Foreign Language requirement question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so confused. So do kids need 2 or 3 years of world language? Do they all have to be taken in HS? Why are the MS course bulletins still showing HS credit for taking world language in grades 6, 7, and 8?

You need 2 years of foreign language study, while in HS (9-12) in order to graduate from an MD public school. You can take HS level classes in MS but they don't count towards those 2 years. They prefer you to take 2 years of the same language, or 4 years of the same language rather than 2 of French and 2 of Latin for example

It isn't that complicated its just there's a lot of garbled posts on this thread.

You can find all the information on this on your HS website. And on the MCPS website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so confused. So do kids need 2 or 3 years of world language? Do they all have to be taken in HS? Why are the MS course bulletins still showing HS credit for taking world language in grades 6, 7, and 8?

You need 2 years of foreign language study, while in HS (9-12) in order to graduate from an MD public school. You can take HS level classes in MS but they don't count towards those 2 years. They prefer you to take 2 years of the same language, or 4 years of the same language rather than 2 of French and 2 of Latin for example

It isn't that complicated its just there's a lot of garbled posts on this thread.

You can find all the information on this on your HS website. And on the MCPS website.

At least for class of 2024, this is incorrect. Middle school MCPS classes meet the requirement (1a and 1b count as one year, not two).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so confused. So do kids need 2 or 3 years of world language? Do they all have to be taken in HS? Why are the MS course bulletins still showing HS credit for taking world language in grades 6, 7, and 8?

You need 2 years of foreign language study, while in HS (9-12) in order to graduate from an MD public school. You can take HS level classes in MS but they don't count towards those 2 years. They prefer you to take 2 years of the same language, or 4 years of the same language rather than 2 of French and 2 of Latin for example

It isn't that complicated its just there's a lot of garbled posts on this thread.

You can find all the information on this on your HS website. And on the MCPS website.

Do you have any source for your claims?!

Neither https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/0358.22_GraduationAtAGlance_Classof2025%20(1).pdf nor http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/13a/13a.03.02.03.htm say anything about where (HS/MS) one should take the FL credits. And, they both REQUIRE (not "prefer") two credits in the SAME FL unless the student does a "state approved program of study."

OP, most colleges generally like to see four credits of FL and the counselors probably alluded to that. Four credits of FL is not a requirement for HS graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so confused. So do kids need 2 or 3 years of world language? Do they all have to be taken in HS? Why are the MS course bulletins still showing HS credit for taking world language in grades 6, 7, and 8?

You need 2 years of foreign language study, while in HS (9-12) in order to graduate from an MD public school. You can take HS level classes in MS but they don't count towards those 2 years. They prefer you to take 2 years of the same language, or 4 years of the same language rather than 2 of French and 2 of Latin for example

It isn't that complicated its just there's a lot of garbled posts on this thread.

You can find all the information on this on your HS website. And on the MCPS website.

Do you have any source for your claims?!

Neither https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/0358.22_GraduationAtAGlance_Classof2025%20(1).pdf nor http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/13a/13a.03.02.03.htm say anything about where (HS/MS) one should take the FL credits. And, they both REQUIRE (not "prefer") two credits in the SAME FL unless the student does a "state approved program of study."

OP, most colleges generally like to see four credits of FL and the counselors probably alluded to that. Four credits of FL is not a requirement for HS graduation.

PP again: FYI: But there are schools that do not consider FL classes taken prior to HS. University of Delaware is one example: https://www.udel.edu/apply/undergraduate-admissions/requirements/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For MCPS, the 2 years may be in Middle School. Colleges are looking at HS

Where does it say colleges want foreign languages at HS? For example:

https://www.admissions.umd.edu/apply/requirements/freshman

UMD does not require applicants taking foreign languages in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For MCPS, the 2 years may be in Middle School. Colleges are looking at HS

Where does it say colleges want foreign languages at HS? For example:

https://www.admissions.umd.edu/apply/requirements/freshman

UMD does not require applicants taking foreign languages in HS.

It makes sense that UMD doesn’t care because it aligns with state and county requirements.

[Anonymous]

I have a child starting MS next year at Silver Creek and a foreign language is mandatory in 6th grade and we were told it counts as a high school credit. Seems weird to make the kids do that if it’s not going to be recognized towards graduation requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For MCPS, the 2 years may be in Middle School. Colleges are looking at HS

Where does it say colleges want foreign languages at HS? For example:

https://www.admissions.umd.edu/apply/requirements/freshman

UMD does not require applicants taking foreign languages in HS.

It makes sense that UMD doesn’t care because it aligns with state and county requirements.

UVA engineering does not specifically require foreign language:

https://engineering.virginia.edu/future-undergrads/admissions#accordion93610

[Anonymous]

Course Bulletin, footnote on page 6 ¨.Students may fulfill World Language graduation option in middle school.¨

http://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/publications/HSCourseBulletin2023.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child starting MS next year at Silver Creek and a foreign language is mandatory in 6th grade and we were told it counts as a high school credit. Seems weird to make the kids do that if it’s not going to be recognized towards graduation requirements.

le

There´s a Middle School where FL is mandatory in 6th? We have to fight with the ES teachers for a recommendation for our MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child starting MS next year at Silver Creek and a foreign language is mandatory in 6th grade and we were told it counts as a high school credit. Seems weird to make the kids do that if it’s not going to be recognized towards graduation requirements.

le

There´s a Middle School where FL is mandatory in 6th? We have to fight with the ES teachers for a recommendation for our MS.

All 6th graders at SSIMS take world language classes too, unless they are below grade level in Reading. Both Silver Creek and SSIMS are IB schools, so that may be why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child starting MS next year at Silver Creek and a foreign language is mandatory in 6th grade and we were told it counts as a high school credit. Seems weird to make the kids do that if it’s not going to be recognized towards graduation requirements.

All MS world language classes are HS credit classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child starting MS next year at Silver Creek and a foreign language is mandatory in 6th grade and we were told it counts as a high school credit. Seems weird to make the kids do that if it’s not going to be recognized towards graduation requirements.

le

There´s a Middle School where FL is mandatory in 6th? We have to fight with the ES teachers for a recommendation for our MS.

All 6th graders at SSIMS take world language classes too, unless they are below grade level in Reading. Both Silver Creek and SSIMS are IB schools, so that may be why.

That is really good intel for MS. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My son is at Whitman in 9th grade taking his 4th year of French.

His French teacher has told us that once he has taken French 5 in 10th grade he has completed his required 2 yrs of HS FL to graduate in MD.

He can of course go to AP French in 11th grade if he wishes, then he will have done 3 years while in HS and a total of 6 years of HS language study, all of which he gets credit for.

I don't know if this helps anyone?

[Anonymous]

The county and state really need to clearly articulate the requirement and collegiate expectation. Is it 2 credits of the same Foreign Language, OR is it 2 credits of the same Foreign Language taken while matriculating in HS?

That’s two very different things and has implications on both MS and HS course selection.