Language choice at TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS website says the online courses can start in Sept, January, or Summer

If you at TJ and using Spanish III online, it’s a full year Class. And it must be taken during during an academic period 1-7 if use for graduation. Once you start a language path, you have to stay on it. They should have made you start Sp III in the fall. So what did your kid do first semester? If you are saying the grades stink and you want to switch to online for second semester, good luck with that. Guidance is not letting anyone switch for any reason. It’s worth a shot, but...

Also, my kid is taking Spanish III online this summer to free up room (and avoid the having to do the TJ version). My understanding is not self paced, like EPF. Mandatory time online with the teacher every day. Which makes sense for a class that focuses so heavily on conversation in the language.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this information. Yes my kid is in Span 3 now. Grades are ok but workload is hard to manage. DD will just have to stick with it. I was just exploring other options if she decided she wants to drop the course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS website says the online courses can start in Sept, January, or Summer

If you at TJ and using Spanish III online, it’s a full year Class. And it must be taken during during an academic period 1-7 if use for graduation. Once you start a language path, you have to stay on it. They should have made you start Sp III in the fall. So what did your kid do first semester? If you are saying the grades stink and you want to switch to online for second semester, good luck with that. Guidance is not letting anyone switch for any reason. It’s worth a shot, but...

Also, my kid is taking Spanish III online this summer to free up room (and avoid the having to do the TJ version). My understanding is not self paced, like EPF. Mandatory time online with the teacher every day. Which makes sense for a class that focuses so heavily on conversation in the language.

Isn't there also a requirement that online courses should be done off-campus as part of the first period? Not sure how people manage that logistically and still make it in time for class 2.

[Anonymous]

Are you a freshman parent OP? Asking very seriously and not sarcastically. Struggling with the homework load is not an excuse that goes very far at TJ. Lots of classes overload homework. I have a kid in the Spanish Department. The teacher your kid probably has is the Department head, right? She may have the reputation of be the toughest language teacher. And her homework load is high. But there quite a few teachers that have her beat.

This is TJ. The homework load is too high. In fact, homework load and uneven expections (aka some world History Teachers assign significantly higher more work than others) is item one on the schoool improvement plan. The new principal says she will fix it. That would be great. Not holding my breath. At some point, your kid will need to still be working at 2am, or just not do homework that takes a lot of time, but is worth relatively few points.

This is going to sound harsh, but is not meant to be. If your kid cannot manage the Spanish III load, they will never be able to manage a workload that includes APs. ER base school may just be a better option.