MCPS French placement test

[Anonymous]

Call the school and ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok the child ended up not taking French at school and is now attending Les Classes du Samedi (level 5). Is it to possible do to a placement test for HS? Should that be done before registration or it can be done during the Summer? What MCPS French level corresponds to Saturday school level five?

Bonsoir OP. I'm the expat from upthread. I'm not sure what you mean by level 5? Do you mean 5eme, ie, 7th grade equivalent? If that is the case, then I think they could be Level 4 in MCPS French. My 9th grader is in 3eme at the Classes du Samedi this year. You can ask for an MCPS placement test at any time during the school year, because with budget cuts, I'm not sure they can do one in the summer. Unfortunately MCPS foreign language teachers have varied abilities. Last year in 8th grade, my daughter had an absolutely wonderful Spanish teacher from Barcelona. This year, eh. I've heard French instruction in MCPS is even spottier. Maybe do another language in MCPS, continue with Classes du Samedi and when the time comes, take the AP French exam at the local MCPS high school.

[Anonymous]

Hi there!

By level five I meant "Préparatoire V".

DC actually started French 2 at MS but the teacher was using a lot of English (not saying it's the teacher's fault - I assume it's just the level) and the level was too low for them. Préparatoire V teacher speaks French only and DC loves it!

Would it be possible to ask HS (in a few months) for a French placement test; register for whatever level (French 4? 5? - if Préparatoire V is French 4) they recommend, wait for the new school year, see what the class is like, and either drop it (and continue Saturday classes) or keep it, if it's good?

Also, what level is AP French? Students told DC that Préparatoire V prepares students for B1, and then the next level is for B2, and that AP comes after that. Is it really only one year of learning between B1 and B2?

Thank you very much for replying so quickly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there!

By level five I meant "Préparatoire V".

DC actually started French 2 at MS but the teacher was using a lot of English (not saying it's the teacher's fault - I assume it's just the level) and the level was too low for them. Préparatoire V teacher speaks French only and DC loves it!

Would it be possible to ask HS (in a few months) for a French placement test; register for whatever level (French 4? 5? - if Préparatoire V is French 4) they recommend, wait for the new school year, see what the class is like, and either drop it (and continue Saturday classes) or keep it, if it's good?

Also, what level is AP French? Students told DC that Préparatoire V prepares students for B1, and then the next level is for B2, and that AP comes after that. Is it really only one year of learning between B1 and B2?

Thank you very much for replying so quickly!

PP you replied to. So your child is in an intermediary-level class, not the native language level class. I am not sure to which MCPS level that translates to. Your plan is good, though! My oldest, now in college, who took the native level classes at Classes du Samedi, took the AP French and Delf B2 in the same year (10th grade), and they were both ridiculously easy. If Classes du Samedi is preparing your kid for Delf B1 this year, then no doubt they know what they're doing.

I'm glad your kid is happy with his French class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there!

By level five I meant "Préparatoire V".

DC actually started French 2 at MS but the teacher was using a lot of English (not saying it's the teacher's fault - I assume it's just the level) and the level was too low for them. Préparatoire V teacher speaks French only and DC loves it!

Would it be possible to ask HS (in a few months) for a French placement test; register for whatever level (French 4? 5? - if Préparatoire V is French 4) they recommend, wait for the new school year, see what the class is like, and either drop it (and continue Saturday classes) or keep it, if it's good?

Also, what level is AP French? Students told DC that Préparatoire V prepares students for B1, and then the next level is for B2, and that AP comes after that. Is it really only one year of learning between B1 and B2?

Thank you very much for replying so quickly!

PP you replied to. So your child is in an intermediary-level class, not the native language level class. I am not sure to which MCPS level that translates to. Your plan is good, though! My oldest, now in college, who took the native level classes at Classes du Samedi, took the AP French and Delf B2 in the same year (10th grade), and they were both ridiculously easy. If Classes du Samedi is preparing your kid for Delf B1 this year, then no doubt they know what they're doing.

I'm glad your kid is happy with his French class.

Right, our kids lived abroad, and they actually are fully bilingual, but not in (English and) French but in (English and) another language (my native language). French was a foreign language they studied abroad at a local school in that other language... if that makes sense.

Sorry if I led you to believe they were true French bilinguals. But they do love French!

People say "ask school" but it's so hard to get this information, though I am sure DC will have better access to it now that they go to the Saturday school. My husband drove DC there today and told me it was very crowded and every single person spoke French. He was amazed. Thank you very much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No foreign language in elementary unless you're in an immersion program.

Some middle schools offer 1, 2, and 3 and languages are open to 6th graders (my kid did this and was in Spanish 4 as a Freshman). Others only offer 1 and 2.

If your child places into a level that is too advanced for your middle school, I would think they might offer an option at the local high school, like they do for some kids for Math sometimes (they bus them over at the beginning or end of the day usually). Or your kid could just take the highest level offered and have a very easy class. This would still be good for their GPA, so consider it, even if it's boring.

To build on this, many middle schools do NOT offer level three of a language and 8th grade students take the class at the feeder high school (1st period) and then there is a bus that brings them back to their middle school for the rest of the day. (This also happens with advanced math.)

If you think your child is ready for level 4 of a language (or level 3), I would contact the high school World Languages department head and request to be evaluated and to have a discussion about the courses. However, regardless of placement recommendation based on speaking and understanding, I wouldn't place an 8th grader higher than level 3, because this is where writing starts to become important. Have your child take level 3 to get them in sequence for writing and to be closer with their peer group. However - be aware that they will likely run out of language in HS. For strong language students, the sequence is level 3, level 4, AP French/Spanish Language (level 5) (which gets the bilingual diploma), and then AP French/Spanish Literature if there are enough students (often not at some HS.)

If your student is younger than 8th grade, you may want to consider private lessons for French and then either start them in Spanish in middle school or use the elective slot for music/fine arts.

Also, you didn't say where you are looking to live, but consider a school with an IB program, because they will have a strong level 6&7 of the languages they focus on.
These are the course descriptions for Richard Montgomery High School which has a magnet IB program: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1d-6zAd1REAxiFpUSaTlHlwspXZfWPnqX61C93lOYGtA/edit#slide=id.p

Wrong. Kids almost always have to take level 5 before AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No foreign language in elementary unless you're in an immersion program.

Some middle schools offer 1, 2, and 3 and languages are open to 6th graders (my kid did this and was in Spanish 4 as a Freshman). Others only offer 1 and 2.

If your child places into a level that is too advanced for your middle school, I would think they might offer an option at the local high school, like they do for some kids for Math sometimes (they bus them over at the beginning or end of the day usually). Or your kid could just take the highest level offered and have a very easy class. This would still be good for their GPA, so consider it, even if it's boring.

To build on this, many middle schools do NOT offer level three of a language and 8th grade students take the class at the feeder high school (1st period) and then there is a bus that brings them back to their middle school for the rest of the day. (This also happens with advanced math.)

If you think your child is ready for level 4 of a language (or level 3), I would contact the high school World Languages department head and request to be evaluated and to have a discussion about the courses. However, regardless of placement recommendation based on speaking and understanding, I wouldn't place an 8th grader higher than level 3, because this is where writing starts to become important. Have your child take level 3 to get them in sequence for writing and to be closer with their peer group. However - be aware that they will likely run out of language in HS. For strong language students, the sequence is level 3, level 4, AP French/Spanish Language (level 5) (which gets the bilingual diploma), and then AP French/Spanish Literature if there are enough students (often not at some HS.)

If your student is younger than 8th grade, you may want to consider private lessons for French and then either start them in Spanish in middle school or use the elective slot for music/fine arts.

Also, you didn't say where you are looking to live, but consider a school with an IB program, because they will have a strong level 6&7 of the languages they focus on.
These are the course descriptions for Richard Montgomery High School which has a magnet IB program: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1d-6zAd1REAxiFpUSaTlHlwspXZfWPnqX61C93lOYGtA/edit#slide=id.p

Wrong. Kids almost always have to take level 5 before AP.

Was the case when there was enough teachers, most schools combine 5 with AP these days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No foreign language in elementary unless you're in an immersion program.

Some middle schools offer 1, 2, and 3 and languages are open to 6th graders (my kid did this and was in Spanish 4 as a Freshman). Others only offer 1 and 2.

If your child places into a level that is too advanced for your middle school, I would think they might offer an option at the local high school, like they do for some kids for Math sometimes (they bus them over at the beginning or end of the day usually). Or your kid could just take the highest level offered and have a very easy class. This would still be good for their GPA, so consider it, even if it's boring.

To build on this, many middle schools do NOT offer level three of a language and 8th grade students take the class at the feeder high school (1st period) and then there is a bus that brings them back to their middle school for the rest of the day. (This also happens with advanced math.)

If you think your child is ready for level 4 of a language (or level 3), I would contact the high school World Languages department head and request to be evaluated and to have a discussion about the courses. However, regardless of placement recommendation based on speaking and understanding, I wouldn't place an 8th grader higher than level 3, because this is where writing starts to become important. Have your child take level 3 to get them in sequence for writing and to be closer with their peer group. However - be aware that they will likely run out of language in HS. For strong language students, the sequence is level 3, level 4, AP French/Spanish Language (level 5) (which gets the bilingual diploma), and then AP French/Spanish Literature if there are enough students (often not at some HS.)

If your student is younger than 8th grade, you may want to consider private lessons for French and then either start them in Spanish in middle school or use the elective slot for music/fine arts.

Also, you didn't say where you are looking to live, but consider a school with an IB program, because they will have a strong level 6&7 of the languages they focus on.
These are the course descriptions for Richard Montgomery High School which has a magnet IB program: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1d-6zAd1REAxiFpUSaTlHlwspXZfWPnqX61C93lOYGtA/edit#slide=id.p

Wrong. Kids almost always have to take level 5 before AP.

Was the case when there was enough teachers, most schools combine 5 with AP these days

What does that mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there!

By level five I meant "Préparatoire V".

DC actually started French 2 at MS but the teacher was using a lot of English (not saying it's the teacher's fault - I assume it's just the level) and the level was too low for them. Préparatoire V teacher speaks French only and DC loves it!

Would it be possible to ask HS (in a few months) for a French placement test; register for whatever level (French 4? 5? - if Préparatoire V is French 4) they recommend, wait for the new school year, see what the class is like, and either drop it (and continue Saturday classes) or keep it, if it's good?

Also, what level is AP French? Students told DC that Préparatoire V prepares students for B1, and then the next level is for B2, and that AP comes after that. Is it really only one year of learning between B1 and B2?

Thank you very much for replying so quickly!

PP you replied to. So your child is in an intermediary-level class, not the native language level class. I am not sure to which MCPS level that translates to. Your plan is good, though! My oldest, now in college, who took the native level classes at Classes du Samedi, took the AP French and Delf B2 in the same year (10th grade), and they were both ridiculously easy. If Classes du Samedi is preparing your kid for Delf B1 this year, then no doubt they know what they're doing.

I'm glad your kid is happy with his French class.

Right, our kids lived abroad, and they actually are fully bilingual, but not in (English and) French but in (English and) another language (my native language). French was a foreign language they studied abroad at a local school in that other language... if that makes sense.

Sorry if I led you to believe they were true French bilinguals. But they do love French!

People say "ask school" but it's so hard to get this information, though I am sure DC will have better access to it now that they go to the Saturday school. My husband drove DC there today and told me it was very crowded and every single person spoke French. He was amazed. Thank you very much!

Why is it hard to call the school or look up the principal’s name on the school website and email them. If you’d done that, you’d probably have an answer by now, instead of running around in circles. Glad the kid likes the classes du samedi.

[Anonymous]

If your ES kids can test into immersion it is a wonderful program. I am a HS teacher (not French) and one of my students had done French immersion at Sligo. In 9th (?) grade he took the AP exam and scored a 5. His family had no French background at all.

[Anonymous]

In elementary school, my 2 kids (adopted from Haiti) also went thru French immersion, but I still put them in (English-speaking ) Saturday school at the Gilcrest Center. They are now bilingual and bi-cultural. Very happy with both programs.

[Anonymous]

Our high school initially was going from 2 French teachers to one, but the last few years we have registered so many African families who are demanding French for their kids that we are keeping both teachers.

Having said that, all non-Spanish-language teachers have been told to become certified in TESOL, as that department is the fasted-growing one. Basically, they just need to pass the ESOL Praxis.

[Anonymous]

OP this web page will answer some of your questions. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/languages/french

The placement test is a series of writing prompts that cover grammar and vocabulary from all the units in the scope and sequence. Your child's paragraphs need to include sufficient vocabulary words relevant to the prompts, and demonstrate mastery of the grammar concepts. Testing into level 3 is possible, but the student will need to dot all their i's and cross all their t's. Otherwise, schools say that the child doesn't have the foundation they need to skip to the next level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP this web page will answer some of your questions. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/languages/french

The placement test is a series of writing prompts that cover grammar and vocabulary from all the units in the scope and sequence. Your child's paragraphs need to include sufficient vocabulary words relevant to the prompts, and demonstrate mastery of the grammar concepts. Testing into level 3 is possible, but the student will need to dot all their i's and cross all their t's. Otherwise, schools say that the child doesn't have the foundation they need to skip to the next level.

Thank you. The child did the placement test, wrote answers to prompts. The prompts were in English . They were never given any feedback and were put in a class that was way below their level (majority of kids unfamiliar with material DC covered 3-4 years ago). They are at the Saturday school now and will try to reenter French in HS, or just continue French as an EC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there!

By level five I meant "Préparatoire V".

DC actually started French 2 at MS but the teacher was using a lot of English (not saying it's the teacher's fault - I assume it's just the level) and the level was too low for them. Préparatoire V teacher speaks French only and DC loves it!

Would it be possible to ask HS (in a few months) for a French placement test; register for whatever level (French 4? 5? - if Préparatoire V is French 4) they recommend, wait for the new school year, see what the class is like, and either drop it (and continue Saturday classes) or keep it, if it's good?

Also, what level is AP French? Students told DC that Préparatoire V prepares students for B1, and then the next level is for B2, and that AP comes after that. Is it really only one year of learning between B1 and B2?

Thank you very much for replying so quickly!

Does your school offer French 3? I know not all MS do, but ours does and it is entirely in French.