Foreign language

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 years? So, one elective spot in HS gone? If a kid wants to continue with a music instrument in HS, then they have no elective spots remaining to pick anything else?

This is why many kids start in MS. This year is the first year that MS will allow non-Immersion kids to take Spanish or French in 7th grade as a HS class, in past years you could only have 1 year of a foreign language in MS unless you were in Language Immersion.

This is also why some parents aim for PE in the summer or the personal finance class in the summer, to open up additional elective spots.

DS is in LI and we are hoping he continues with his language so he can knock out 2 years of his 4 years of Foreign Language in MS, opening spaces in HS for electives.

This must be school dependent. At DD's MS, they only offer foreign language for HS credit, and it has been that way since at least 2022.

Prior to this year, kids could take a foreign language for 1 high school credit. So Spanish 1 or French 1. As of next year, all students can take Spanish or French 1 and 2 in MS. The presentation I watched for Carson said it was only Spanish and French that were available for both 7th and 8th grade, Chinese and Japanese would be under the A/B system, where only 1 HS credit is available.

No. DD's MS currently offers Spanish 1 & 2, and French 1 & 2, for instance. She opted to not do a foreign language in 7th grade, but is doing one this year, in 8th grade. She has friends doing Spanish 2 and French 2, having done Spanish 1 and French 1 last year. This varies from school to school. Some offer A/B system, some offer just Level 1 , some offer Level 1 & 2, and some offer a mix of the above, and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 years? So, one elective spot in HS gone? If a kid wants to continue with a music instrument in HS, then they have no elective spots remaining to pick anything else?

This is why many kids start in MS. This year is the first year that MS will allow non-Immersion kids to take Spanish or French in 7th grade as a HS class, in past years you could only have 1 year of a foreign language in MS unless you were in Language Immersion.

This is also why some parents aim for PE in the summer or the personal finance class in the summer, to open up additional elective spots.

DS is in LI and we are hoping he continues with his language so he can knock out 2 years of his 4 years of Foreign Language in MS, opening spaces in HS for electives.

This must be school dependent. At DD's MS, they only offer foreign language for HS credit, and it has been that way since at least 2022.

Prior to this year, kids could take a foreign language for 1 high school credit. So Spanish 1 or French 1. As of next year, all students can take Spanish or French 1 and 2 in MS. The presentation I watched for Carson said it was only Spanish and French that were available for both 7th and 8th grade, Chinese and Japanese would be under the A/B system, where only 1 HS credit is available.

You are very much INCORRECT. The PP, saying that it is/was school dependent, is the one who is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 years? So, one elective spot in HS gone? If a kid wants to continue with a music instrument in HS, then they have no elective spots remaining to pick anything else?

This is why many kids start in MS. This year is the first year that MS will allow non-Immersion kids to take Spanish or French in 7th grade as a HS class, in past years you could only have 1 year of a foreign language in MS unless you were in Language Immersion.

This is also why some parents aim for PE in the summer or the personal finance class in the summer, to open up additional elective spots.

DS is in LI and we are hoping he continues with his language so he can knock out 2 years of his 4 years of Foreign Language in MS, opening spaces in HS for electives.

This must be school dependent. At DD's MS, they only offer foreign language for HS credit, and it has been that way since at least 2022.

Prior to this year, kids could take a foreign language for 1 high school credit. So Spanish 1 or French 1. As of next year, all students can take Spanish or French 1 and 2 in MS. The presentation I watched for Carson said it was only Spanish and French that were available for both 7th and 8th grade, Chinese and Japanese would be under the A/B system, where only 1 HS credit is available.

No. DD's MS currently offers Spanish 1 & 2, and French 1 & 2, for instance. She opted to not do a foreign language in 7th grade, but is doing one this year, in 8th grade. She has friends doing Spanish 2 and French 2, having done Spanish 1 and French 1 last year. This varies from school to school. Some offer A/B system, some offer just Level 1 , some offer Level 1 & 2, and some offer a mix of the above, and so on.

Cool. The presentation I saw made it seem like this was new across FCPS. Nice to see it available to everyone at our MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would ASL be rejected? It is a world language.

UVA disagrees. It doesn't satisfy their foreign language graduation requirement, so it would be strange if it satisfied the admissions requirement

https://college.as.virginia.edu/fl-faq

UVa also at least strongly prefers 4 years of a foreign language from undergrad applicants to its Architecture, Engineering, and Nursing schools. ASL will not really count for those other schools either at admissions time. Not taking 4 years of a foreign language will limit admissions chances many places, because other applicants will have that, even when it is not a strict requirement to apply.

[Anonymous]

Many many applicants to any Engineering School will have 4 years of a foreign language. An applicant without the same 4 years of foreign language in HS will be at a competitive disadvantage.

The days when a student not good in language arts or foreign language still might be a competitive applicant for Engineering school are looong gone. There is a flood of STEM applicants these days. To get admitted these days, one needs to be more than just a math/science specialist.

[Anonymous]

Those who are using the term "foreign language" need to do some research regarding why that term is wholly inappropriate. I cannot believe how many people on this thread are using that term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who are using the term "foreign language" need to do some research regarding why that term is wholly inappropriate. I cannot believe how many people on this thread are using that term.

It is perfectly appropriate given the question related to FCPS. English is the official language of the Commonwealth of Virginia - https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title1/chapter5/section1-511/ so all other languages offered other than ASL would be a foreign language in any VA school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4 years? So, one elective spot in HS gone? If a kid wants to continue with a music instrument in HS, then they have no elective spots remaining to pick anything else?

Once PE is done they can pick an elective as a junior and senior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who are using the term "foreign language" need to do some research regarding why that term is wholly inappropriate. I cannot believe how many people on this thread are using that term.

I can’t believe you think this is pearl clutching worthy. Just unclench have some herbal tea, pet a cat, read book and stare out at the rain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 years? So, one elective spot in HS gone? If a kid wants to continue with a music instrument in HS, then they have no elective spots remaining to pick anything else?

Once PE is done they can pick an elective as a junior and senior.

This is why some kids do PE over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who are using the term "foreign language" need to do some research regarding why that term is wholly inappropriate. I cannot believe how many people on this thread are using that term.

How old are your kids? NP and we are starting to look at colleges. Every single one we have seen lists foreign language on the CDS. Are you this shocked when looking at admission requirements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who are using the term "foreign language" need to do some research regarding why that term is wholly inappropriate. I cannot believe how many people on this thread are using that term.

How old are your kids? NP and we are starting to look at colleges. Every single one we have seen lists foreign language on the CDS. Are you this shocked when looking at admission requirements?

Yes.

The word "foreign" is a loaded term that is far from neutral. It would be advantageous to all educational institutions to use "World," "Global," or "International" rather than "foreign."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who are using the term "foreign language" need to do some research regarding why that term is wholly inappropriate. I cannot believe how many people on this thread are using that term.

I can't believe what I just read. Hopefully, this is satire?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who are using the term "foreign language" need to do some research regarding why that term is wholly inappropriate. I cannot believe how many people on this thread are using that term.

I'm French. Relax, English is the dominant language in this country with pockets of Spanish in some locations... but not Virginia.
MCPS uses the term "world language", which doesn't really make sense, but then again, MCPS will twist itself into a pretzel to avoid being accused of inequity or whatever