# French or Spanish

Category: Language and Culture

## Post 1 by krisme (Ancient Zoner) on Monday, 28-Apr-2008 16:36:06

Hi everyone. I'll be transferring colleges after this year so I've begun doing some research into different schools. One of the schools I looked at has a language requirement for its Communications program, where all Com majors have to take four semesters of a language of their choice. I'm not entirely happy about this, but since I do like the school I'm considering my options. I took French in high school so I guess I could continue with that, though I'm pretty rusty after almost three years without practice. Or I was thinking I could just start all over again with Spanish. I like French, but figure Spanish would be more useful to know. So what should I do? Has anyone taken both French and Spanish and if so, how hard was transitioning from one to the other? And have people taking a language in college been able to find accessible textbooks for their classes? I'm sure RFB and D would have at least a book for Intro Spanish or French. Thanks in advance for any replies.

## Post 2 by tunedtochords (Zone BBS is my Life) on Monday, 28-Apr-2008 17:35:51

Spanish is waaaay easier than French. Spanish is very phoenetic, whereas French, as I'm sure you know, has those random vowell combinations that often make no sense in regards to how you pronounce them. Both languages still have gendered nouns and conjugation exercises will be similar. And as you said, Spanish will be more useful than French. If you do end up at a school where a language is required, see if they offer intensive versions of the courses. My school requires four semesters of a language, too, but I'm taking two beginner level courses over the summer and an intensive intermediate course in the fall. So I'll be doing two years of work in six months. Most large universities have programs similar to this. RFB&D does have some intro spanish books (I just got my booklist today, and they have mine, hurrah!).
Hope this was helpful. Good luck.:)

## Post 3 by krisme (Ancient Zoner) on Monday, 28-Apr-2008 18:27:06

Hmm, not sure if the school I'm looking at has any of those courses, but I'll take a look. I know you can satisfy part of your requirement with a literature course in whatever language you're studying, that might be interesting if I were to stick with French. But Spanish does sound good, glad to hear you found your books for it.

## Post 4 by Ok Sure (This site is so "educational") on Monday, 28-Apr-2008 19:29:31

If you do take spanish, spanish literature is not bad at all. I really liked it when I took the class.

## Post 5 by HotPerro (I live and breathe the board) on Monday, 28-Apr-2008 21:23:42

Being a native Mexican, my very unbiased opinion is that you should learn Spanish, lol. It's a lot easier to learn, a lot more useful, and you'll have many more chances to practice what you learned as you meet people. I really think people learn languages faster by living in the country where the language is spoken, and in the US, it's probably the next best thing. Anyway, good luck, and if you decide to take Spanish and need help, you're welcome to ask me.

## Post 6 by krisme (Ancient Zoner) on Monday, 28-Apr-2008 21:40:18

Thanks, very good advice. That's another pro for Spanish, unlike French it would actually come in handy in my everyday life.

## Post 7 by oldskoolrapper (On da block) on Friday, 23-May-2008 11:28:19

If you take Spanish get the tape on audio Spanish for Dummies

## Post 8 by blw1978 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 27-May-2008 3:00:19

Hi, I took 4 years of Spanish in high school, and was only a few credits short of getting a Spanish Minor in college. As has already been said, Spanish is very phoenetic. As far as accessible textbooks, I always had mine either read, got an etext version, or the best option, my college would have the textbook brailled. If you're a braille reader, I would definitely recomend that you get at least one textbook in braille, so you can actually feel how the letters and accents look. There are only 6 different Accented Spanish letters in Braille (sorry, it may be a few more than 6). Anyway, they're not difficult to learn. Once you master these, you should have no problems.

## Post 9 by Ukulele<3 (Try me... You know you want to.) on Tuesday, 27-May-2008 14:05:46

omg. I loved Spanish. I took it in high school and college and got as far as the intermediate level when I dropped out. It's very fun. I love listening to Spanish music and singing along with them. lol It gives me such a rush when I can understand what they're saying. I'm sort of rusty at it now but it was one of the funnest and easiest college courses I took. lol I always try to greet the Spanish-speaking people in my high rise in Spanish and they're always so happy and amazed when I can speak Spanish to them. It's pretty cool! lol I wish schools offered Vietnamese. haha My fiance is teaching me and I am terrible at it. But whatever you choose, I wish you good luck!
Michelle

## Post 10 by Pure love (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Monday, 02-Jun-2008 5:56:39

Spanish is nicer, French is very hard to write. And I think Spanish is the second important language in the world. I'd advise Spanish.

## Post 11 by Miss Gorgeous (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 03-Jun-2008 10:55:40

I agree with the previous posters. Spanish is easier than French. You can also use Spanish more than French especially at work. I think you should chose whats more practical and useful in the long run. Its easy to learn Spanish. I grew up in the Philippines, but some of the Filipino words we used came from Spanish, so, i naturally know a little Spanish with out taking a course, but i'm planning to take some courses next year. Anyway, as for the accessible books, they do have all sorts of college textbook as long as you let them know in advance, they will be able to get it for you. Good luck with your selection.

## Post 12 by oldskoolrapper (On da block) on Saturday, 27-Sep-2008 10:58:34

Certain countries when they write they write in symbols and the braille write don't do that. I wonder how blind folks there write. In China its different too.

## Post 13 by redgirl34 (Scottish) on Saturday, 27-Sep-2008 12:19:53

Hi, would recomend Spanish to. French was hrder to understand.

## Post 14 by cumbiambera2005 (i just keep on posting!) on Saturday, 27-Sep-2008 17:03:02

Lol I have always wanted to learn French, but only to speek a little. May one day, but yeah, Spanish all the way! I love Spanish, grew up with it, speek it everyday, listen to Spanish music, took it in high school and had no problem, and mmmmm Spanish literature, sounds fun! Yeah, I'd go for Spanish! And also like the previous posters, Spanish will be more useful in the longrun anyway. Spanish is definitely the way to go! But whatever you choose, good luck!

## Post 15 by oldskoolrapper (On da block) on Sunday, 28-Sep-2008 18:07:45

I'm taking spanish next quarter

## Post 16 by Sweet Barbie (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 15-Oct-2008 10:14:59

Well hi there.. To poster 1. I have taken Spanish in 8th grade, but never took it again. Was it easy? Yes it was, have I forgot most words? Yes. Hope that this helps you. Spanish is definitely easier than most languages..

## Post 17 by 'Alika (Zone BBS Addict) on Saturday, 29-Nov-2008 12:38:16

Hmm. Interesting question. I took a trimester of French, one of German, and one of Spanish during my seventh grade year and had to choose only one of them in eighth grade, which I had the most terrible time doing. Spanish is so useful, German is my heritage, and I love the way French sounds too. I ended up choosing Spanish and now take both Spanish and German. I think Spanish would be the way to go because lots of people in the U.S. speak it. It wasn't that hard switching between languages in seventh grade, but it sometimes is now. I mix up my German and my Spanish when I talk to people sometimes. Oh well. Haha.