Experience with 6th grade French

[Anonymous]

I am wondering which course to choose for my rising 6th grader. French 1A/B or French 1A.

He doesn't have great study habits/skills. With that said, he had full immersion (French) in PK3 and 4, then partial immersion in K and 1st. Then the pandemic hit, we moved to MCPS and no one answered my calls so I couldn't get him tested for immersion here.

I will reach out to the guidance counselor at the middle school but wondered if anyone has experience with these courses and can offer any suggestions. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

If he doesn’t have great study habits go with the slower track. My two magnet kids took AB and both found it was the class they had to put in the most effort for. It’s not that it’s hard it’s just that you need to study and keep up. You can’t just coast along.

[Anonymous]

Our school doesn't have an option -- you are required to do the full 1A/B class. I was worried, and it is definitely the class with the most work. But I'm glad my 6th grader, with ADHD and exec function challenges, is in it. It is the only class that challenges her, and she has been forced to learn study habits. I have had to work with her to help her learn how to study -- through flashcards, online sites, etc. -- but I think she would be bored moving at half the pace.

[Anonymous]

With the French background, I would think the 1A/B is likely the correct choice, even with bad study skills.

Our school has gone the other direction and does not allow 6th graders in A/B only A.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone!

- OP

[Anonymous]

Look again and go the slower path. For college admissions I have ben told they are primarily looking at language in HS. So if kid starts HS at French 4 that leads to having to take many advanced language classes to take 3-4 years of language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look again and go the slower path. For college admissions I have ben told they are primarily looking at language in HS. So if kid starts HS at French 4 that leads to having to take many advanced language classes to take 3-4 years of language.

Or they can take another language and potential go for the seal of biliteracy. While college admissions wants to see HS language classes, the transcript will show the years of MS language and grade received. It will also show that the kid then took level 4/ AP level in that language and then also took on a new language, potentially making this kid tri-lingual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look again and go the slower path. For college admissions I have ben told they are primarily looking at language in HS. So if kid starts HS at French 4 that leads to having to take many advanced language classes to take 3-4 years of language.

Even with the slower path, you can easily take AP Lang in your senior year. FWIW, I'm not sure I'd even want to take AP Lit in French or Spanish.