TJ Spanish-why considered hard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Understand the implications of stopping after three credits of Spanish or any language and not pursuing a fourth. Research online and read articles about how important a fourth year of language study is or isn’t, when it comes to college admissions

https://www.google.com/search?q=four+years+of+same+foreign+language+college+admissions

This is why I suggest you consider switching to German or something. A lot of colleges want 4 years of language and 4 years of Spanish is a tough journey at TJ.

4 years of German is tough too but they aren't comparing you to the news anchors on Univision..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has absolutely nothing to do with fluency. It has everything to do with understanding very obscure Spanish grammar rules that even native speakers don't understand.

My kid failed this test twice:
https://www.lawlessspanish.com/grammar/verbs/preterito-vs-imperfecto/

He git super easy As in Spanish at base school.

My kid got a 4/6 in this. Is this the level in Spanish 3 at Tj?

[Anonymous]

The goal is to actually learn a language, fluently. Many language classes at TJ share that goal. My DC took French through AP and she still practices daily and speaks it well. I have heard the same about TJ Spanish. The students graduate knowing a second (or third, fourth…) language. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn a language because it’s “hard.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The goal is to actually learn a language, fluently. Many language classes at TJ share that goal. My DC took French through AP and she still practices daily and speaks it well. I have heard the same about TJ Spanish. The students graduate knowing a second (or third, fourth…) language. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn a language because it’s “hard.”

It's not many languages that do this. It's mostly just Spanish. If you want that then fine but it absolutely ambushes a ton of students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has absolutely nothing to do with fluency. It has everything to do with understanding very obscure Spanish grammar rules that even native speakers don't understand.

My kid failed this test twice:
https://www.lawlessspanish.com/grammar/verbs/preterito-vs-imperfecto/

He git super easy As in Spanish at base school.

Not a native speaker, but how are verb tenses for preterite and imperfect very obscure grammar rules? Thats quite basic, went through it in duo lingo about three months from starting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has absolutely nothing to do with fluency. It has everything to do with understanding very obscure Spanish grammar rules that even native speakers don't understand.

My kid failed this test twice:
https://www.lawlessspanish.com/grammar/verbs/preterito-vs-imperfecto/

He git super easy As in Spanish at base school.

My kid got a 4/6 in this. Is this the level in Spanish 3 at Tj?

No I was referencing the topic and not the rigor on that page

[Anonymous]

What no one is answering is WHY is TJ hellbent on making Spanish so difficult? Don't they have to follow the curriculum the county decides? Who heads up the Spanish department there? Is this some sort of power trip? It doesn't make sense for a STEM focused school to do this. Has anyone talked to the head of the department or the principal to get a better understanding for why it is this way for this particular language? I took five years of Spanish when I went through middle and high school in FCPS and was also president of the Spanish Honor Society my senior year . and while AP Spanish was rigorous the lower level classes were not and they fully prepared me for the AP levels and what's more let me enjoy the language and want to pursue the higher levels. I really don't know what's up with TJ here. Is it a power trip? Sounds like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What no one is answering is WHY is TJ hellbent on making Spanish so difficult? Don't they have to follow the curriculum the county decides? Who heads up the Spanish department there? Is this some sort of power trip? It doesn't make sense for a STEM focused school to do this. Has anyone talked to the head of the department or the principal to get a better understanding for why it is this way for this particular language? I took five years of Spanish when I went through middle and high school in FCPS and was also president of the Spanish Honor Society my senior year . and while AP Spanish was rigorous the lower level classes were not and they fully prepared me for the AP levels and what's more let me enjoy the language and want to pursue the higher levels. I really don't know what's up with TJ here. Is it a power trip? Sounds like it.

Most TJ families don’t have the goal of watering down classes there to meet the “standard” FCPS level. No - they don’t need to match whatever else is done in other FCPS schools for Spanish. Just choose wisely which courses you want to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What no one is answering is WHY is TJ hellbent on making Spanish so difficult? Don't they have to follow the curriculum the county decides? Who heads up the Spanish department there? Is this some sort of power trip? It doesn't make sense for a STEM focused school to do this. Has anyone talked to the head of the department or the principal to get a better understanding for why it is this way for this particular language? I took five years of Spanish when I went through middle and high school in FCPS and was also president of the Spanish Honor Society my senior year . and while AP Spanish was rigorous the lower level classes were not and they fully prepared me for the AP levels and what's more let me enjoy the language and want to pursue the higher levels. I really don't know what's up with TJ here. Is it a power trip? Sounds like it.

I ranted about teachers with power trips at TJ the other day. Essentially, yes. It's a power trip and they use an excuse that "these kids can take it." My child has encountered this in several classes and teachers at TJ. There is what feels like an extra punative environment- if you're sick, you get 0s or can't make up the work. If there is an IT issue the teacher says tough you couldn't complete the assignment so I'm docking you points. Even PE there is at least one teacher that is extremely harsh on the kids that goes beyond academics. I'm pretty sure she keeps the VP at TJ full of students getting referred from her class.

[Anonymous]

The Spanish teacher at TJ knows that other modern foreign languages are objectively more complex and decided to be arbitrarily more difficult with grading in Spanish.

The real question is why the principal tolerates such different grading standards for different foreign languages.

[Anonymous]

In TJ, Spanish 2 is taught with an immersion approach. So if the kids are not very fluent in speaking it will be difficult for them to understand what the teacher instructs.

[Anonymous]

Do you want to learn or do you just want an A?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to learn or do you just want an A?

Both are not mutually exclusive unless perverse teaching staff make it so.