Faculty of Arts : Guide to courses

10. Language study

Table of Contents

 10. Language study

It is strongly recommended that students consider taking a language other than English as part of their BA degree.

The study of more than two languages will not usually be permitted within a single Arts degree. However, the concurrent Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) provides further opportunities for additional language study.

Applications to take more than two languages within the BA need to meet the criteria of a coherent academic program and must be approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs) in consultation with the appropriate department.

 10.1. Language streams

Most languages are offered in a variety of streams, from beginners to more advanced levels. Your stream enrolment depends on your previous language experience and is determined by the relevant department.

Refer to the individual language entries in this handbook for detailed information about available streams of study and procedures for stream enrolment. The Language table on Language table indicates the streams offered within each language.

 10.2. Language corequisite subjects

Some language study requires the completion of a 12.5 point subject and an additional 6.25 point corequisite subject, amounting to 18.75 points of study in each semester. In such cases, two semesters of language study is equivalent to three semesters of non-language study (i.e. 2 x 12.5 points + 2 x 6.25 points = 3 x 12.5 points). See Arts degree with Majors in Arabic and Political Science for an example of how this might affect the distribution of subjects across First and Second Year.

 10.3. Language Majors

A language Major usually requires the completion of 125 points of study comprising:

• 37.5 points of First Year subjects;

• 37.5 points of Second Year subjects; and

• 50 points of Third Year subjects.

Most language Majors require the completion of a specified level of the language. See the relevant language entries in this handbook for details.

 10.3.1. Example of BA with a language Major

Arts degree with Majors in Arabic and Political Science demonstrates how a Major in Arabic might be completed alongside a Major in Political Science. Note that each semester of First and Second Year Arabic study involves the completion of two Arabic subjects (a subject and corequisite* totalling 18.75 points per semester). In each of First, Second and Third Year, this is equivalent to three regular 12.5 point subjects per year.

 Table 6: Arts degree with Majors in Arabic and Political Science

First Year   Sem 1   Politics 12.5 points   Australian Studies 12.5 points   Biology 12.5 points   Arabic 1A 12.5 points   *Arabic 1Ac 6.25 points   Sem 2   Politics 12.5 points   Australian Studies 12.5 points     Arabic 1B 12.5 points   *Arabic 1Bc 6.25 points   Second Year   Sem 1   Politics 12.5 points   Australian Studies 12.5 points   Australian Studies 12.5 points   Arabic 2A 12.5 points   *Arabic 2Ac 6.25 points   Sem 2   Politics 12.5 points   Politics 12.5 points     Arabic 2B 12.5 points   *Arabic 2Bc 6.25 points

Third Year   Sem 1   Politics 12.5 points   Politics 12.5 points   Arabic 12.5 points   Arabic 3A 12.5 points   Sem 2   Politics 12.5 points   Politics 12.5 points   Arabic 12.5 points   Arabic 3B 12.5 points

This example demonstrates that in each of First and Second Year, a student taking a language with corequisite subjects will complete one 'heavier' semester of 56.25 points and one 'lighter' semester of 43.75 points, totalling 100 points across the year.

 10.4. Studying languages at other universities

Study at other Australian Universities is called complementary course studies, and is permitted when students wish to take a subject not offered at the University of Melbourne for credit towards their degree.

The Faculty of Arts has formal arrangements with several institutions that offer languages not taught at the University of Melbourne. These include La Trobe University, RMIT, and Swinburne. Language table indicates which languages are available through complementary course arrangements. In some cases classes may be held at the University of Melbourne Parkville campus (see the relevant language entries for more information).

A further range of languages may be studied through individual complementary course arrangements. These include Cambodian (Monash), Polish (Monash), Sanskrit (La Trobe), Turkish (Deakin) and Ukrainian (Monash).

All complementary course study requires the approval of the Faculty of Arts as well as permission from the other university. Arrangements must be made at the beginning of the year in which you wish to enrol in the subject/s concerned.

Applications forms are available from the Faculty of Arts Office and assistance is available from the Faculty's course adviser for complementary studies. Further details are available on the web at: http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/sec/UG/compmelb.htm

 10.5. Studying languages overseas

Students are encouraged to consider taking some of their language study overseas. For details about how to arrange overseas study for credit see Studying overseas for credit.

 10.6. Summer intensive beginners subjects

In the cases of French, German, Italian, and Japanese, summer intensive beginners subjects are available from the Horwood Language Centre, and may be undertaken as part of any Arts degree. Each intensive subject is the equivalent of a full year of language study (37.5 points) and candidates may continue directly to Second Year language study, subject to academic performance. Students should see the Intensive Languages entry in this handbook for subject details.

 10.7. Horwood Language Centre

The Horwood Language Centre provides technical support for language learning within the University. Its resources include computer-assisted and audio-visual language laboratories, a broadcast-quality recording studio, live satellite reception of eight international television stations, audio and video dubbing, video conversion, off-air recording facilities, and an extensive video and audio library of foreign language material.

Telephone enquiries can be made on +61 3 9344 5144.

 10.8. Diploma in Modern Languages (DML)

The Diploma in Modern Languages enables students to gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne.

The DML usually involves a three-year sequence of language study, totalling a minimum of 100 points. It adds one year to the duration of an ordinary degree course. See Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) for further information.

 10.9. Languages

 Table 7: Language table

Language Beginners Inter-mediate Post-VCE Other streams Years avail Major Pure Hons Comb. Hons Summer Intensive O'seas study DM L Notes Department/ University,see Arts departments, schools and centres Ancient Greek   *     *     1-4   see note   see note   see note         Classics & Arch Major & Hons   CACL   Arabic Studies   *     *     1-4   *     *       *     MIALS   Catalan (La Trobe)         *   2 & 3   see note   at La Trobe   see note         Ibero-Am Major & Hons   La Trobe   Chinese   *     *   *   1-4 (see note)   *   *   *     *   *   More than 4 levels avail.   MIALS   French   *   *   *     1-4   *   *   *   *   *   *     French & Italian   German   *   *   *     1-4   *   *   *   *     *     German & Swedish Studies   Hebrew Studies   *   *   *     1-4   *     see note     *   *   Jewish Studies Hons   School of Languages   Ibero-American Studies (La Trobe)         *   1-4   *   at La Trobe   *           La Trobe   Indonesian Studies   *     *   *   1-4   *     *     *   *     MIALS   Italian   *     *     1-4   *   *   *   *   *   *     French & Italian   Japanese Studies   *     *   *   1-4 (see note)   *   *   *   *   *   *   More than 4 levels avail.   MIALS   Korean (Swinburne)   *     *     1-3                 Swinburne   Latin   *     *     1-4   see note   see note   see note         Classics & Arch Major & Hons   CACL   Modern Greek (La Trobe)   *   *   *     1-4   *   at La Trobe   *     *       La Trobe   Portuguese (La Trobe)         *   2 & 3   see note   at La Trobe   see note         Ibero-Am Major & Hons   La Trobe   Russian and Slavic Studies (Monash)   *     *     1-4   *               Monash   Semitic Languages   *         1-4, only 2 levels   see note   see note   see note         Classics & Arch Major & Hons   CACL   Spanish (La Trobe)   *   *   *     1-4   *   at La Trobe   *     *       La Trobe   Swedish   *         1-3   *           *     German & Swedish Studies   Thai (RMIT)   *         1 (see note)               Other levels may be approved   RMIT   Vietnamese (RMIT)   *       *   1-3                 RMIT

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