How hard is Spanish 1AB really? Is the two-year class a better choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a HS junior who took Spanish 1AB in 6th. That was during the pandemic and even though he is an excellent student, it was really really tough. He had an easier time in Spanish 2 & 3 in MS, until hitting Spanish 4 as a freshman, which was tough all over again. Now he's in AP Spanish, it's hard work again. He has near-fluency in spoken Spanish thanks mostly to his friend group and some ECs that are primarily in Spanish, the AP course still takes work. He'll do AP Spanish literature next year as a senior to keep the door open to some of the most competitive schools that expect 4 years of language in HS especially from a kid who's not STEM inclined.

All told, I might have advocated for a slightly slower path if we'd thought it through.

If kids make it to the 1st AP level they're fine at even the most competitive colleges.

So even if kids take Spanish every year in middle school, they still have to take it all the way through junior year for college admissions purposes? Or can they take AP Spanish in 10th after Spanish 4 and then stop after that?

Some will say need to take all 4 years, especially for liberal arts majors.

Okay but assuming you plan to stop after AP and gamble that that's enough, is it possible (and reasonable) to take AP in 10th after Spanish 4?

Yes that will be enough. Colleges want to see sustained study of the same language for at least 3 years at the HS LEVEL with at least some of it in HS. You don’t have to take all the years in HS though(despite what some will tell you). If kids doesn’t love languages go spend the extra time on something of real interest.

It is possible to get to AP Spanish in 10th depending on what your MS offers, but I wouldn’t rush it. See how your kid is doing with the language and pace accordingly.

[Anonymous]

If your DC took 1A in 6th and now wants to slow it down so they start 2A/B in 9th, what are the options? Skip 1B in 7th and take 1AB in 8th and then start 2AB in 9th? Or is it better to do 1B in 7th and then take 1AB in 8th?