Friday, July 11, 2003

Here's something I wish I'd known four years ago. I'm posting it here so maybe someone who needs it will find it through Google. (People do tend to find this blog through Googling the weirdest things, so why not?)

If you are an anglophone who wants to study Translation at Glendon College (at York University in Toronto), these courses are the best way to make use of your first year. Translation starts in second year, so you can do these at Glendon, or at the university of your choice. (Sorry, I have no idea what the francophones need to do).

1. Intro to English Lit. (this is required for the translation degree, so you may as well get it out of the way in first year)
2. French as a second language. Not lit., just language training. Take the most advanced course you can get into. (Glendon requires you take all the FSL possible, so it's good to get ahead here)
3. Intro to Computers. (If you think it would be a bird course, it's an easy A that will fulfill some Gen. Ed. requirements and help you get a tech writing certificate if you need it. If you don't think it would be a bird course, you need to take it).
4. Linguistics (Not necessary, but it's a good background, and currently it will cancel out Specialized Translation into French).
5. a) If you think you might have the slightest interest in studying Spanish translation, take the most advanced Spanish course (language or lit) that you can get into. Even if you've never taken Spanish before you still might be able to pull off Spanish translation by the end of the 4 years, but you need to start ASAP.
   b) If you are certain you have no interest in Spanish, take a course that will fulfill a Gen. Ed. requirement. Something like Psychology, History, Sociology, Math, anything Sciencey.

If you're taking summer classes between first and second year, your priorities are, in order, advancing as far as you can in Spanish language and lit. (if applicable), advancing as far as you can in French language (never mind lit.), and fulfilling your Gen. Ed. requirements. A course that does none of these things is useless to you.

The most effective way to do your Gen Eds while staying close to the whole langling thing is to take Intro to Linguistics in 1st year (which will cancel out your specialized French translation requirement for some reason), then take Sociolinguistics as your Social Science requirement. It's a tough course and heavy on the reading, but it's the only advanced Gen. Ed. that's relevant. Then take Intro to Computers as your Modes of Reasoning requirement (which also goes towards a Tech Writing certificate if you're interested, and should be an easy A for anyone who has managed to find my blog) and then take something that interests you in either Humanities or Natural Science.

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