FL Freak Out -- course ending at 2.5 years?

[Anonymous]

I have a kid (Jr) who started a lesser taught language at her high school with the intention of taking 4 years (that's what school said they offered). This Fall, school said they would not offer a 4th year. Now they are saying that 3B, starting in 3 days, might be canceled. Kid is high achieving kid with interest in a range of potential colleges including a couple T15. Interested in a STEM field and in a STEM magnet. Trying to see if they can take a community college class, but not a lot offered and not sure it will be a possibility. Nothing is set in stone yet. I am corresponding w/ principal (who says 3B will happen though teacher says it won't) and counselor. Hopefully, principal will resolve this, but any other ideas? I also asked about some kind of self study option. I don't think 2.5 years is viable for the potential colleges. Thoughts? Anyone else been through anything similar?

We loved the idea of the unique language, but now it's not so appealing.

[Anonymous]

Public or private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public or private?

Public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid (Jr) who started a lesser taught language at her high school with the intention of taking 4 years (that's what school said they offered). This Fall, school said they would not offer a 4th year. Now they are saying that 3B, starting in 3 days, might be canceled. Kid is high achieving kid with interest in a range of potential colleges including a couple T15. Interested in a STEM field and in a STEM magnet. Trying to see if they can take a community college class, but not a lot offered and not sure it will be a possibility. Nothing is set in stone yet. I am corresponding w/ principal (who says 3B will happen though teacher says it won't) and counselor. Hopefully, principal will resolve this, but any other ideas? I also asked about some kind of self study option. I don't think 2.5 years is viable for the potential colleges. Thoughts? Anyone else been through anything similar?

We loved the idea of the unique language, but now it's not so appealing.

Just have them take another language colleges will not care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid (Jr) who started a lesser taught language at her high school with the intention of taking 4 years (that's what school said they offered). This Fall, school said they would not offer a 4th year. Now they are saying that 3B, starting in 3 days, might be canceled. Kid is high achieving kid with interest in a range of potential colleges including a couple T15. Interested in a STEM field and in a STEM magnet. Trying to see if they can take a community college class, but not a lot offered and not sure it will be a possibility. Nothing is set in stone yet. I am corresponding w/ principal (who says 3B will happen though teacher says it won't) and counselor. Hopefully, principal will resolve this, but any other ideas? I also asked about some kind of self study option. I don't think 2.5 years is viable for the potential colleges. Thoughts? Anyone else been through anything similar?

We loved the idea of the unique language, but now it's not so appealing.

Just have them take another language colleges will not care.

Well that’s the worst advice I’ve read on this site in a while. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this curveball, OP. I think you’re right to keep pushing for an independent study (maybe done online during the class time?)

[Anonymous]

You have to pay for a private tutor, OP. In the DC area, I hope you can find someone who can teach that language. If this is important for your daughter and her college and career prospects, you need to make that happen.

This happened to my friend's kids - the language they had started to study was canceled. They were furious but in public school, there's nothing you can do. There are staffing shortages, budget issues and, for some schools, no available classrooms because they're so overcrowded - and it doesn't make sense to hire a teacher if the demand is low.

[Anonymous]

Oooh, care to share what language is being offered? Good for your kid for taking a less commonly taught language!

[Anonymous]

I seriously doubt that taking 2.5 years of Arabic or whatever is going to doom your child's college admissions. How about modeling resiliency to her? Focus on what's actually important. She chose this more obscure language - does she enjoy it? Is she sad not to continue studying it? Then seek out other opportunities, travel, classes, tutors. If not, then just sign up for Spanish, which is an extremely useful langauge to know. This is NOT worth freaking out over.

[Anonymous]

I never used them but have heard others who got high school credit (and good instruction) online through Language Bird.

https://www.languagebird.com/high-school-courses-for-credit/

See if you can get the school district to pay for it?

[Anonymous]

Language Bird offers these languages for High School credit:


American Sign Language
Arabic
ESL
French
German
Greek
Hebrew
Hindi
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Mandarin
Portuguese
Spanish
Russian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid (Jr) who started a lesser taught language at her high school with the intention of taking 4 years (that's what school said they offered). This Fall, school said they would not offer a 4th year. Now they are saying that 3B, starting in 3 days, might be canceled. Kid is high achieving kid with interest in a range of potential colleges including a couple T15. Interested in a STEM field and in a STEM magnet. Trying to see if they can take a community college class, but not a lot offered and not sure it will be a possibility. Nothing is set in stone yet. I am corresponding w/ principal (who says 3B will happen though teacher says it won't) and counselor. Hopefully, principal will resolve this, but any other ideas? I also asked about some kind of self study option. I don't think 2.5 years is viable for the potential colleges. Thoughts? Anyone else been through anything similar?

We loved the idea of the unique language, but now it's not so appealing.

Just have them take another language colleges will not care.

Well that’s the worst advice I’ve read on this site in a while. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this curveball, OP. I think you’re right to keep pushing for an independent study (maybe done online during the class time?)

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'm well aware that PP's advice is not good. Thanks for the sympathy and encouragement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never used them but have heard others who got high school credit (and good instruction) online through Language Bird.

https://www.languagebird.com/high-school-courses-for-credit/

See if you can get the school district to pay for it?

Interesting. Will check that out. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oooh, care to share what language is being offered? Good for your kid for taking a less commonly taught language!

It would be interesting & helpful to know the language in question as well as which other languages are being cancelled. (I remember years ago when German was being dropped at several colleges due to lack of interest and as a cost-cutting measure.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to pay for a private tutor, OP. In the DC area, I hope you can find someone who can teach that language. If this is important for your daughter and her college and career prospects, you need to make that happen.

This happened to my friend's kids - the language they had started to study was canceled. They were furious but in public school, there's nothing you can do. There are staffing shortages, budget issues and, for some schools, no available classrooms because they're so overcrowded - and it doesn't make sense to hire a teacher if the demand is low.

I would bite the bullet and do this, but how would credit work in that situation? Don't the colleges need to see it on a transcript somewhere?

[Anonymous]

Why not join the club of whichever language is preferred? That way, DC can say they studied two and did an activity related to one.