language are a very good combination.
Also very informative!! I plan on doing this as well. I was going to double major, but I found that Spanish took all the time I had!!! (I still love every second, even if I am in a moment of Hate!)
Goyo's advice of studying abroad couldn't get any better 
I spent a summer in Costa Rica in an immersion program called M L S A (Modern Language Studies Abroad) I lived with a family that became my own!!
You are very blessed to have such a background in Spanish. This will help you greatly. But a Spanish major is more than knowing the language. You will also have history and culture classes that will be taught in Spanish. It is not what some call a "jock major" ( no offense to anybody out there )
You must be prepared to work hard and dedicate yourself to the language, culture, and history. Open your heart as well as your mind!!!!
Buena suerte con todo!!!
You could teach Spanish with a degree. Also, many jobs are asking candidates to be bilingual.
Good luck!
