4 yrs of same or different foreign languages?

[LisaR]

DD is 14 and has taken Spanish off and on most of her life. For high school graduation, she needs 2 consecutive years of the same language. She is taking her second year of sign language this school year (which counts as a foreign language) so she is good to go.

She started dual enrollment and is half way through Spanish 1 at the community college. She is planning on taking Spanish 2 next semester.

She would like to take Chinese 1 & 2 and Italian 1 & 2 at the community college. Maybe German, as well.

She asked her adviser today if it would look better to have four years of just one language or multiple languages on her transcript/resume. The adviser said, "Hmmmmm........that's a really good question. I'm not sure."

DD would like to major in English and travel to other countries to teach the subject. Multiple languages would probably benefit her.

On the other hand, she is only 14 and will probably change her mind many times over before deciding on a major/career.

Any idea if taking multiple languages would be a disadvantage?

 

[Becky2005]

Considering what she wants to major in, the multiple languages will serve her well.

However, I know around here it has been DRILLED into my head that for colleges they like to see 4 years of the same language. The emphasis on SAME has been gone over so many times I can tell it to you in my sleep. That was just at parent orientations and welcome to high school.

I know they say *at least* 2 years but then they turned around and told us a lot of them prefer 4 years with emphasizing "the SAME language all 4 years". I've decided our foreign language curriculium is all messed up anyway -- they tell you to take Language I in 8th grade so you have a head start but if you do poorly you can re-take it Freshman year without a penalty. The forget to tell you, if you do good and take Language II, your Language I doesn't show UP on your transcript, so it looks like you only took 1 year of language even though you took 2. It's all kind of messed up even though it's a HS level course in 8th grade.

I'm just going by what I was told by the teachers, counselors, general "here is what you need to know for planning your HS classes to get into college" speeches I've heard the past couple years.

 

[Serena]

For my daughter she had to take 3 years of the same foreign language or 4 years of any foreign language.
She took spanish, wanted japanese, but it wasn't offered. She is now taking german and loves it. It's been difficult finding open slots for the classes, but she's managed.

A friend of mine from highschool took several languages in college. She was really good at them. Last time I talked with her she knew 6 languages and was studying 2 more. She was an international business person, I forget what she did, it had to do with teaching people how to use the software on the computers. Anyway, she even had a home in Switzerland for a while, and making a 6 figure income.

 

[Micca]

My thinking isn't tied to what universities want to see, but I think Spanish is an excellent language in which to be fluent. There are so many jobs where that would be a plus, I'd totally try to master it. If colleges think 4 years of the same language is a strength, then that's a bonus.

 

[olena]

My thinking isn't tied to what universities want to see, but I think Spanish is an excellent language in which to be fluent. There are so many jobs where that would be a plus, I'd totally try to master it. If colleges think 4 years of the same language is a strength, then that's a bonus.

I echo this and for Chinese as well.

 

[monkey68]

I was told better to take more years in the same language, since you really don't learn much in 2 years of a language, especially the way it's taught in schools. You really need it drilled into your head, and constant repitition and practice to become comfortable in a language. You say she wants to go to other countries and teach English, but I really don't think she'll learn enough in a couple semesters for it to actually be useful, I would tell her to first learn one language really well, then take more afterwards. She's only 14, she has plenty of time to study language if that's what she wants to do.

If it's worth anything, I started taking French in JHS, continued in high school and college. I also took a couple other foreign languages in college just for fun, the only language I still remember is French because I had so many years of study in that one language. I had a couple semesters of the other languages, but I only remember maybe a word or 2, even though I got A's in the classes, and I only graduated about 3 years ago.

 

[golfgal]

Colleges want the same language. Will her schedule allow her to do both Spanish and one other language? Keep in mind that most colleges (at least around here) don't consider ASL as a "foreign" language for their entrance requirements. If she takes 4 years of one language and 2 years of another that will be a good thing on her transcript. If she continues with the ASL for 2 more years and adds 2 years of Spanish that will be favorable. If she does 2 years of Spanish and 2 years of Italian, not so much-unless they are all in her last 2 years of school.

 

[Rora]

To be honest, if she's like most kids, she will probably change her major at least twice between now and her college graduation.

While taking multiple languages would benefit her for her intended major, it doesn't necessarily mean it will benefit her in school. If your DD takes an AP level language in high school and passes the test she might be able to get out of the language requirement for college or at least be placed in, for example, Spanish 3, instead of what most incoming freshman take, Spanish 1 or 2.

In addition, I've heard it looks best if students take 4 years of the same language. But, you never really know. Everything that you hear about what colleges like is pure speculation and sometimes really unhelpful!!

Honestly, I would encourage her to take all 4 years of the same and then take as many as she'd like in college, if that's still her interest. However, if she really wants to do different languages now, go for it and say to heck with what college admissions think!!

Good luck!

 

[SydSim]

I just looked into that today. I was looking at a particular top college's website, and it said that 4 years of the same language was recommended. That being said, studying two languages could only be better, right?

Oh, and WOW - dual enrollment at 14. You go girl!

 

[AshleyW]

I was told better to take more years in the same language, since you really don't learn much in 2 years of a language, especially the way it's taught in schools. You really need it drilled into your head, and constant repitition and practice to become comfortable in a language. You say she wants to go to other countries and teach English, but I really don't think she'll learn enough in a couple semesters for it to actually be useful, I would tell her to first learn one language really well, then take more afterwards. She's only 14, she has plenty of time to study language if that's what she wants to do.

If it's worth anything, I started taking French in JHS, continued in high school and college. I also took a couple other foreign languages in college just for fun, the only language I still remember is French because I had so many years of study in that one language. I had a couple semesters of the other languages, but I only remember maybe a word or 2, even though I got A's in the classes, and I only graduated about 3 years ago.

Completely agreed! I took 6 years of German, and can still speak fairly fluently after having it drilled in my head so much. My 2 semesters of French, though.. The only thing I really remember is "ca va bien, et toi?" and "Il neige" - it's snowing. I'd recommend that she focus on one language, get to know it fairly well, then move onto another and do the same. If she's wanting to actually speak the languages, she'll need a lot more than 2 years worth.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks for the opinions. I am of the opinion that four years of the SAME language is best. When DD told me her plan, I told her to talk to the adviser. I was sure the adviser would either agree with my thinking or at least have an opinion. Apparently not.

I am hoping to convince her to continue with Spanish but take the other languages as electives. We shall see. I can easily see my DD making a career out of college. She loves all the different classes offered and thinks she wants to try them all. I told her I checked the piggy bank and she might want to speed things along when she gets a little older.

 

[SydSim]

I was sure the adviser would either agree with my thinking or at least have an opinion. Apparently not.

Unfortunately, all advisors are not created equal. This has been a common complaint among HS parents, which is one reason why people hire
college counselors to help with the process.

 

[Longsx3]

Colleges want the same language. Will her schedule allow her to do both Spanish and one other language? Keep in mind that most colleges (at least around here) don't consider ASL as a "foreign" language for their entrance requirements. If she takes 4 years of one language and 2 years of another that will be a good thing on her transcript. If she continues with the ASL for 2 more years and adds 2 years of Spanish that will be favorable. If she does 2 years of Spanish and 2 years of Italian, not so much-unless they are all in her last 2 years of school.

Can I ask if you have any knowledge of schools that specifically don't take ASL as a Foreign Language? My DD is in 8th grade and works as a peer with a deaf student and she will be taking ASL next year at the HS. I have called a few Colleges that she might consider and all have said they accept ASL.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Ah, my dd is a college Freshman with 4yrs of Spanish from HS. One of her interests is language. Right now her major is "International Business".

Here what we went thru.

For starters it depends on the school that your dd is in as far as what they accept. It will vary depending on the degree program.
Taking 4 yrs. of HS Span. at the university my dd is at was instant credit and she could be done with her foreign lang. requirement.

She also had the option to go and take a placement test. She did that and tested into Span 3 as a Freshman. That will give her 10 credit hrs toward her degree. (Span 1 & 2 are 5hr classes)
Bummer here is that she will have fulfilled the requirement and then has to focus on getting in her other classes.

Bottom line exposure to the languages is great option and I would tell her to go for it. She will know what language she wants to learn in college if they require her to do so.

Before she signs up have her look at college acceptance requirements for schools she might be interested in. That is what it boils down to really.

 

[Inigo]

I think having several languages would be seen as a plus, if she does well in the classes. Since she's so interested in the languages, I'll bet she's a good student in those classes.

My DD had Latin and German in HS, and is now enrolled in Japanese in college. Because of the Latin, she has a rudimentary grasp of the "dirty Latin" languages, such as French and Spanish and can understand a lot when reading in those languages.

I had 3 years of French in HS and another 3 years in college. I also have some ASL, but I'm not completely fluent in it yet.

 

[Sparx]

let me preface with i am a college student who took dual enrollement throughout highschool and graduated high school in three years.

while she can take all those classes dual enrollment, they're not necessarily going to go toward her major, and will probably just fill up random elective credits.

and i know my school didn't really care about what language i took (french, for what its worth.) if you meet the minimum entrance qualifications, i think they're good with it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't know the right answer for your DD but I will be pushing my kids to learn multiple languages. Since my DH works for a big business with headquarters overseas he gets a good view of how they operate. It seems to him that international corporate cultures view knowing multiple languages as prestigious. Most of DH's colleagues from Europe speak at least 3 languages and they tend to reserve the WOW response for people who know 5 or 6. I suppose it may be perceived as a nod of respect to other cultures if a person is wiling to learn how to communicate on their terms. Whatever the reason is, it seems to be a relatively easy plus to attain, so we are guiding them in that direction.

As an aside, there is nothing to stop your DD from learning a third language in school while strengthening her second language through reading. I would think building on what she already has by herself is much easier than trying to teach herself a new one by herself.

Good luck with whatever you guys choose

 

[krcit]

Oh man, my dd is in 9th grade and I can already tell the whole college thing is going to be CRAZY, lol. I have so much to learn. She is in Spanish 3-our school district starts Spanish in Kindergarten. She wants to take another language at some point during high school, maybe Mandarin Chinese or ASL. Should she just stick to Spanish?? I guess this is a question for her advisor when she is picking classes for next year. I always thought PAYING for college would be the hard part

 

[Carys]

Looking further ahead than college, in the international job market a language is only worth listing if she is fluent at a business level (i.e. can carry out her day to day job in it), otherwise it comes under hobbies rather than skills.

As a consideration, she is extremely unlikely to achieve that in Mandarin without going to live in China for a while. If she's aiming for working level in more than one language, she will need to study something in addition to Mandarin. Hate to put someone off studying Mandarin altogether though, a little will still go some way in giving her "face" if she's ever dealing with a chinese businessperson.

Overall, I'd recommend not picking up a third language at this time, stick with aiming for full business fluency in Spanish and supplementing it with some Mandarin. Plus German is relatively easy, so she could always pick it up at another time, and in the end it's only useful in a small geographical area.

 

[MAH4546]

It all depends on the language.

An English speaker can become very advanced in an Indo-European language - such as German, Italian or Hindi - in two years or so.

Furthermore, has a very advanced/fluent grasp of Spanish, they will likely be able to acquire an extremely strong/advanced grasp of Italian or Portuguese in a year or less.

Chinese or Arabic, though, are so complex and different than English that anything less than three years of study likely won't gain a strong grasp of the language past basic conversational skills.