High school graduation requirements are generally 4 years of English, 3 years of science, 3 years of social studies, 3 or 4 years of math, and 2 years of Foreign language. That's 15-16 course years out of 20 (4 years of 5 courses).

When Dean says not to "wave off" core, they mean don't do the minimum (and fo poorly)in ALL but one of them. Not you must do all 5 them all 4 years, especially if you've already reached an extra high level!

It is hard to tease out the meaning though, because theUVA dean is a babbler to doesn't write clearly. (No time to proofread when those eyebrows need another wax.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at my DC’s HS’s course registration cards, only 5 is an option for 10th graders and not AP. At 11th grade, both 5 and AP appear as an option. So maybe they don’t recommend skipping 5 unless you’re at least a junior?

Colleges that are sticklers for World Language (UVA among them) like to see 4 years in HS, but are ok with concluding at the AP level, so add that to your contemplation, too.

Not 4 years in high school - don't make that up. No one has to take 7 years of Spanish to get into UVA

The Dean of Admissions says UVA prefers core classes (which includes World Language) over 4 years and not to over-specialize in high school. You can check her blog. http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/

"Core classes" is not "each of the core classes separately".

She says there is NO language proficiency requirement for admission, and even implies that not taking any world language at all in high school is acceptable but bad for proficiency.

If they are rejecting proficient speakers in favor of non-proficient speakers who took an extra year of the course, but didn't learn, why would you want to go to a school that prefers worse students than you are?

High achieving parents of high achieving students sometimes get misled by their biases and social circle. UVA Dean is talking to the middling students who might be trying to squeak in while not putting effort into school, not Tiger parented kids who took Spanish 1-4 and then AP in 11the grade and worried about 12 vs 14 APs or trying to "spike" by betting it all on taking Calculus 3 in 10th grade and nothing else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at my DC’s HS’s course registration cards, only 5 is an option for 10th graders and not AP. At 11th grade, both 5 and AP appear as an option. So maybe they don’t recommend skipping 5 unless you’re at least a junior?

Colleges that are sticklers for World Language (UVA among them) like to see 4 years in HS, but are ok with concluding at the AP level, so add that to your contemplation, too.

Not 4 years in high school - don't make that up. No one has to take 7 years of Spanish to get into UVA

The Dean of Admissions says UVA prefers core classes (which includes World Language) over 4 years and not to over-specialize in high school. You can check her blog. http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at my DC’s HS’s course registration cards, only 5 is an option for 10th graders and not AP. At 11th grade, both 5 and AP appear as an option. So maybe they don’t recommend skipping 5 unless you’re at least a junior?

Colleges that are sticklers for World Language (UVA among them) like to see 4 years in HS, but are ok with concluding at the AP level, so add that to your contemplation, too.

Not 4 years in high school - don't make that up. No one has to take 7 years of Spanish to get into UVA

Anonymous wrote:My kid will take Honors Spanish 4 in 10th. Is the normal path to take Spanish 5 or AP in 11th? Seems like a lot of years to get to AP. Anyone know what most kids do? Take Spanish 5 or skip?

IM SKIPPING WHO HOOOOOO

Some colleges are looking for 4 years of WL in HS so its generally best to take Spanish 5 and then AP.

Middle schools (or parents) that push their kids to accelerate language in middle school are not doing the kids any favors. A reasonable and best practice path would be Spanish 1A, Spanish 1B, Spanish 2, Spanish 3, Spanish 4, Spanish 5, and then AP.

My kid is taking Spanish 5 as a Sophomore this year and plans to take AP as a Junior. So far, Spanish was his only B in high school (one semester).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With instantaneous translations software in the palms of children hands, world languages is one of the best examples of how universities and colleges have their heads in the sand regarding what this generation needs to be successful.

Obviously you don't regularly use translation software in a meaningful way.

Not really. Colleges are just looking for 3 years of a WL taken in HS. Only MCPS takes it to the extreme and offer WL classes as early as 6th grade. I respect the middle school principals that tell parents “don’t rush this because your kid has to do 3 years in HS anyway”.

Calling 6th grade foreign language "extreme" is the most monolingual American thing ever.

Heritage students in heritage school programs study a second language from kindergarten. Public schools have ES immersion program.

"Colleges are just looking for 3 years of a WL taken in HS." is just not true.

Selective colleges aren't particularly impressed by topping out at Spanish 3, and non selective colleges don't care at all.

Starting earlier has the benefit of starting when their brain is younger and more open to language learning.

Students who struggle in foreign language have the benefit of repeating a MS class in HS or taking the non intensive slower MS versions that take 3 years to do Spanish 1 and 2.

LCPS recommends Spanish V (or Spanish for Fluent Speakers IV) before AP, but they also say AP is an 11th grade class. Ultimately it's up the student's confidence level.

https://sites.google.com/lcps.org/program-of-studies-2024-2025/hs-world-language-courses

Mine did AP Spanish her sophomore year after Spanish 4. I thought that was the normal track, but then learned afterwards most non-heritage speakers take Spanish 5 and then AP Spanish. I think she got a 5 on the AP so it worked okay for her.

For the person asking about IB -- mine ended up taking IB Spanish HL, which is the two year literature track. I think some of the IB kids too the AP after the first year of the IB HL program -- but most of the IB kids who were not native/heritage Spanish speakers took Spanish SL -- she said there aren't a lot of non-native speakers in the HL program. I think the HL program is actually kind of a drag -- they read a lot of "classical" Spanish literature which is pretty dense.

Anonymous wrote:At our school AP Spanish Language is taken after Spanish 3 Honors, so during the 4th year.

Those who don't want to take AP Spanish can take Spanish 4 instead.

Wow, what school is this? No way would one at my kids’ hs be ready for AP spanish after level 3 unless they were a native speaker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With instantaneous translations software in the palms of children hands, world languages is one of the best examples of how universities and colleges have their heads in the sand regarding what this generation needs to be successful.

Obviously you don't regularly use translation software in a meaningful way.

Not really. Colleges are just looking for 3 years of a WL taken in HS. Only MCPS takes it to the extreme and offer WL classes as early as 6th grade. I respect the middle school principals that tell parents “don’t rush this because your kid has to do 3 years in HS anyway”.

Not the case for us.

At our MS (an IB school) language is required unless you need a reading or other intervention to class. They also only offer the full A/B sequence each year, rather than letting you breakup 1AB over two years like some schools do. I tried to see if my kid could take a second non-language elective and was told no, even though she already speaks a second (heritage) language. Our MS said 3 full years would serve her well in high school, which means she will have to go through AP/IB in HS to get her three years in.