World language in middle school

[Anonymous]

Is it sufficient if my kid takes it in 7th grade if DC wants to apply for RMIB program for high school? Which is easier - Spanish or French, and does it make a difference in college applications? Go the slow route Spanish A vs Spanish A/B? Kid is a rising 6th grader.

[Anonymous]

Spanish is easier, there are more vocabulary words to remember than in French, but fewer complicated grammatical rules. My mother was a HS Spanish, French & Latin teacher and she swore by this difference.

It is fine to start in 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Spanish is more likely to be used by Americans.

I minored in French in college. I made my kids take Spanish instead of French, due to the little use I've had for French over the years. One revolted and developed a preference for Chinese. We are supporting that as there is genuine interest and conviction behind it.

[Anonymous]

The RMIB requirements for 8th graders are that they are enrolled in at least level 1 of a foreign language. The 1A full year and 1B full year are obviously easier and slower than 1A/B. But there is no reason to rush it if you suspect that language learning won't be your child's strong suit.

[Anonymous]

I personally would recommend doing the slow 1A route starting in 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The RMIB requirements for 8th graders are that they are enrolled in at least level 1 of a foreign language. The 1A full year and 1B full year are obviously easier and slower than 1A/B. But there is no reason to rush it if you suspect that language learning won't be your child's strong suit.

Language is not a strong suit (kid cannot even speak my native language but can understand and has been in language school since K) and routinely fails in class. But DC is in advanced reading and Math.

If requirement is Level 1, does that mean DC has to do both 1A and 1B over 2 years or 1A/B in one year. We skipped world language as an elective for 6th grade when signing up but I wanted to make sure it's okay to do so. We can change the elective back to World language if it is necessary in 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

Op again. I meant DC fails as in getting under 40 in mid term and annual exam in language school. But DC gets promoted to next level each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally would recommend doing the slow 1A route starting in 6th grade.

FL was the best preparation for HS IMO. My kid did not take the slow path. In fact, they were in the MS magnet but found FL to be their most challenging class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The RMIB requirements for 8th graders are that they are enrolled in at least level 1 of a foreign language. The 1A full year and 1B full year are obviously easier and slower than 1A/B. But there is no reason to rush it if you suspect that language learning won't be your child's strong suit.

Language is not a strong suit (kid cannot even speak my native language but can understand and has been in language school since K) and routinely fails in class. But DC is in advanced reading and Math.

If requirement is Level 1, does that mean DC has to do both 1A and 1B over 2 years or 1A/B in one year. We skipped world language as an elective for 6th grade when signing up but I wanted to make sure it's okay to do so. We can change the elective back to World language if it is necessary in 6th grade.

Has your DC been evaluated for a learning difference?
Given this, I wouldn’t worry about it in 6th grade. If they are up for it, they could do Spanish 1 A and B over two years in 7th and 8th. But if they really can’t learn a language, I’d pursue getting testing and exemption and/or try ASL in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The RMIB requirements for 8th graders are that they are enrolled in at least level 1 of a foreign language. The 1A full year and 1B full year are obviously easier and slower than 1A/B. But there is no reason to rush it if you suspect that language learning won't be your child's strong suit.

I also had this question about RMIB, but DC is in the humanities magnet where there is only 1 elective, and did not take a language in 6th - nor in 7th. But sounds like DC can start a foreign language in 8th and still be eligible to apply for RMIB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The RMIB requirements for 8th graders are that they are enrolled in at least level 1 of a foreign language. The 1A full year and 1B full year are obviously easier and slower than 1A/B. But there is no reason to rush it if you suspect that language learning won't be your child's strong suit.

Language is not a strong suit (kid cannot even speak my native language but can understand and has been in language school since K) and routinely fails in class. But DC is in advanced reading and Math.

If requirement is Level 1, does that mean DC has to do both 1A and 1B over 2 years or 1A/B in one year. We skipped world language as an elective for 6th grade when signing up but I wanted to make sure it's okay to do so. We can change the elective back to World language if it is necessary in 6th grade.

Has your DC been evaluated for a learning difference?
Given this, I wouldn’t worry about it in 6th grade. If they are up for it, they could do Spanish 1 A and B over two years in 7th and 8th. But if they really can’t learn a language, I’d pursue getting testing and exemption and/or try ASL in high school.

Sorry - forgot about the specific RM question. Not sure how that works with language exemptions, etc. Was speaking more generally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The RMIB requirements for 8th graders are that they are enrolled in at least level 1 of a foreign language. The 1A full year and 1B full year are obviously easier and slower than 1A/B. But there is no reason to rush it if you suspect that language learning won't be your child's strong suit.

Language is not a strong suit (kid cannot even speak my native language but can understand and has been in language school since K) and routinely fails in class. But DC is in advanced reading and Math.

If requirement is Level 1, does that mean DC has to do both 1A and 1B over 2 years or 1A/B in one year. We skipped world language as an elective for 6th grade when signing up but I wanted to make sure it's okay to do so. We can change the elective back to World language if it is necessary in 6th grade.

Has your DC been evaluated for a learning difference?
Given this, I wouldn’t worry about it in 6th grade. If they are up for it, they could do Spanish 1 A and B over two years in 7th and 8th. But if they really can’t learn a language, I’d pursue getting testing and exemption and/or try ASL in high school.

Op here. No, my kid has not been evaluated for a learning difference. I didn't know there was something like that. What is ASL? Whom to approach for testing? If a kid is exempted, they can skip language? How does that impact college placement>

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The RMIB requirements for 8th graders are that they are enrolled in at least level 1 of a foreign language. The 1A full year and 1B full year are obviously easier and slower than 1A/B. But there is no reason to rush it if you suspect that language learning won't be your child's strong suit.

Language is not a strong suit (kid cannot even speak my native language but can understand and has been in language school since K) and routinely fails in class. But DC is in advanced reading and Math.

If requirement is Level 1, does that mean DC has to do both 1A and 1B over 2 years or 1A/B in one year. We skipped world language as an elective for 6th grade when signing up but I wanted to make sure it's okay to do so. We can change the elective back to World language if it is necessary in 6th grade.

Has your DC been evaluated for a learning difference?
Given this, I wouldn’t worry about it in 6th grade. If they are up for it, they could do Spanish 1 A and B over two years in 7th and 8th. But if they really can’t learn a language, I’d pursue getting testing and exemption and/or try ASL in high school.

Op here. No, my kid has not been evaluated for a learning difference. I didn't know there was something like that. What is ASL? Whom to approach for testing? If a kid is exempted, they can skip language? How does that impact college placement>

American Sign Language. It’s popular and often more accessible for kids who struggle with other languages. Most kids in the class at our school have accommodations.

Reach out to your DC’s school counselor and get advice. See if you qualify for school-provided testing. If not, it’s a long wait for in network low cost testing or you can pay privately and get it done faster. I’m sure others can give better advice. If you skip 6th grade language, you have lots of time to pursue this.

As far as college, it depends. They shouldn’t discriminate but I think they often do. But if your kid is a rock star who just can’t do language, it works out well and in any event, it’s better than failing a world language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The RMIB requirements for 8th graders are that they are enrolled in at least level 1 of a foreign language. The 1A full year and 1B full year are obviously easier and slower than 1A/B. But there is no reason to rush it if you suspect that language learning won't be your child's strong suit.

Language is not a strong suit (kid cannot even speak my native language but can understand and has been in language school since K) and routinely fails in class. But DC is in advanced reading and Math.

If requirement is Level 1, does that mean DC has to do both 1A and 1B over 2 years or 1A/B in one year. We skipped world language as an elective for 6th grade when signing up but I wanted to make sure it's okay to do so. We can change the elective back to World language if it is necessary in 6th grade.

Has your DC been evaluated for a learning difference?
Given this, I wouldn’t worry about it in 6th grade. If they are up for it, they could do Spanish 1 A and B over two years in 7th and 8th. But if they really can’t learn a language, I’d pursue getting testing and exemption and/or try ASL in high school.

Op here. No, my kid has not been evaluated for a learning difference. I didn't know there was something like that. What is ASL? Whom to approach for testing? If a kid is exempted, they can skip language? How does that impact college placement>

American Sign Language. It’s popular and often more accessible for kids who struggle with other languages. Most kids in the class at our school have accommodations.

Reach out to your DC’s school counselor and get advice. See if you qualify for school-provided testing. If not, it’s a long wait for in network low cost testing or you can pay privately and get it done faster. I’m sure others can give better advice. If you skip 6th grade language, you have lots of time to pursue this.

As far as college, it depends. They shouldn’t discriminate but I think they often do. But if your kid is a rock star who just can’t do language, it works out well and in any event, it’s better than failing a world language.

Pp again - I’m not an expert on this so might want to start a thread specific to these questions. I’m sure there are experts on these boards (special needs, Mcps, college boards).

[Anonymous]

My kid with slow processing speed, who has difficulty learning new languages because of the verbal tempo, did very well with Latin, which is learned as a written language. However it isn't offered at all MCPS schools. We're French, and he did manage to learn his language of origin to a quasi-bilingual level, with a lot of insistence and repetition. He just didn't take it as an MCPS class - although he enrolled in the French AP exam at his high school and got a 5.