Anonymous wrote:I don’t know why people are jumping on OP for her daughter not taking French 3 last year when it’s clear her hands were tied since it conflicted with another class that she needed. Are y’all daft?

The message is: don't blame others for your own mistakes. It is a mistake to expect anyone to perform at the next language level when they have missed out on a year of learning.

There were options:
1. Study French outside of school: get private tutoring, or enroll in the French weekend school in Bethesda MD, or enroll in any other private group French classes in DC or VA.
2. Pick the French back up at level 3.

Obviously we'd all be a lot more sympathetic if OP didn't lay the blame on someone else. But she did, and that's really grating on people.

When my kid missed out on a year of language in MCPS due to a similar problem, I hired a tutor. Not for the entire year, we couldn't afford that, but for a few months. He also kept it up by himself, by committing to memory his vocab lists from the year before.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been in French 5/6 for 2 years. It has worked out ok. I think 3 levels in one class sounds like too much differentiation.

They may not have enough students at each of these three levels to form separate classes. How many students typically take French in HS versus Spanish in HS or another language??

The issue is often not enough French teachers. And probably fewer kids taking it.

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been in French 5/6 for 2 years. It has worked out ok. I think 3 levels in one class sounds like too much differentiation.

They may not have enough students at each of these three levels to form separate classes. How many students typically take French in HS versus Spanish in HS or another language??

Apparently my child's Spanish class is also a mix of Spanish 4, Spanish 5 and AP. I'm also concerned.

I don’t know why people are jumping on OP for her daughter not taking French 3 last year when it’s clear her hands were tied since it conflicted with another class that she needed. Are y’all daft?

I was all on your side when I read your title before reading your post... but not now. What do you expect when you miss an entire year's worth of language practice?!

Anonymous wrote:My DD is taking French 4 as a senior. She didn’t take French last year since the only time it was offered was during an AP Chem class she needed.
Anyway, it’s day 2 and she is miserable since most of the class is AP level of native.
She is miserable and worried that this will tank her GPA. Is it reasonable to accept that one teacher can teach to 3 levels? She needs to take the class since most colleges want 3 years of a foreign language.

You're going directly to blaming the school, but the bolded is actually why she's having problems right now. You two need to accept some responsibility here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your daughter skipped an entire year of language, then obviously she's going to struggle. Did she receive tutoring, or go to a private French school on the weekend to make up for missing out in her regular school? If she didn't, the fallout is squarely on YOU, the parent. You should know better than to let her forget critical vocab and grammar. Languages have to be practiced regularly.

PP here - I missed the title of your post and realize that that is, in fact, what the school has done. I would ask to meet with the teacher/content specialist. I don't think this is reasonable.

It may not be reasonable, but the school probably can't do much about it. They likely couldn't hire another French teacher. But you can certainly register your displeasure.

However the lack of French last year is really what's hurting your kid. If she had taken French 3 last year, she might not have any trouble this year.

My kid has been in French 5/6 for 2 years. It has worked out ok. I think 3 levels in one class sounds like too much differentiation.

My son took a Latin class at WJ that was combined level 4 and AP (there's no level 5). He had no trouble. Why? because he didn't miss a year of Latin!

Anonymous wrote:If your daughter skipped an entire year of language, then obviously she's going to struggle. Did she receive tutoring, or go to a private French school on the weekend to make up for missing out in her regular school? If she didn't, the fallout is squarely on YOU, the parent. You should know better than to let her forget critical vocab and grammar. Languages have to be practiced regularly.

PP here - I missed the title of your post and realize that that is, in fact, what the school has done. I would ask to meet with the teacher/content specialist. I don't think this is reasonable.

Either she drops to French 3 or she keeps at it, but with tutoring on the side.

Are you saying that the class is a mix of level 4, level 5, and AP, and the teacher is expected to teach all 3 levels? If so then no - that does not seem reasonable.

If your daughter skipped an entire year of language, then obviously she's going to struggle. Did she receive tutoring, or go to a private French school on the weekend to make up for missing out in her regular school? If she didn't, the fallout is squarely on YOU, the parent. You should know better than to let her forget critical vocab and grammar. Languages have to be practiced regularly.

My DD is taking French 4 as a senior. She didn’t take French last year since the only time it was offered was during an AP Chem class she needed.
Anyway, it’s day 2 and she is miserable since most of the class is AP level of native.
She is miserable and worried that this will tank her GPA. Is it reasonable to accept that one teacher can teach to 3 levels? She needs to take the class since most colleges want 3 years of a foreign language.