Digital literacy or world language

[Anonymous]

My daughter is smart but has a mild LD in writing. She does have in interest in learning a new language. I'm not sure if she should do digital literacy or a world language in 6th... I heard the quality of digital literacy can really vary. If I start her in 6th and she struggles down the road, can she repeat the 8th grade year of Spanish in 9th.grade if she needs to?

[Anonymous]

Yes she can repeat if needed

[Anonymous]

Do you still have the option to do half the first year of a FL in 6th and then the 2nd half of the first year in 7th? I would suggest that approach if she is keen to start languages. The earlier you start, the easier it can be, ironically.

[Anonymous]

Just keep in mind that colleges want to see four years of language in HIGH SCHOOL. They don't care if the child started in 6th grade. So they earlier a student starts, the more rigorous it will be by Junior/ Senior year. Unless languages come naturally (I have one child who they do and another that they don't) I'd recommend waiting until 8th or 9th grade to start if possible. I do really wish there was another option besides digital literacy for 6th graders though -- and that they started language in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Hmm....I'm wondering if she could do 6th grade, 7th grade and then repeat 7th grade Spanish again? Would sxhools allow that even if she got a decent grade in 7th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just keep in mind that colleges want to see four years of language in HIGH SCHOOL. They don't care if the child started in 6th grade. So they earlier a student starts, the more rigorous it will be by Junior/ Senior year. Unless languages come naturally (I have one child who they do and another that they don't) I'd recommend waiting until 8th or 9th grade to start if possible. I do really wish there was another option besides digital literacy for 6th graders though -- and that they started language in kindergarten.

Please STOP parroting this myth. Only certain school want to see four years of language in HS. Most schools only have a requirement of taking two years of a foreign language and more than that is really based on major, competitive, and ability to tell story of why you continued a language or what other electives you took.

[Anonymous]

OO here- not aiming for state flagship school with her...a school likeTowson would be just fine

[Anonymous]

OP, is there an option where she can do Spanish 1A in 6th and 1B in 7th, or does she have to do Spanish 1 A/B in 6th? (Not all schools offer the slower option.) If she can do 1A, I would go for that. If she has to do 1A/B, I would give her time in digital literacy and switch her in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, is there an option where she can do Spanish 1A in 6th and 1B in 7th, or does she have to do Spanish 1 A/B in 6th? (Not all schools offer the slower option.) If she can do 1A, I would go for that. If she has to do 1A/B, I would give her time in digital literacy and switch her in 7th.

If you wait almost a year to take 1B, how does the student keep up with the language?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, is there an option where she can do Spanish 1A in 6th and 1B in 7th, or does she have to do Spanish 1 A/B in 6th? (Not all schools offer the slower option.) If she can do 1A, I would go for that. If she has to do 1A/B, I would give her time in digital literacy and switch her in 7th.

If you wait almost a year to take 1B, how does the student keep up with the language?

That's not quite how it works

6th grade - 1 A (half a year course)
7th grade - 1 B (second half of a year long course)
8th grade - 2 A/B

9th grade - Honors 3
etc

[Anonymous]

Our home MS only has Spanish 1A/1B or French 1A/1B options....sounds like contrary to what I thought since they're already late in learning language at MCPS as they're entering 6th, we should wait until 7th?

[Anonymous]

OP here...thanks all for the advice. My MS does offer the slow ramp to foreign language with a year of 1a, a year of 1b, and then 8the grade, of 2a/2b. I think this is the right fit. Thanks for the advice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, is there an option where she can do Spanish 1A in 6th and 1B in 7th, or does she have to do Spanish 1 A/B in 6th? (Not all schools offer the slower option.) If she can do 1A, I would go for that. If she has to do 1A/B, I would give her time in digital literacy and switch her in 7th.

If you wait almost a year to take 1B, how does the student keep up with the language?

That's not quite how it works

6th grade - 1 A (half a year course)
7th grade - 1 B (second half of a year long course)
8th grade - 2 A/B

9th grade - Honors 3
etc

Our school offers 1A and 1B as year long courses, not half a year course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm....I'm wondering if she could do 6th grade, 7th grade and then repeat 7th grade Spanish again? Would sxhools allow that even if she got a decent grade in 7th?

Repeat is OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our home MS only has Spanish 1A/1B or French 1A/1B options....sounds like contrary to what I thought since they're already late in learning language at MCPS as they're entering 6th, we should wait until 7th?

Are you sure, even for Spanish? Spanish 2 might exist but he limited to 8th graders, so not shown on your kid's registration card