Language choice at TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip Spanish unless there is a specific reason to get it. TJ Spanish goes out of it's way to be difficult. Which would not be an issue, except that they seem to take pride in giving low grades, and the class isn't weighted. IME! Spanish I is fine, but but Spanish II is brutal. Lots of kid bailing into online Spanish III.

BTW-- Spanish III is the only not AP foreign language class offered online at TJ (except the full Korean sequence, because Korean is not offered at TJ). This gives kids who suffer through Spanish III a chance to bail out of TJ Spanish after Spanish II. The fact TJ gave up and started allowing kids to do this to get their 3rd year of Spanish without sitting through a TJ version of the class, and for Spanish only, should tell you everything you need to know about the TJ Spanish program.

You have been warned...

+1

[Anonymous]

Just so everyone doesn't get scared away - my DC got through TJ Spanish 2, 3 & AP with A's - so it can be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone doesn't get scared away - my DC got through TJ Spanish 2, 3 & AP with A's - so it can be done.

Yep, DD is taking Spanish 3 right now and is doing fine. Spanish is definitely more useful than the "easier" languages

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone doesn't get scared away - my DC got through TJ Spanish 2, 3 & AP with A's - so it can be done.

Sure, it can be done, but should it? It seems like part of making TJ work, at least for us, is picking our battles. Whether to test out of a math or CS class. AP physics or APUSH vs honors versions? AP Calc AB vs BC? Summer school chemistry to take the AP version? Sure there have been kids who have taken the harder path every time and gotten a 4.0. But the vast majority of TJ kids succeed, in part, by making smart choices in course selection. Goodness knows we have gotten enough "Dear TJ community" emails about this. So if language is not a passion for your kid, and if they are not unusually strong in it, why choose this particular battle?

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP regarding getting all As in Spanish can be done, but it is pretty widely recognized that it is much tougher than the other language classes. Also agree that your child needs to pick and choose classes wisely. Make some connections with other parents; Cluster Party if you don't know anyone, but virtually any TJ kid or parent loves to talk about TJ . And know your kid and what they can handle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone doesn't get scared away - my DC got through TJ Spanish 2, 3 & AP with A's - so it can be done.

Sure, it can be done, but should it? It seems like part of making TJ work, at least for us, is picking our battles. Whether to test out of a math or CS class. AP physics or APUSH vs honors versions? AP Calc AB vs BC? Summer school chemistry to take the AP version? Sure there have been kids who have taken the harder path every time and gotten a 4.0. But the vast majority of TJ kids succeed, in part, by making smart choices in course selection. Goodness knows we have gotten enough "Dear TJ community" emails about this. So if language is not a passion for your kid, and if they are not unusually strong in it, why choose this particular battle?

I would say, let your kid decide what they want to study. Ultimately he/she will be the one who will take the tests and quizzes, not the parents . Every kid has own strengths and weaknesses and they know it better than even parents sometimes. If you as parent think Spanish is hard, it may not be the case for your kid. I do not favor any particular language but if you are not the native speaker then any language could be hard to learn. keep in mind, every child has different potential and one kid/parent's experience doesn't fit all.

[Anonymous]

The issue with Spanish is workload - lots of homework Compared to other classes - it's just a lot, and you wouldn't know that just by picking your favorite language. That's why it can matter what other people tell you about particular classes... what is the actual workload? Because at TJ with some time intensive labs and hard math classes every year, extra time is hard for the students to come by.

[Anonymous]

I thought some people took Russian and was easy at TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought some people took Russian and was easy at TJ

There are a fair number of kids at TJ who are native Russian speakers or their parents are. So, Russian might be easy for those kids, but not necessarily for a kid with no family members who speak the language and can help at home.

[Anonymous]

German, Japanese, and Russian are known as the "easy" languages. Little to no homework and kind, understanding teachers.

[Anonymous]

I think it is best for kids to choose a language that they enjoy learning. What do the kids do if they pick an "easy" language, and the "understanding" teacher leaves and they end up with a harder teacher trying to learn a language that they don't even like?

And honestly, German, Japanese and Russian are some of the hardest languages to master, so if these classes are easy at TJ, are we sure that our kids will be able to attain fluency?

[Anonymous]

As the PP said (and I agree) the issue is less academically difficult and more workload. You kid leave at 7 and gets off the bus at 5-- when s/he is not doing marching band, playing a sport, working with an academic team, etc. and getting home at 7 or 8. And then have 4-5 hours of homework, on average. Plus a big piece of most weekends. The have no choice about the English project or CS project, or the hours of math and Bio. So it is frustrating when it's 2:00 in the morning and your kid is entering hour 6 of homework because they have so much Spanish to do. There are only so many hours a day.

So yes-- it is a tough grade, but maybe your kid is good at the language or enjoys it. But the homework load is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is best for kids to choose a language that they enjoy learning. What do the kids do if they pick an "easy" language, and the "understanding" teacher leaves and they end up with a harder teacher trying to learn a language that they don't even like?

And honestly, German, Japanese and Russian are some of the hardest languages to master, so if these classes are easy at TJ, are we sure that our kids will be able to attain fluency?

If you want you kid to be fluent, try IB. Not trying to be snarky, and some kids do go through AP. But it's hard to deal with all the other TJ requirements and become fluent unless you come in with a strong background (native speaker or immersion).

[Anonymous]

Almost all the TJ German students get medals in the National Language exams every year, every level. Many are Gold medals. I happen to know most about that language but I am sure the same occurs in other languages. The TJ language teachers are really good and the kids are smart.

[Anonymous]

My DC took Spanish I in 8th grade and did not enjoy it. Already getting a B+ in that subject, where as getting A's for core subjects. So for us all the talk about TJ Spanish being even harder makes it an easy choice to look for something else. We are looking at Russian or German, and trying to decide between the two. Sounds like Russian is the easiest, and German may not be that easy according to some of the rising senior students. Can someone provide input into choice between these two?