HS language choice —does it matter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose French in middle school and I wish she hadn’t because a teacher shortage in our area means she has to complete French 4 online. Apparently this is not uncommon. Spanish seems like the safest bet.

This. Our MS doesn’t have a French teacher every year. So annoying.

[Anonymous]

My kids took French because they didn't like the middle school Spanish teacher. Turned out they didn't like the high school French teacher either.

In hindsight, they should have taken Spanish because it may be useful at some point.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

The kids at DC's school who studied Ancient Greek up to a high level all got into top universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't care, but you're an idiot if you take a language that isn't Spanish.

Disagree with the comment above.

There might well be good valid cultural reasons to choose - or to avoid - certain languages, purely as one example.

Ours will take Spanish. If we were in Canada, ours would take French. We do not have a compelling reason to pick French or German...but we respect that other families are different from ours.

This is a USA-centered website. Not Canadian. I assumed I was addressing a USA audience. In the USA, tens of millions speak Spanish. In our hemisphere, hundreds of millions do. It's silly to take any other language in the USA.

I take it you do not live in DC.

Yes, I do in fact. Ward 1. Surrounded by native Spanish speakers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD needs to choose her language. Do colleges care? If could see something like Mandarin being more impressive but what about German v Spanish? What if she wants to go pre-med.


Thanks!

German?! You’re not in the DMV, are you?

German is regularly listed as one of the languages that helps earn a top salary. It is a regularly used language in the international finance world. French is also high up there. Spanish would be useful daily in the US but if you want to use it in a job, you will be competing with all the native speakers. If your student doesn't have a specific language interest consider doing a little research as to what languages are used for what. If she is interested in international relations or humanitarian work French might be the way to go as an example.

[Anonymous]

DC took French and really enjoyed the teaching, and is now a French major in college (doubled with math). He made his choice because he liked how French sounded. He has no regrets.

[Anonymous]

DS took Spanish in MS and hated it. He switched to Latin in HS and liked it so much that he's considering majoring in it.

She should take what she thinks will be most interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS took Spanish in MS and hated it. He switched to Latin in HS and liked it so much that he's considering majoring in it.

She should take what she thinks will be most interesting.

Congrats to your DS! Now he can speak with the, um . . . ancient Romans? Oh, wait! He can understand the Latin Mass! That's the ticket!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't care, but you're an idiot if you take a language that isn't Spanish.

My kids who took Russian certainly aren't idiots. Maybe you're talking about yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS took Spanish in MS and hated it. He switched to Latin in HS and liked it so much that he's considering majoring in it.

She should take what she thinks will be most interesting.

Congrats to your DS! Now he can speak with the, um . . . ancient Romans? Oh, wait! He can understand the Latin Mass! That's the ticket!

Lol this wins for most ignorant DCUM comment today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If kid is considering pre med or healthcare, then definitely take Spanish. In nyc and other major cities, Spanish is very useful in health care. My kid was interested in international relations so chose mandarin. It was a good fit for them, they enjoy the challenge and it helped their application narrative bc they plan to continue that path. Choose what makes sense for your kid and their interests/goals. Some premed kids take Latin bc it can help with vocabulary but Spanish is more practical from a patient care perspective.

Huge local demand for MDs and lawyers and dentists who speak Asian languages. My spouse speaks two of them, one language was learned in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have anything to base this on: but if rigor matters why wouldn't a harder language like: Mandarin not count? I can see if you have am Asian last-name you picked the easy way out.

What about someone that didn't grow up with Mandarin - doesn't that show rigor and some character?

I'm not saying it's a hook but if on the fence with someone that did Spanish?

Yes. If you're a natural linguist having those challenging languages like Arabic, Chinese and Russian is definitely kudos in some places. But normally these are not the only language your kid will study, these will be the 2nd language after taking a few years of French or Spanish first.

French & Arabic are an excellent combination in part because French is spoken in Algiers and other places where Arabic is the local language. There's a lot of overlap.

Russian & Chinese are excellent for government security type roles

[Anonymous]

OP your kid is, what, a rising high school freshman? I would not worry about trying to sync up a language with a future potential career that is very likely to change at this point. Go with what she finds most interesting and where the kids like the teacher; that will ensure she takes it all four years and does well in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't care, but you're an idiot if you take a language that isn't Spanish.

My kids who took Russian certainly aren't idiots. Maybe you're talking about yourself?

A lot of good that’s gonna do them since Americans can’t even travel to Russia.