foreign language an elective in middle school? Is this right?

[Anonymous]

We are coming from a different area and just learned that middle schools in MCPS consider foreign language an elective and cannot guarantee a place in a class. Is this correct? How is foreign language considered optional anyway, or do I misunderstand the policy?

[Anonymous]

It's an elective. Students who still need to take Reading don't take a foreign language. Additionally, foreign language is a critical need area for MCPS staffing, so the school may just not have the staff for the entire school to take it. What grade is your child in? It's more common for 6th graders to take Reading and start foreign language in 7th grade, although I'm sure this is not necessarily true in all schools.

[Anonymous]

I have to wonder where are you from that foreign language is MANDATORY?

Some of these MCPS kids have enough difficulty learning English (yes even those for whom it's their FIRST language), that I have difficulty imagining a world of forcing them into learning a foreign language.

Spare me the global economy lecture. I speak several languages myself and am not bashing the idea of learning them, but instead noting the idea of making it "required" in the MCPS environment as nutso loco.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. I'm from NJ, and at the schools my kids attended foreign language began in 5th grade.

Nutso loco? Really? Look, I can understand that the priority should be making sure kids are proficient in English, but are you seriously suggesting foreign language instruction shouldn't start until high school when most studies show the best time for kids to learn a second language in before adolescence?

[Anonymous]

It's a major source of frustration for us too, but I guess if it's not tested then it's not a priority for MoCo, which means they consider foreign language a high school class-- it's not offered at all below 6th grade (except as an afterschool activity, with very mixed results) and if your kid takes it before high school then they put the grade on a HS transcript (which further discourages some kids).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I'm from NJ, and at the schools my kids attended foreign language began in 5th grade.

Nutso loco? Really? Look, I can understand that the priority should be making sure kids are proficient in English, but are you seriously suggesting foreign language instruction shouldn't start until high school when most studies show the best time for kids to learn a second language in before adolescence?

This is pretty standard in most parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

At Deal in DC it is mandatory.


Just saying.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it should necessarily be mandatory, but I think it should be available to anyone who wants to take it (which is what I think OP is most concerned about).

[Anonymous]

studying foreign languages in middle school is not nutso loco -- just European!

[Anonymous]

I remember growing up in Colorado, a foreign language (spanish or french) was optional for middle-schoolers and only offered to 8th graders.

[Anonymous]

They only have 7 periods. If they HAVE to take a foreign language, that's one less space for band, art, chorus or whatever other electives they offer. My son did not take a foreign language in middle school because he was in band and wanted to take art as well. In high school, he's planning to take 3-4 years (he's in 10th grade now). Students in their 4th year in high school can still take it as an AP class and get the credits. I don't see why it should be mandatory for middle school. What about students that still need Reading?

[Anonymous]

Wow, I had no idea this was the case. I grew up in Mass where everyone started a foreign language in 6th grade but many towns started in 4th. My father was actually very disappointed that only French and Spanish were offered in middle school as he'd taken Latin beginning in 7th grade and found it highly useful. I just had to wait until high school. Frankly, I think it's kind of sad that they don't value foreign languages here as much. I still kick myself for not having kept it up past college.

[Anonymous]

I can see making an exception for kids who aren't yet proficient in reading. No way would I privilege a second art elective over a foreign language -- at least not by middle school.

Regarding the 7 periods a day thing, this could be solved if MoCo used block scheduling. Studies have shown this is an effective learning method as kids alternate days for classes and have longer instructional periods. This also gives kids better control over their homework planning. I've seen clock scheduling work very well in middle and high schools. Moco ought to consider it.

[Anonymous]

*block* scheduling (not clock, obviously).

[Anonymous]

Some MoCo middle schools use block scheduling--they still have 7 subjects, they just don't have all 7 in one day.