Getting ahead in language classes

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if kids can skip a year of foreign language classes by taking summer courses (either through MCPS or a private program)? The MCPS summer school website says world languages can't be taken for original credit, but I don't care so much about credit--I'm just wondering if you can skip a year by doing this. (DD is in Spanish 1 as a 9th grader; I regret not having her take a language in middle school.)

[Anonymous]

I don't have a specific answer to your question, but I know that our school, it is common for students to skip (with permission of the instructor) Spanish 5. So there is some ability to skip years when appropriate.

Also, according to the MCPS website, "The prerequisite for all courses, except 1 A, is either successful completion of the preceding course or a local placement test."

(https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/languages/)

Placement tests surely vary across schools, and this is typically used for new student placement, but it opens the door for a conversation with the Spanish instructor.

(In MCPS, so many things vary across schools that this is probably always the answer-- contact your school/Spanish teacher for a conversation.)

[Anonymous]

OK, thank you--that's helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if kids can skip a year of foreign language classes by taking summer courses (either through MCPS or a private program)? The MCPS summer school website says world languages can't be taken for original credit, but I don't care so much about credit--I'm just wondering if you can skip a year by doing this. (DD is in Spanish 1 as a 9th grader; I regret not having her take a language in middle school.)

I’m sure by reaching out to a counselor or lead for the subject they could ask to take a placement test. That said, plenty of 9th graders take level 1 of a foreign language. Why are you trying to skip ahead?

[Anonymous]

Yes, they can do it. They did it for my kid years ago. She had done a summer program in Spain and they had her take a placement test.

Plus, RM used to let IB kids who studied one Romance language skip the lower unweighted levels of a second Romance language so they could pick up a second language without lowering their weighted gpa.

[Anonymous]

What is the advantage of leveling up? Getting to AP?

[Anonymous]

Wasn't this same or similar question asked on this forum in the past week?