Foreign language

[Anonymous]

This AGAIN?

The bottom line is that you can get into a decent to good college without taking four years of a language in high school, but the very good and best colleges want to see four years, and why not? Foreign language is important. It’s a complicated world. Speaking a second language is an important thing. It’s a lot more important than a lot of the other bullshit classes that you have to take in high school. Why is everybody so afraid of foreign language?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the question is whether you need to take three years of French in high school or just get the level of French 3 which you can usually do with two years of college and one middle school.

I think we have said it may depend on the college, but several of us have posted experience with successful college applications with only two years of language in HS.

Not every college acceptance goes to someone with highest rigor in every subject. But it's good for applicants to know that completing 3-4 years in high school will look better to admissions committees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind many colleges and universities (especially LACs!) have a requirement for foreign language while you're in college. So stopping early does your student no favors.

People keep saying this but it isn’t necessarily true.

Some students would *gasp* prefer to study the language in college than in high school where the classroom experience involves a lot of disciplining and chaos management in English.

Some students do well in the language and drop it to focus on preferred electives and do just fine with college admissions and meeting the college requirements for language.

There isn’t One Path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the question is whether you need to take three years of French in high school or just get the level of French 3 which you can usually do with two years of college and one middle school.

I think we have said it may depend on the college, but several of us have posted experience with successful college applications with only two years of language in HS.

This question about language is asked every couple of months, people show up to categorically state that you need 4 years of language, parents of kids (like us) who had good college outcomes with 2 -3 years of language pipe in to say, "mm..not really", and more 4-yearsers show up to drown us out..

YOU DON'T NEED 4 YEARS OF LANGUAGE IN HIGH SCHOOL

But what about what Dean J wrote on a blog once? I follow her like a God and do everything she says. I am so in awe of her I can’t even say her entire name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This AGAIN?

The bottom line is that you can get into a decent to good college without taking four years of a language in high school, but the very good and best colleges want to see four years, and why not? Foreign language is important. It’s a complicated world. Speaking a second language is an important thing. It’s a lot more important than a lot of the other bullshit classes that you have to take in high school. Why is everybody so afraid of foreign language?

Languages are particularly susceptible to scheduling problems and teacher shortages, both of which tend to arise on short notice. Also because of the teacher problem a lot of high school language classes are, in fact, bs, and the kids know it and resent spending their time on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind many colleges and universities (especially LACs!) have a requirement for foreign language while you're in college. So stopping early does your student no favors.

People keep saying this but it isn’t necessarily true.

Some students would *gasp* prefer to study the language in college than in high school where the classroom experience involves a lot of disciplining and chaos management in English.

Some students do well in the language and drop it to focus on preferred electives and do just fine with college admissions and meeting the college requirements for language.

There isn’t One Path.

Lol bullshit. There’s not a single kid in college who didn’t take four years of language in high school who put it off because they really really wanted to take it in college. What a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This AGAIN?

The bottom line is that you can get into a decent to good college without taking four years of a language in high school, but the very good and best colleges want to see four years, and why not? Foreign language is important. It’s a complicated world. Speaking a second language is an important thing. It’s a lot more important than a lot of the other bullshit classes that you have to take in high school. Why is everybody so afraid of foreign language?

Languages are particularly susceptible to scheduling problems and teacher shortages, both of which tend to arise on short notice. Also because of the teacher problem a lot of high school language classes are, in fact, bs, and the kids know it and resent spending their time on it.

Nobody on this thread is complaining that they don’t want their kids taking languages in high school because there are teachers shortages or scheduling problems. They just don’t want to take a language course. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind many colleges and universities (especially LACs!) have a requirement for foreign language while you're in college. So stopping early does your student no favors.

People keep saying this but it isn’t necessarily true.

Some students would *gasp* prefer to study the language in college than in high school where the classroom experience involves a lot of disciplining and chaos management in English.

Some students do well in the language and drop it to focus on preferred electives and do just fine with college admissions and meeting the college requirements for language.

There isn’t One Path.

Lol bullshit. There’s not a single kid in college who didn’t take four years of language in high school who put it off because they really really wanted to take it in college. What a joke.

Mine put it off because they wanted space in their schedule for more classes that were well taught and meaningful to them and their goals. They did this knowing that they might or might not need to take it college depending on where they ended up. As it turned out, they had to take it in college and had a good experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind many colleges and universities (especially LACs!) have a requirement for foreign language while you're in college. So stopping early does your student no favors.

People keep saying this but it isn’t necessarily true.

Some students would *gasp* prefer to study the language in college than in high school where the classroom experience involves a lot of disciplining and chaos management in English.

Some students do well in the language and drop it to focus on preferred electives and do just fine with college admissions and meeting the college requirements for language.

There isn’t One Path.

Lol bullshit. There’s not a single kid in college who didn’t take four years of language in high school who put it off because they really really wanted to take it in college. What a joke.

Mine put it off because they wanted space in their schedule for more classes that were well taught and meaningful to them and their goals. They did this knowing that they might or might not need to take it college depending on where they ended up. As it turned out, they had to take it in college and had a good experience.

So you agree with me. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the question is whether you need to take three years of French in high school or just get the level of French 3 which you can usually do with two years of college and one middle school.

I think we have said it may depend on the college, but several of us have posted experience with successful college applications with only two years of language in HS.

This question about language is asked every couple of months, people show up to categorically state that you need 4 years of language, parents of kids (like us) who had good college outcomes with 2 -3 years of language pipe in to say, "mm..not really", and more 4-yearsers show up to drown us out..

YOU DON'T NEED 4 YEARS OF LANGUAGE IN HIGH SCHOOL

I hope this is true. My son has been studying Latin for 3 years in middle school and 2 years in high school, making it a total of 5 years, and he is currently taking AP Latin. He's considering skipping the language next year because the other courses are too rigorous, and I've been really worried about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This AGAIN?

The bottom line is that you can get into a decent to good college without taking four years of a language in high school, but the very good and best colleges want to see four years, and why not? Foreign language is important. It’s a complicated world. Speaking a second language is an important thing. It’s a lot more important than a lot of the other bullshit classes that you have to take in high school. Why is everybody so afraid of foreign language?

I'm not afraid of foreign language. I speak three languages, including speaking a language other than English with my immigrant parents. But my child will be stopping his foreign language after this year (10th grade, Spanish 4) because he wants to take other things and he's in orchestra and doesn't want to drop it and there are only so many periods in a day. The truth is that that after four years of middle/high school Spanish, he still can't speak it. Not even close. It's been a huge waste of time (sadly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This AGAIN?

The bottom line is that you can get into a decent to good college without taking four years of a language in high school, but the very good and best colleges want to see four years, and why not? Foreign language is important. It’s a complicated world. Speaking a second language is an important thing. It’s a lot more important than a lot of the other bullshit classes that you have to take in high school. Why is everybody so afraid of foreign language?

I'm not afraid of foreign language. I speak three languages, including speaking a language other than English with my immigrant parents. But my child will be stopping his foreign language after this year (10th grade, Spanish 4) because he wants to take other things and he's in orchestra and doesn't want to drop it and there are only so many periods in a day. The truth is that that after four years of middle/high school Spanish, he still can't speak it. Not even close. It's been a huge waste of time (sadly).

We’re not talking about your language ability or experience. We’re talking about your kid’s. Apparently his language abilities aren’t as good as yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This AGAIN?

The bottom line is that you can get into a decent to good college without taking four years of a language in high school, but the very good and best colleges want to see four years, and why not? Foreign language is important. It’s a complicated world. Speaking a second language is an important thing. It’s a lot more important than a lot of the other bullshit classes that you have to take in high school. Why is everybody so afraid of foreign language?

Languages are particularly susceptible to scheduling problems and teacher shortages, both of which tend to arise on short notice. Also because of the teacher problem a lot of high school language classes are, in fact, bs, and the kids know it and resent spending their time on it.

Nobody on this thread is complaining that they don’t want their kids taking languages in high school because there are teachers shortages or scheduling problems. They just don’t want to take a language course. End of story.

Well those are the reasons my kid is dropping language after 10th. Terrible teacher and for scheduling reasons DC can’t take APUSH if they continue the language. I can’t make my kid take non-honors US History while suffering through an incompetent language teacher all in the name of “education.”

[Anonymous]

OK, not the OP but I have an actual question related to the topic, as opposed to a criticism for another poster:

My DC is a sophomore and takes Spanish. They have the option to skip a year of Spanish and take Spanish AP next year, which would leave them without an option for a language as a senior. Is it better to do this or to not skip Spanish and save Spanish AP for senior year.

DC is a good student and likes Spanish (but isn't amazing at it). I assume if the school says they can skip a year then they will be able to handle AP next year (and it will leave space for another AP senior year)...on the flip side, maybe actually taking all Spanish all four years will be better for both language learning and college admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, not the OP but I have an actual question related to the topic, as opposed to a criticism for another poster:

My DC is a sophomore and takes Spanish. They have the option to skip a year of Spanish and take Spanish AP next year, which would leave them without an option for a language as a senior. Is it better to do this or to not skip Spanish and save Spanish AP for senior year.

DC is a good student and likes Spanish (but isn't amazing at it). I assume if the school says they can skip a year then they will be able to handle AP next year (and it will leave space for another AP senior year)...on the flip side, maybe actually taking all Spanish all four years will be better for both language learning and college admissions?

If they're not "amazing" at it, why skip a year? Sounds like a set up to struggle in AP Spanish.