World language requirements

[Anonymous]

What about sign language? Our high school offers it and our DD is dyslexic so thinking that is the best option for her. It seems a lot of kids take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. I find most parents of firstborns do not know this. If your child takes 4 years in high school, he/she won’t ever have to worry about a foreign language in college, which is much harder academically to get through.

I mean -- HOW would we know this? Seems like it is something the high schools should tell us if this is the rule at many/most state universities!

They do tell you. I heard this at MIDDLE SCHOOL orientation (where you choose your FL path).

There are the minimums to graduate. Then there are what colleges expect.

True. I've heard this when my DD went to Lanier MS (now Katherine Johnson MS) orientation and then when she went to Fairfax HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. I find most parents of firstborns do not know this. If your child takes 4 years in high school, he/she won’t ever have to worry about a foreign language in college, which is much harder academically to get through.

I mean -- HOW would we know this? Seems like it is something the high schools should tell us if this is the rule at many/most state universities!

They do tell you. I heard this at MIDDLE SCHOOL orientation (where you choose your FL path).

There are the minimums to graduate. Then there are what colleges expect.

True. I've heard this when my DD went to Lanier MS (now Katherine Johnson MS) orientation and then when she went to Fairfax HS.

What did you hear? That you need 3 yrs to get the advanced degree in HS OR they told you whst every college rewuires for a college degree? I doubt anyone told you what it takes to satisfy college degree foreign lang requirements...since they all have different rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. I find most parents of firstborns do not know this. If your child takes 4 years in high school, he/she won’t ever have to worry about a foreign language in college, which is much harder academically to get through.

I mean -- HOW would we know this? Seems like it is something the high schools should tell us if this is the rule at many/most state universities!

They do tell you. I heard this at MIDDLE SCHOOL orientation (where you choose your FL path).

There are the minimums to graduate. Then there are what colleges expect.

True. I've heard this when my DD went to Lanier MS (now Katherine Johnson MS) orientation and then when she went to Fairfax HS.

What did you hear? That you need 3 yrs to get the advanced degree in HS OR they told you whst every college rewuires for a college degree? I doubt anyone told you what it takes to satisfy college degree foreign lang requirements...since they all have different rules.

My older kid only needed three years in HS to be exempt from the language requirement in college. Back in the dark ages, three years was originally enough for me as well, due to my choice of major. When I transferred schools, however , I did have to take one semester of language in order to graduate. It’s definitely school specific.

That said, my kids have always been advised that 3 years is sufficient for the diploma but 4 years is preferred for college admissions. DC#2 is still planning on just 3 right now so we’ll see how that plays out. It didn’t hurt #1 at all.

[Anonymous]

What is preferred for college admissions =/= what is required to graduate college and satisfy college degree requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about sign language? Our high school offers it and our DD is dyslexic so thinking that is the best option for her. It seems a lot of kids take it.

My child is in ASL3 this year. Her counselor told us that most, but not all, colleges see it as a world language, so you need to check. She is waffling right now on taking the 4th year her senior year or stopping.

[Anonymous]

i just looked at GMU's core requirements and don't see language as a requirement anywhere for the "core". So a Comp Sci major would have no such requirement. Again, the chosen major is a consideration here and at many schools.
https://catalog.gmu.edu/mason-core/

[Anonymous]

Are those still the requirements if a kid starts foreign language in MS? DD wants to take French; if the requirement is that foreign language must be taken in HS (and not that they have so many HS credits), then it wouldn’t make sense for her to start in MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are those still the requirements if a kid starts foreign language in MS? DD wants to take French; if the requirement is that foreign language must be taken in HS (and not that they have so many HS credits), then it wouldn’t make sense for her to start in MS.

For literal graduation requirements, high school credits taken in middle school count.

Remember, though, for college admissions, schools want to see rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are those still the requirements if a kid starts foreign language in MS? DD wants to take French; if the requirement is that foreign language must be taken in HS (and not that they have so many HS credits), then it wouldn’t make sense for her to start in MS.

For literal graduation requirements, high school credits taken in middle school count.

Remember, though, for college admissions, schools want to see rigor.

So a kid might need as many as 6 years of a language to “show rigor”. That’s insane!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are those still the requirements if a kid starts foreign language in MS? DD wants to take French; if the requirement is that foreign language must be taken in HS (and not that they have so many HS credits), then it wouldn’t make sense for her to start in MS.

For literal graduation requirements, high school credits taken in middle school count.

Remember, though, for college admissions, schools want to see rigor.

So a kid might need as many as 6 years of a language to “show rigor”. That’s insane!

That is insane. And not true. You can get into UVA with four years of language.