World Languages @ Marshall HS

[Anonymous]

DS is in the process of choosing his 9th grade courses. What do you think about GMHS world languages department? Is it worth it, do they actually manage to learn anything? I remember my HS French teachers, they were HORRIBLE. Despite having As, I didn't learn one thing and had to take private lessons from native speakers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is in the process of choosing his 9th grade courses. What do you think about GMHS world languages department? Is it worth it, do they actually manage to learn anything? I remember my HS French teachers, they were HORRIBLE. Despite having As, I didn't learn one thing and had to take private lessons from native speakers.

is your child interested in pursuing the IB diploma? I ask because we just came from MS orientation and were told that students need five years of a foreign language to obtain it (i.e. they need to get a full year in MS). I can't speak for the quality of the foreign language teachers at Marshall.

[Anonymous]

The Spanish teacher two of my kids had at Marshall, who is still there, was nice, but not very demanding. In general, foreign language instruction in FCPS can be hit or miss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is in the process of choosing his 9th grade courses. What do you think about GMHS world languages department? Is it worth it, do they actually manage to learn anything? I remember my HS French teachers, they were HORRIBLE. Despite having As, I didn't learn one thing and had to take private lessons from native speakers.

is your child interested in pursuing the IB diploma? I ask because we just came from MS orientation and were told that students need five years of a foreign language to obtain it (i.e. they need to get a full year in MS). I can't speak for the quality of the foreign language teachers at Marshall.

Not interested in IB diploma

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is in the process of choosing his 9th grade courses. What do you think about GMHS world languages department? Is it worth it, do they actually manage to learn anything? I remember my HS French teachers, they were HORRIBLE. Despite having As, I didn't learn one thing and had to take private lessons from native speakers.

is your child interested in pursuing the IB diploma? I ask because we just came from MS orientation and were told that students need five years of a foreign language to obtain it (i.e. they need to get a full year in MS). I can't speak for the quality of the foreign language teachers at Marshall.

Not interested in IB diploma

Talk to your kid's counselor. We were told at least two years is standard because that's what most colleges require. Some may require more.

My daughter went to a private elementary and allegedly it had Spanish instruction. I have never heard her pronounce a word in Spanish until she took it at Marshall. She's by no means fluent, but they certainly get an introduction and understanding of the vocabulary and how the structure is different from English. But I have no expectations that high school level language instruction was going to amount to any fluency.