2-3 years foreign language outcomes

[Anonymous]

Mine took the required two years and stopped. They filled one elective with a special STEM program.

I felt like if a school didn’t want them because they took two years of a language (plus studied Hebrew and German outside of school, plus STEM and winning a service award, academic achievement etc), then that school wasn’t for them.

Thankfully, they were accepted at many schools and one with full merit tuition.

We were not targeting T30, though. They are in at a T50 uni where the high achievers and valedictorians go, so it’s a good fit. We are thrilled!

[Anonymous]

What is the consensus on taking up to Spanish 4 as a sophomore and then switching to French for the remaining two years?

[Anonymous]

What if a junior takes AP Spanish and there is a 5th year available? Would taking AP stats or economics look bad as a senior instead of a 5th year of Spanish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speaking a second language is extremely important for reasons going well beyond college admissions. You are doing your child a major disservice.

Laughs in English, the international language of my industry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking a second language is extremely important for reasons going well beyond college admissions. You are doing your child a major disservice.

Missing the point.

Some kids would rather learn a language to fluency and recognize that there are more effective ways to do that than memorize a vocab list for a high school class largely conducted in English.

These kids may have other classes that they want to prioritize in high school where they will actually learn something.

So the question remains, what is the impact on college admissions?

The value of the second language is huge and can be studied at a different time and place in life.

[Anonymous]

I know a girl who took two years of FL got into Harvard this year. My DC got in a SLAC with two years of FL. Both passed the AP language test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if a junior takes AP Spanish and there is a 5th year available? Would taking AP stats or economics look bad as a senior instead of a 5th year of Spanish?

yes, anyone know the consensus about this?
If AP Span Lang is taken junior year as the third year of high school foreign language does the kid have to take AP Spanish Lit as a senior? (OR Spanish 5 (the other option at our school)?)

Basically, do you need to go beyond AP Spanish if you only have 3 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a girl who took two years of FL got into Harvard this year. My DC got in a SLAC with two years of FL. Both passed the AP language test.

Sure, and hooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a girl who took two years of FL got into Harvard this year. My DC got in a SLAC with two years of FL. Both passed the AP language test.

Sure, and hooked.

Neither had “hooks”, just to be clear. They had huge “spikes” though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well aware that 4 years is recommended/required for many schools. Dealing with schedule conflicts for arts electives that are important to DC.

Interested in hearing outcomes for kids who took French or Spanish 1-3 only, with 1-2 in middle school for high school credit, but otherwise had rigorous classes and solid stats.

Not a CS/STEM person.

Please don’t say take 4. Just want to hear recent outcomes from people who didn’t

Our high school doesn't even offer more than 3 years of language, so I wouldn't worry about this.

[Anonymous]

Ok so taking AP isn’t the same as only taking level 2 Or 3. Also if the high school doesn’t offer, kid can’t take an advanced class.

Any results for kids who only took French or Spanish 2 or 3, did not take AP or study outside school/at home, and whose school offers all the classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a girl who took two years of FL got into Harvard this year. My DC got in a SLAC with two years of FL. Both passed the AP language test.

Yes, I know those too. Usually, they have at least one immigrant parent, and the kid is being raised bi-lingual. Which is nothing negative, did that myself.

Our STEM kid took 2 additional foreign languages in HS. The value to me is, if done right, taking FL classes does not just teach you the language but also about the cultures using that language and broadens the view and understanding of said cultures.

[Anonymous]

My DS stopped after Chinese 4 due to not enjoying the teacher and did not take AP. No one asked why he stopped. He had plenty of hard classes in other subjects. We did not consider it an issue.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this. My DC with some mild learning issues (and not going to be applying to anything near a T50 college) only took through French III and is not taking a language as a junior in FCPS. I am assuming this is still ok for these "non top" schools. Any more experience to share? Seems like a lot of posters above talk about balancing out the 2-3 years of FL with an AP exam or lots of other science and math APs. That is not by DC. DC is taking a mix of honors and a couple of AP classes but not on a rigorous path (see earlier comment about mild learning issues).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this. My DC with some mild learning issues (and not going to be applying to anything near a T50 college) only took through French III and is not taking a language as a junior in FCPS. I am assuming this is still ok for these "non top" schools. Any more experience to share? Seems like a lot of posters above talk about balancing out the 2-3 years of FL with an AP exam or lots of other science and math APs. That is not by DC. DC is taking a mix of honors and a couple of AP classes but not on a rigorous path (see earlier comment about mild learning issues).

If your child is not on a rigorous path, and accordingly is not applying to highly selective schools, then level 3 is perfectly fine. No worries!