Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 18:49     Subject: Re:2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We will move to the area this summer. Do middle school kids usually take a foreign language for high school credit? Which level is common when starting high school? Thanks!


For our MCPS W school feeder, kids used to take 1-3 in middle and start high school at 4. Now they’ve switched to level 1 over two years so it’s 1A-1b-2 and so they start high school now at level 3, which I think is a much better approach. Not all kids start language in 6th grade, but it’s typical.


A lot don't. My first started in 7th, my 2nd waited until 9th because she wanted to take a language only offered in HS. Yes, a lot start in 6th too, but I would go so far as to call it typical. Mine took lots of music, stem and art electives in MS. Both went to HS magnets. First is at T15. 2nd still in HS.
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 18:07     Subject: Re:2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We will move to the area this summer. Do middle school kids usually take a foreign language for high school credit? Which level is common when starting high school? Thanks!


For our MCPS W school feeder, kids used to take 1-3 in middle and start high school at 4. Now they’ve switched to level 1 over two years so it’s 1A-1b-2 and so they start high school now at level 3, which I think is a much better approach. Not all kids start language in 6th grade, but it’s typical.


The 1A-1B-2 sequence is on the high school transcript and they get credit for graduation. Does it count towards the 2-4 years most colleges list as admission requirements?


You’d need to check to verify for any school with a requirement. More typically, colleges just have it as a recommendation rather than a requirement (especially if it’s more than two years). And the more selective ones likely want to see language in high school, preferably all four years unless you hit AP earlier.


Any idea about UMD?
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 17:32     Subject: Re:2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We will move to the area this summer. Do middle school kids usually take a foreign language for high school credit? Which level is common when starting high school? Thanks!


For our MCPS W school feeder, kids used to take 1-3 in middle and start high school at 4. Now they’ve switched to level 1 over two years so it’s 1A-1b-2 and so they start high school now at level 3, which I think is a much better approach. Not all kids start language in 6th grade, but it’s typical.


The 1A-1B-2 sequence is on the high school transcript and they get credit for graduation. Does it count towards the 2-4 years most colleges list as admission requirements?


You’d need to check to verify for any school with a requirement. More typically, colleges just have it as a recommendation rather than a requirement (especially if it’s more than two years). And the more selective ones likely want to see language in high school, preferably all four years unless you hit AP earlier.
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 17:25     Subject: Re:2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We will move to the area this summer. Do middle school kids usually take a foreign language for high school credit? Which level is common when starting high school? Thanks!


For our MCPS W school feeder, kids used to take 1-3 in middle and start high school at 4. Now they’ve switched to level 1 over two years so it’s 1A-1b-2 and so they start high school now at level 3, which I think is a much better approach. Not all kids start language in 6th grade, but it’s typical.


The 1A-1B-2 sequence is on the high school transcript and they get credit for graduation. Does it count towards the 2-4 years most colleges list as admission requirements?
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 17:23     Subject: Re:2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:We will move to the area this summer. Do middle school kids usually take a foreign language for high school credit? Which level is common when starting high school? Thanks!


For our MCPS W school feeder, kids used to take 1-3 in middle and start high school at 4. Now they’ve switched to level 1 over two years so it’s 1A-1b-2 and so they start high school now at level 3, which I think is a much better approach. Not all kids start language in 6th grade, but it’s typical.
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 16:50     Subject: Re:2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:We will move to the area this summer. Do middle school kids usually take a foreign language for high school credit? Which level is common when starting high school? Thanks!

Yes to middle school foreign language. My own kids all started HS at level 1. Many skip to level 2 freshman year. An occasional level 3 from what I’ve heard.
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 15:52     Subject: Re:2-3 years foreign language outcomes
We will move to the area this summer. Do middle school kids usually take a foreign language for high school credit? Which level is common when starting high school? Thanks!
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 10:12     Subject: 2-3 years foreign language outcomes
3 years of Spanish. Going to UMD. Was WL at UChicago and UVA but was ultimately rejected at both.
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2023 09:14     Subject: 2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thanks for asking, OP. Hope others will respond to your question. I have a kid who is taking a less common lang, and, even though 4 years are listed in offerings, there won't be a 4th year offered for her class. Hoping that won't be a dealbreaker for top schools.



Has she tried seeking the 4th year on virtual Virginia? If they don’t offer it, my DS was able to drive to another school in district to take the AP class for that lang.


No, we aren't in VA, and other local schools don't have it, and cc schedule doesn't work. Also, she is in a magnet program, so can't travel during school day and miss key classes.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2023 23:50     Subject: 2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:Thanks for asking, OP. Hope others will respond to your question. I have a kid who is taking a less common lang, and, even though 4 years are listed in offerings, there won't be a 4th year offered for her class. Hoping that won't be a dealbreaker for top schools.



Has she tried seeking the 4th year on virtual Virginia? If they don’t offer it, my DS was able to drive to another school in district to take the AP class for that lang.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2023 22:53     Subject: 2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Thanks for asking, OP. Hope others will respond to your question. I have a kid who is taking a less common lang, and, even though 4 years are listed in offerings, there won't be a 4th year offered for her class. Hoping that won't be a dealbreaker for top schools.

Anonymous
Post 05/02/2023 19:40     Subject: 2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:My DD stopped Spanish after 10th grade and did get into UVA but she had some other hooks. She did have to take a semester of advanced intermediate spanish when she got to UVA which was a tough class given she hadn't take the language in two years, but she survived. If your kid doesn't want to ever do a language again, that will restrict where they can apply.



I was just about to ask “hooked” then saw early comment. Congrats!
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2023 18:55     Subject: 2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Anonymous wrote:You may also want to read some online dyslexia groups. Lots about language requirements and not taking HS language.
Are there SLACS that will admit dyslexic kids without any high school FL?
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2023 16:53     Subject: 2-3 years foreign language outcomes
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.


Whatever your kid learns in 3-4 yrs of high school language classes will quickly be forgotten if they don’t use it frequently


+1. Most people don't retain that much.

And to be honest, there's never been a easier time to be an English speaking monolingual.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2023 14:49     Subject: Re:2-3 years foreign language outcomes
Mine only took 3 years of high school Spanish and got into Davidson early decision. However, he's had to take 3 semesters of foreign language at Davidson to meet their core requirement.