Parents of collage kids, how important is a HS foreign language?

[Kimberle]

We've done 3 years in MS and 1 year in HS. It's getting very hard to fit a language into the next schedule. Some of the AP and honors classes are double periods. I'd hate to have my child give up one of those to take a language.

 

[rigs32]

It depends on the college. Some require multiple high school classes for admission. Mine required four college level courses that could be tested out of. You'd have to look at the requirements of schools he's considering.

 

[Mkrop]

We recently got a list from DS16's HS with a list of colleges and what there requirements were for every subject. Most of the colleges on the list, pretty high profile schools, wanted 4 years for a language. Now DS did not have a real language in middle school, it was a special, so he is taking his 4 yrs of Spanish in HS. I dont know if his MS language classes would count towards that requirement. I would call the guidance counselor and ask. Or if there is a specific school he thinks he wants to go to college, than call them and ask

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

The state colleges in Oklahoma require two years of high school level foreign language courses.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

Florida University System requires 2 high school credits of the same foreign language (for all you politically correct folks out there - in Florida it is now called "world languages").

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Stinks doesn't it?

What you have to do is look at the colleges your child is considering and see what they require.

The college my dd is going to go to requires only 2 yrs.

 

[PlaneJoy1]

We've done 3 years in MS and 1 year in HS. It's getting very hard to fit a language into the next schedule. Some of the AP and honors classes are double periods. I'd hate to have my child give up one of those to take a language.

As a high school teacher, I would say that at least 2 years of the same world language in high school is critical for acceptance at most 4-year universities. Those years of language do not have to be concurrent, so if you child is not a senior next year then you still have time to fit in that second course during a subsequent year.

At this point it really depends on the number of classes your school is scheduled for each day and the classes that your child wants to take. Many students have to make these tough choices each year because of the limited space in a schedule. If you only have one year left, you could consider an online course (in addition to the school day).

 

[aprilchem]

College professor here; my institution requires proficiency at the 200 (intermediate) level. Students can test out if they have a good high school foreign language background, and if they do it's a HUGE timesaver that can allow them to add an additional minor or emphasis sometimes. Students with low foreign language ability or who are beginning a new language have to take 4 semesters of FL.

For admission, we require at least two years of foreign language.

 

[DisneyDreamer2504]

Let me get this straight, colleges now require you to have studied foreign language, regardless of your major? Like it's a standard expectation when applying to colleges now? Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with it, I just didn't know it was the norm. I took lots of foreign language in hs, but I can def see how it would be difficult to fit it in ones schedule.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Wow, times have changed. I only had to take one year in HS and none in college LOL. Couple friends took 2 in HS because they were going military (one academy, one ROTC at Notre Dame). 'Course, we only had 6 periods in those days, so it would have been a tough squeeze.

 

[NewRVLady]

30 + years ago it was the norm- I surprised how many are surprised by it

2 years in HS, 2 years in college

 

[JanaDee]

Let me get this straight, colleges now require you to have studied foreign language, regardless of your major? Like it's a standard expectation when applying to colleges now? Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with it, I just didn't know it was the norm. I took lots of foreign language in hs, but I can def see how it would be difficult to fit it in ones schedule.

It was standard 20+ years ago in universities. Taking one year of foreign language was required to graduate.

 

[Lady V]

Two credits in HS required here and then in college at least two years as well. It's been the norm here for a long time. Parents can sign a waiver that excludes kids from having to take a language in HS that basically says they are not interested in taking what is needed for a four year college.

 

[Southernmiss]

30 + years ago it was the norm- I surprised how many are surprised by it

2 years in HS, 2 years in college

This. Now kids here take 3 or 4 credits of foreign language in hs.

 

[clutter]

Were your MS classes considered high school credits? When there are requirements, it is for high school credits. For instance, in our county, you can take a language in MS, but only the 8th grade class transfers to the HS as a credit. Our state requires 3 credits (years) of foreign language to get the 'advanced' diploma. You can get a 'standard' diploma with 2 years, but not all of the in-state schools will accept you without the 'advanced.'

 

[HM]

My DD took four years of Spanish in HS. She had taken SP 1 and 2 in Middle school as well, but started over with Spanish 1 in HS.

The colleges she applied to require 2-3 years foreign language. She placed out of Spanish 2 on the entrance exam. Her chosen major does not include a foreign languager requirement though.

She did Spanish 3 during summer in an online course. Is that a possibility for your child, OP? Also a lot of states offer online courses for kids during the school year for course that their high school doesn't offer or so that they can fit in another course they can't fit in during school, so that may be a possibility. Check with your child's school counselor.

 

[mom2travel]

As a high school teacher, I would say that at least 2 years of the same world language in high school is critical for acceptance at most 4-year universities. Those years of language do not have to be concurrent, so if you child is not a senior next year then you still have time to fit in that second course during a subsequent year. At this point it really depends on the number of classes your school is scheduled for each day and the classes that your child wants to take. Many students have to make these tough choices each year because of the limited space in a schedule. If you only have one year left, you could consider an online course (in addition to the school day).

This is what we found last year while DS was preparing his applications. He had done 1 year in MS plus 4 more in HS so was fine. DD has HS credit from MS for 2 world language classes; these would not count, she would need to take at least 2 more during HS; she is planning to take 4 more anyway so she's good to go (2 of these will be APs).
Maybe they're lucky the way their schedules are set up (7 academic periods per day) that many APs still fit in.

College professor here; my institution requires proficiency at the 200 (intermediate) level. Students can test out if they have a good high school foreign language background, and if they do it's a HUGE timesaver that can allow them to add an additional minor or emphasis sometimes. Students with low foreign language ability or who are beginning a new language have to take 4 semesters of FL. For admission, we require at least two years of foreign language.

DS found this at his university. He took the test and placed out - so only needs to take language if he wants to and can fit it in. Definitely a huge timesaver when trying to fit in required classes for his major, not to mention potential minor(s).

 

[dawnhaze]

I went to a pretty un-prestigious state school and they required 2 years of a HS foreign language, 3 preferred, unless you were a native speaker of something other than English or could pass a proficiency test.

 

[kkandaj]

I don't have kids going to college--just want to say that I work with international peers on a weekly basis--several "world languages"--mainly Spanish and Portugese but as our company moves to more and more countries, the more international peers we will have. (We are in European and Asian countries also, I just don't work directly with them.)

I know that when large companies are hiring, the more fluent you are in world language, the more desired you are.

 

[scoutie]

Let me get this straight, colleges now require you to have studied foreign language, regardless of your major? Like it's a standard expectation when applying to colleges now

This was required in my state when I went to college 22 years ago.