University anyone?
Okay so here I am fifty-something and never been to uni. But yes it's on my "bucket list" - definitely! And what would I study? The Spanish language of course. It would have to be on-line so that it could be tackled "at your own pace" and "recognised" worldwide.
So what about the Spanishdict on-line university? Have I lost my marbles? Got rocks in my head? Mid-life crisis? Yep, there's a better than even chance of that.
Oh, but back to the Spanishdict on-line uni. It could be run as a companion site to this wonderful forum, you know, to keep the forum "free" but also have a pay-as-you-go section of the site. You would have to pay normal uni-attendance fees and follow all the rules of a normal on-line uni.
And so finally a question to the Administrators of Spanishdict. Any chance of this happening in the future? Perhaps in a year or two? Perhaps five? And failing this, perhaps an affiliation with a uni that already offers Spanish language courses.
Perhaps one day in the future when it's asked of me - "What do you do Annie?" and I'll proudly reply, "Oh I'm studying Spanish with an on-line uni - the Spanishdict on-line uni.".
Just food for thought. What does everyone else think? If you don't ask - you don't get!
17 Answers
Hi Annie,
You could start at Community college. I took 2 courses last year at junior college in Spanish and it was very helpful. The credits also transfer to the state university here. There might be something like that near you. It was a great experience. Go for it my friend!
Sandy
Ok, SpanishDict becomes accredited to teach college level Spanish. So, I fork over my money to study for a semester online. Then, I find out Heidita is one of the professors. What would I do? I'd have to ask for a refund or spend my entire time in a university level Dunce Corner (would they have beer?)
Or I sign up for one of Dean Lazarus' courses only to find out he is using all of his students to do the manual labor on creating his Spanish Grammar.
I see no upside to this idea. 
Annie although this sounds like a great idea I don't know how much extra work this would involve the site owners. Also I am not too sure Christopher would be interested in earning even more money, hehe.
However, as I consider your post is novel, I will send your link to Christopher and hopefully he will provide you with some feedback.
I'm with you Annie! I married the month after my eighteenth birthday and had my son the month after my nineteenth birthday. I regret none of it...especially since now that the kids are more independent, I'm still young, hip and happening. 
My one regret is never going to college. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I definitely would major in Spanish if the dean of admissions at Spanishdict. U accepts my application.
Never stop dreaming Annie!! I'll dream right along with you. 
A suggestion Annie. Some people wouldn't want to pay for internet so the online university could actually pay for the internet. It would be nice to have people to help through the courses. Everything else sounds good. CHOOO CHOOO!!!!!
FULL SPEED AHEAD. Very great idea. Great use of technology. If there are Spanish courses already on the internet, then online university is a great idea for certain people who have busy lives. Always good to keep the brain working. Although, it wouldn't work to have an online school.
I can recommend the OU Spanish, I have just finished the first one, Portales, we get results in December, and I have registered for the next one, En Rumbo, which starts in February. All assessments, including exams, and most of the tutorials, are online, and you could easily complete it without the few face to face tutorial.
Worth enquiring again about doing it from Aus.
I know it isn't quite what you're suggesting Annie but you may be interested in this.
This is an online course for Translation: Spanish to English at Cardiff University.
Online Spanish-English Translation
I did both modules and found it very helpful. It focussed everything well for me and I now feel qualified to do translation work. The standard is very high and it sure isn't for slackers but it does teach you a lot about translating. I loved it. I don't know if they have any restrictions re Australia etc but I doubt it.
The work is very diverse with lots of different kinds of challenges, it forces you to research efficiently. It covers anything from a section of a novel to legal documents, science, architecture, business, mining and so on. It's very handy to get regular work and have deadlines to meet. The critique, corrections suggestions and tips etc are invaluable. I'm really glad I did the course. I didn't bother doing the exam but I am doing translation work now.
Hmm, price seems to have gone up but it is worth it if you want to be trained enough and professional enough to try to make a living that way.
Fatchocobo said...
I don't see the point of this suggestion. We already have free lessons on this website. Did you want them to start charging hundreds of dollars for the lessons in order to get college credits? Do you think getting college credits for your studies will help you learn spanish better? I have 16 college credits in French with all A's in my classes and I can barely speak the language at all because I never use it. I have 0 credits in spanish and I can now speak the language relatively well due to much practice. If your goal is to learn spanish this will not help you at all. If you just wanted to spend a bunch more money you should donate to this site or buy some expensive program like rosetta stone. You need to decide what your real objective is here.
The point of the suggestion is to explore possibilities and possibly "take-on-board" helpful advice, as already has been offered.
Yes we do have free resources on this site - and they are wonderful and much appreciated. However, I am a person who responds well to structure - deadlines - discipline - exams - marking and feedback. Like you would find in a school/university environment. Hence the (lighthearted) suggestion about Spanishdict having it's own "university recognised" courses.
I might at some time in the future travel down a (Spanish) path that requires an official accreditation of my so-far Spanish journey. Stranger things have happened. And what place would be better than right here at Spanishdict to get accreditation from? And as for paying hundreds of dollars. Well again - completely up to the individual if they chose that path - or not.
My real objective is, I suspect, the same as yours', to improve my Spanish.
There's more than one way to skin-a-cat Fatchocobo...
Whatever you say I will second Annie , all of your ideas have merit .
Go Annie go ! 
I don't mean to sound negative and maybe it's just me, but even though I love learning new things, I don't like classes and structured learning environments. I prefer to study what I fell like when I feel like it.
Hi Annie,
Thanks for the suggestion! We are always looking for ways to improve the learning tools on the site. We currently don't have plans to offer college credit, but who knows, down the road it may be a possibility if we could partner with a good university.
All the best, Chris
All higher level education fees have gone u in the UK as the Government has reduced subsidies. It will hit the OU hard as many students there are like me, studying for the love of it not for a firs degree or directly to improve employment prospects.
At the moment as a continuing student I will pay reduced fees so long as I study every year and towards a named qualification, but once the protection finishes the fees will be more than doubled.
I don't see the point of this suggestion. We already have free lessons on this website. Did you want them to start charging hundreds of dollars for the lessons in order to get college credits? Do you think getting college credits for your studies will help you learn spanish better? I have 16 college credits in French with all A's in my classes and I can barely speak the language at all because I never use it. I have 0 credits in spanish and I can now speak the language relatively well due to much practice. If your goal is to learn spanish this will not help you at all. If you just wanted to spend a bunch more money you should donate to this site or buy some expensive program like rosetta stone. You need to decide what your real objective is here.
A degree in Spanish from a university is not worth any more in the job market than a DELE test at a high level. In fact in Ireland you can get a degree in Spanish with only a B2 level.
You can learn Spanish anywhere and still do the DELE, that includes Spanish Dict.
