Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 22:06     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.





OP’s did what you suggested in scenario 2, only to find herself in a class with three levels combined in one which is highly unusual. That is not her fault and hardly a scenario that she could’ve anticipated happening.


No. The poor kid is taking level 4 as a senior, after taking level 3 as a sophomore, with nothing in between.

Why are you deliberately misreading?

Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:57     Subject: HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
My teen had this French class set up last year. It was very intimidating for a freshman after three years of middle school French, but they made it through. Please encourage your daughter to ask for/accept help - mine struggled with this at first but truly it is a difficult mix. I understand the school was trying to offer a variety of levels and am glad they tried to make things work when there weren't enough students for three separate classes.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:46     Subject: HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Wootton mixes their upper level French classes as well and it was dreadful
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:44     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.





OP’s did what you suggested in scenario 2, only to find herself in a class with three levels combined in one which is highly unusual. That is not her fault and hardly a scenario that she could’ve anticipated happening.


You are misreading. OP’s child did not pick up and repeat French 3. They picked up at French 4 after taking a year off.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:43     Subject: HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
It will be fine, they know what they're doing. My DD was in a combined Chinese language class both years and got straight A's both times.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:42     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Anonymous wrote:Op her. She took French 3 in 10th and got an A. So now she is taking French 4. I knew there would be some language loss but almost all the kids in the class have taken 4 and 5. In fact, she thinks she’s the only student at level 4. Not blaming anyone and she is a math person so didn’t feel the need to get tutors (plus we are poor). Just need to make sure she can meet some of the language reqyirements some colleges want.


Doesn’t the fact that she took French 3 mean that she already has 3 years of French?
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:41     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Anonymous wrote:Op her. She took French 3 in 10th and got an A. So now she is taking French 4. I knew there would be some language loss but almost all the kids in the class have taken 4 and 5. In fact, she thinks she’s the only student at level 4. Not blaming anyone and she is a math person so didn’t feel the need to get tutors (plus we are poor). Just need to make sure she can meet some of the language reqyirements some colleges want.


If there’s a French Honor Society at her school, they may offer free tutoring at lunch. She should ask her teacher.

My senior DD is taking French IB HL, and her classes for the past 3 years have been combined levels. It’s really common at the upper levels of foreign languages, sometimes due to a shortage of teachers, sometimes because there aren’t enough students at the highest levels to make up a full class.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:38     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Anonymous wrote:
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.





OP’s did what you suggested in scenario 2, only to find herself in a class with three levels combined in one which is highly unusual. That is not her fault and hardly a scenario that she could’ve anticipated happening.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:35     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Anonymous wrote:Op her. She took French 3 in 10th and got an A. So now she is taking French 4. I knew there would be some language loss but almost all the kids in the class have taken 4 and 5. In fact, she thinks she’s the only student at level 4. Not blaming anyone and she is a math person so didn’t feel the need to get tutors (plus we are poor). Just need to make sure she can meet some of the language reqyirements some colleges want.


You should talk to your school’s college advisor and the guidance counselor. Kids get into college without having four years of language. Hearing their perspective might help you figure out the path forward. Having had a kid who had a mental breakdown due to the pressure of HS, I think it’s important to factor mental health considerations into account. (I think my kid would have eventually had a breakdown, but excessive HS stress
Was the trigger).
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:33     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Anonymous wrote:Op her. She took French 3 in 10th and got an A. So now she is taking French 4. I knew there would be some language loss but almost all the kids in the class have taken 4 and 5. In fact, she thinks she’s the only student at level 4. Not blaming anyone and she is a math person so didn’t feel the need to get tutors (plus we are poor). Just need to make sure she can meet some of the language reqyirements some colleges want.


Come on, OP. You made a big mistake not scrounging some tutor for part of last year. You should have said that in your opening post. It's not a good look when the first thing you talk about is the things others did wrong.

This has ceased to be a win-win situation. Pick from a number of win-lose options. Either she stays in that class and stresses out and maybe gets a grade she didn't want. But you'll save your pride. Or she repeats French 3 and explains the repeat in the Additional Info section of her Common App, and has more bandwidth to focus on writing great essays and doing excellently in her other classes.


Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:27     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Op her. She took French 3 in 10th and got an A. So now she is taking French 4. I knew there would be some language loss but almost all the kids in the class have taken 4 and 5. In fact, she thinks she’s the only student at level 4. Not blaming anyone and she is a math person so didn’t feel the need to get tutors (plus we are poor). Just need to make sure she can meet some of the language reqyirements some colleges want.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:27     Subject: HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
My dd's class had Spanish 5 and, I think AP Lit (?) in one class. The AP students basically spent the time reading and working through material on their own. Unfortunately, MCPS language classes often have precious little conversation, so the class will probably mostly involve the teacher assigning work, giving time in class to do the work, and going over the work with one group at a time.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:15     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Anonymous wrote:It really doesn’t matter if it’s reasonable. It’s where you all find yourself. I think apps are right that missing the year is going to hurt. And that’s also where you find yourself.

That leaves you with at least two options. First is get a tutor ASAP. Second is drop the class. But complaining isn’t going to change your situation because you can’t redo last year and the school isn’t going to add another class.

Good luck. It’s tough to be feeling
Overwhelmed already, especially with everything that needs to be done over the next few months.


Given that she's a senior and applying to colleges, I'd say drop to level 3. You really should have seen this coming, OP.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:15     Subject: HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
Yep, shortage of French teachers. Will they start recruiting from Francophone just as they have brought exchange teachers from Philippines?
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2024 21:14     Subject: Re:HS combining French 4, 5 and AP French in one class
It really doesn’t matter if it’s reasonable. It’s where you all find yourself. I think apps are right that missing the year is going to hurt. And that’s also where you find yourself.

That leaves you with at least two options. First is get a tutor ASAP. Second is drop the class. But complaining isn’t going to change your situation because you can’t redo last year and the school isn’t going to add another class.

Good luck. It’s tough to be feeling
Overwhelmed already, especially with everything that needs to be done over the next few months.