The title says it all really. I’m currently in the second year of a language course and torn between taking it for a third year since the teacher is absolutely dreadful. She hasn’t been in the US for more than a year and is very difficult to understand; not to mention I absolutely feel miserable in the class what with her very poor teaching style. I’ve heard plenty of people say that it’s good to take 4 years of a language, but will it matter that much that it’s going to serve as a tipping factor in admissions?
To be honest, yes. Language classes are very worth it. The reason why I say it is worth it is because world languages are pretty useful. Especially, if you decide to stay in the US for the rest of your life, ASL (American Sign Language) and Spanish will be probably be helpful at some point in your life. It also helps you memorize better and helps you make better study habits.
Not all colleges ask for three years of languages, however, many do. In fact, in my county, if you want to graduate with an advanced studies diploma, you have to take three years of one language or two years of two languages. You may wonder why you have to get an advanced studies diploma, but it’s because the standard studies diploma is a diploma you receive if you don’t want to go to college. Therefore, you want the advanced studies diploma.
https://www.houstonfamilymagazine.com/features/foreign-language-requirement-for-college-admissions/
The link above shows you some really famous schools, and the requirement. There are a few schools that are okay with 2 years, but they usually want more and recommend more. I really do strongly recommend taking another year, at least. If you take a language for the third year, and you really want to quit after and don’t plan on majoring in anything in humanities, it’s okay. However, I think ending at 2 years is a bit too early.
Good luck and have a good day!
Will it serve as a tipping factor? No. For colleges with a requirement/recommendation of 3-4 years of language, will most applicants have that preparation? Yes. Colleges that suggest a HS course of study generally expect that applicants will have that unless you can demonstrate a strong reason why you did not. A bad teacher will never be accepted as an acceptable reason.
FWIW, most of these colleges also have a language requirement for graduation, so the more classes you do in HS, the fewer (potentially) you would have to do in college.
If your teacher is awful because her English isn’t good, it should be a good opportunity to improve your foreign language skills… Which is the point of the class.
Keep in mind that at virtually all elite colleges you’ll be taught by international TA 's (and the best colleges have a lot of world language professors who came from a country where the language is spoken) so better get used to accents.
Now: most top colleges expect 4 years or AP. You don’t have to, but as with calculus, if you don’t have it, you’d need to have a good reason (= school doesn’t offer it and there’s no community college around to catch up) or offset it with something else (differential equations and linear algebra.)
The reason college’s expect a solid level in foreign language is not necessarily practical but it is double : it forces you to understand language as an abstract system* and it makes you more open minded by helping you understand the world outside of your region/state/country. The former helps you increase your ability for abstract reasoning (essential for college success) and the latter helps with intelligence plasticity as well as makes you more interesting and well-rounded. It also serves as a signal : willingness to challenge yourself intellectually and take a class for the intellectual growth it generates. Note that in addition to a college admission requirement, there generally is a World Language college graduation requirement, often with a placement test during freshman orientation.
- useful for future symbolic systems, linguistics, CS, U/x majors, and not just language/cultures majors or premeds.
Now, what to do if your teacher is that terrible?
Since you took level 1+2 in high school, you’d qualify for level 2 in college. See if a community college nearby offers level 2+3, check dual enrollment requirements, and you’re good.