New poster here. I’m likely putting my kid in public school in 7th grade. He’s taken spanish in private school since kindergarten. Not immersion, but he’s pretty good at speaking the language. Not good at all at writing it. Would he get a choice of placement in 7th grade? I don’t want him starting in a beginner course. But I don’t want to set him up for failure either.

From the North Bethesda Course Bulletin:

Required Subjects
Digital Literacy (unless recommended for world language or a reading course)
English or ESOL
Social Studies
Mathematics
Science
Physical Education and Health

Anonymous wrote:It depends on your child and what your school's offerings are. Some schools offer full-year Spanish 1A in 6th, full-year Spanish 1B in 7th, then Spanish 2A/B in 8th. Others allow you to take full-year beginning in 6th grade. The caution I have is to look at when you would get to Level 3 of a language. If it is taken in middle school, it has to be Honors and that's when writing comes into play. It is no joke of a course, and some students are just not ready for it in 8th grade. You also have to find out if your middle school offers Level 3, or if your student would be bused to the high school for the course.

Personally, my kids started language in 7th grade with full year Spanish 1A/B and spent 6th grade with a different elective.

Totally agree. Spanish 3 is a big leap. We chose Spanish 1a for 6th

"Except that you must take either Digital Literacy or Foreign Language in 6th Grade. There is no other elective for that particular slot. Take French instead?"

My DC has a friend with an older sibling (whose parents knew better), who took an extra art class (not foreign language or Digital Literacy). Neither are a requirement.

Across the county, I hear more problems with poor quality Spanish instruction than I hear about other languages. We are at a DCC school, where there is no full year 1A option. DD and all her friends started French or Spanish 1 AB in sixth grade. They are in level 3 honors now in 8th grade. It’s been fine. DD would have been bored in a full year A class.

Anonymous wrote:Digital Literacy is a joke at NB

Spanish has issues- there is a really bad Spanish teacher that everyone has for Spanish 2, and some have for Spanish 3 and also 1. Parents have been trying to get rid of her for over a decade (seriously). This year there was some minor progress (another teacher teaching Honors Spanish 3 for some sections - I hope my child has that teacher next year).

I heard the Adminstration actually met with the Administration at WJ and heard first hand how unprepared kids from NB were in Spanish 3 and 4 at WJ. These same kids got straight As at NB, and massive problems at WJ, as in dropping down and repeating levels, or quitting Spanish altogether, and some who just switched to Latin, French or Italian.

I have 1 still there in 7th and 1 at WJ, and if I had to do it again, both kids would take other electives. Not Digital Literacy, and not Spanish in sixth grade.

Except that you must take either Digital Literacy or Foreign Language in 6th Grade. There is no other elective for that particular slot. Take French instead?

It hardly matters. Your kid will do the language requirement in high school and then never speak a word of it again.

Digital Literacy is a joke at NB

Spanish has issues- there is a really bad Spanish teacher that everyone has for Spanish 2, and some have for Spanish 3 and also 1. Parents have been trying to get rid of her for over a decade (seriously). This year there was some minor progress (another teacher teaching Honors Spanish 3 for some sections - I hope my child has that teacher next year).

I heard the Adminstration actually met with the Administration at WJ and heard first hand how unprepared kids from NB were in Spanish 3 and 4 at WJ. These same kids got straight As at NB, and massive problems at WJ, as in dropping down and repeating levels, or quitting Spanish altogether, and some who just switched to Latin, French or Italian.

I have 1 still there in 7th and 1 at WJ, and if I had to do it again, both kids would take other electives. Not Digital Literacy, and not Spanish in sixth grade.

We are not a Spanish speaking family (Asians), so we were worried when we started our kid in Spanish 1a/1b in 6th grade in a high FARMS, upcounty MS. Thankfully, the cohort was excellent because only strong students were recommended for this accelerated course. Through MS and now in HS, being in the more "challenging" class in language have meant a more dedicated, like ability cohort and really experienced teachers.

How well a kid does in foreign language is also dependent on how good the teacher is. To consistently get good teachers, go with the more rigorous course. Getting good teachers in 1a/1b and 2a/2b with make Spanish 3 Honors a cinch! MCPS has a dearth of good FL, Math and Science teachers.

Digital literacy at NB is a joke if your kid is smart. Mine was bored to tears, and finally came alive taking a language. Math and foreign language are the only challenges in MS, so if he is good with words and memorizing, I would consider starting a language in 6th.

We are at North Bethesda. Our home school, Ashburton, recommended very few for Foreign Language in 6th Grade. (IMO I think the AES teachers have good intentions, but worry more about stressing out the kids than they should.) The bulk of students start language in 7th grade, if they start in MS at all.

My 6th Grade kid is in Spanish 1A/1B. It is a challenging class in that the kids are required to do things like memorize vocabulary and take frequent quizzes, which are new learning skills. When combined with the other 6 MS classes that also have more frequent quizzes than ES, this can turn out to be a lot - 2 or 3 quizzes on the same day, especially at the mid point and end of the quarter. I am not implying that this is unreasonable, but it is a big jump in responsibility compared to AES 5th Grade. My 6th grader has required assistance in figuring out how to manage time through the week when this has occurred, not to mention needing assistance learning how to study at all, because it was never necessary in ES, plus how to study specifically for language class - like 50 vocabulary words for different foods, or school supplies, what does it mean to conjugate a verb, etc. Students have struggles in Spanish significantly in NBMS, to the point where they have added special Spanish help sessions to the regular homework help lineup.

I think next year the 6th Graders will only have the option of doing 1A. This would move pretty slowly compared to our experience in 1A/1B this year. Depending on your kid, that could be a good or bad thing. My child had the 1A content first semester, and has not learned all that much in 1A - just barely the conjugation of a few verbs. I can't imagine that content spread out over the whole year. My child would find that extremely slow moving and tedious. Seventh graders will continue to have the option of doing 1A over the full year, or !A/1B over the year. (This is new, NBMS did not previously offer the 1A full year option at all)

This plan means that the current 6th Graders are the last students who will have the option of doing Honors Spanish 3 at NB. The teacher told the class that Honors Spanish 3 is "Hard." That is all I know about it.

It depends on your child and what your school's offerings are. Some schools offer full-year Spanish 1A in 6th, full-year Spanish 1B in 7th, then Spanish 2A/B in 8th. Others allow you to take full-year beginning in 6th grade. The caution I have is to look at when you would get to Level 3 of a language. If it is taken in middle school, it has to be Honors and that's when writing comes into play. It is no joke of a course, and some students are just not ready for it in 8th grade. You also have to find out if your middle school offers Level 3, or if your student would be bused to the high school for the course.

Personally, my kids started language in 7th grade with full year Spanish 1A/B and spent 6th grade with a different elective.

6th grade. Do both Spanish 1a/1b. Not hard at all. Very doable.

Definitely 7th! The upper levels get really challenging and it doesn’t hurt to delay.

I have a rising 6th grader and am trying to make some decisions for middle school (ours is North Bethesda.) I am trying to decide if he should start a language (probably Spanish) in 6th grade it wait until 7th. He was not recommended to start a language yet but very few kids in our school were it seems. He’s sharp but has poor organizational skills. I’d love him to start but worry about overwhelming him and have not heard great things about the “Digital Literacy” alternative course.

Would love to hear perspectives from other parents who went through this decision process. Thanks!