Skip language in MS?

[Anonymous]

Our MS does not have great language instruction and my kid hates his language class. Anecdotally we have heard language instruction is much higher quality at our HS. Is it feasible to skip language for 7 and 8 and resume in high school? I think our school pushes language instruction hard, so they may push back which is why I’m asking about “can” we do this. Will colleges care when a kid takes the language (MS vs HS)?

[Anonymous]

Colleges don't look at middle school courses. You can take a language level 1 course in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't look at middle school courses. You can take a language level 1 course in high school.

But in MCPS languages taken in middle school are for high school credit and show up on the kid’s transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't look at middle school courses. You can take a language level 1 course in high school.

But in MCPS languages taken in middle school are for high school credit and show up on the kid’s transcript.

If we could go back in time, I would have recommended no FL in MS and just start a Level 1 course as a freshman. FL at the higher levels is hard. My daughter is not enjoying Spanish 4 as a sophomore and the idea of taking Spanish 5 next year is killing her.

[Anonymous]

Or you can opt out of including MS language course from child's transcript. You have to tell the school not to include, ask your child's counselor about that. MS makes students take language if not they have to take a second reading course. At least that is what I have heard.

[Anonymous]

If your kid wants to do IB, they need to start language in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't look at middle school courses. You can take a language level 1 course in high school.

But in MCPS languages taken in middle school are for high school credit and show up on the kid’s transcript.

If we could go back in time, I would have recommended no FL in MS and just start a Level 1 course as a freshman. FL at the higher levels is hard. My daughter is not enjoying Spanish 4 as a sophomore and the idea of taking Spanish 5 next year is killing her.

But there is no honor level of level 1 and 2

[Anonymous]

My kids didn’t start FL until high school and it worked really well. No need to rush it (unless you’re striving for an ivy- then I might change my opinion).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid wants to do IB, they need to start language in middle school.

Can you expand on this? IB is something we would be considering for high school. Is it because of some specific IB requirement? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't look at middle school courses. You can take a language level 1 course in high school.

But in MCPS languages taken in middle school are for high school credit and show up on the kid’s transcript.

If we could go back in time, I would have recommended no FL in MS and just start a Level 1 course as a freshman. FL at the higher levels is hard. My daughter is not enjoying Spanish 4 as a sophomore and the idea of taking Spanish 5 next year is killing her.

2nd this. We are having our child stop after Spanish 5/two years in HS. If that's not enough for colleges then oh well.

[Anonymous]

For IB, your child should already have taken a language by the time they start IB in 11th. You can start language in 9th.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely no.

Take it in MS. If DC hates languages then they stop in 10th grade.

It is easier in MS for sure.
If they hate it and grades aren't awesome better to have that in MS.

[Anonymous]

My kid took a language in 6th. It wasn’t until I checked the transcript at the end of the year that I realized they only received.25 of a credit. Apparently they slow the instruction down so much that they only cover 1/4 of the material. I’m not sure if that is standard or just how that particular school did things. Either way it was a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't look at middle school courses. You can take a language level 1 course in high school.

But in MCPS languages taken in middle school are for high school credit and show up on the kid’s transcript.

Colleges still don’t care. They want to see 3 years taken in HS

MCPS just cares about Hs cried classes in Ms because it boosts their Great Schools ratings and State Report Card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid wants to do IB, they need to start language in middle school.

Can you expand on this? IB is something we would be considering for high school. Is it because of some specific IB requirement? Thank you.

Not at all. Look at all the other districts that don’t offer WL until 8th grade and they are having no problem spitting out IB grade. Stop drinking the MCPS Kool Aid!