I’m taking Spanish I my freshman year, but am now considering Chinese II or III so as to have an AP language exam completed by the end of my Junior year. The alternative would be to have Spanish II done by the beginning of next year.
My goal would conflict with the suggested issue about it being a form of grade-boosting, something that I think colleges would view to be an example of me taking the easy way out when it comes to language, under the premise that I have already been involved in the language—I want to find out if this is a reasonable point of discussion.
I’m sure if you speak Chinese at home there will still be something to learn by taking a formal class. Do it because you want to learn, not because it will be an easy A (which it may not be).
No, assuming you are placed appropriately. So if you start with Chinese I, that would be an issue. Many heritage speakers can speak the language, although often with grammatical errors, but may not be able to read or write, which is often the case with Chinese heritage speakers who may be able to read/write only in pinyin. That said, taking Chinese just to “have an AP language exam completed by the end of my Junior year” is not really a reason to take Chinese.
I absolutely want to learn Chinese, but I fear that selective colleges would see the admission of a Chinese person with an AP Spanish exam on their belt to be more preferable over a Chinese person with an AP Chinese exam, given that both have the same stats. I know someone who plans on taking both the AP Chinese exam and the AP Spanish exam— by the end of their junior year— and while I much prefer Chinese over Spanish, I’m wondering if going for just one AP language would be sufficient, ESPECIALLY if I’ve already had experience with going into it. Chinese would be the easier option, but Spanish is doable.
Your fears are unfounded. Your selection of language is entirely based upon what you want and which will be more useful for you in the future. Colleges could not care less what foreign language you take in HS. If Chinese is more important, then take Chinese. If both are important, and you can fit them in without impacting another core course, that’s fine. If you can’t, that’s fine too.
And to be clear on concept, there are no bonus points awarded by admissions for taking AP Chinese (or Spanish or any other language) as a junior. Nor are brownie points given for 2 AP languages.
My Chinese child took Spanish (through AP level). She doesn’t speak Chinese and she’s barely able to order a taco in Spanish. Languages, including English, really aren’t her thing.
Didn’t help, didn’t hurt. It met the requirement, which there really wasn’t one because she went to a tech school for engineering.
If you are a heritage speaker, then taking the appropriate level of your heritage language would be fine. It would only be grade grubbing if you took a lower level than what you already know.
If you are unsure of the correct placement for you, talk to the teachers of the language courses.
Some high schools and colleges have heritage speaker versions of courses in common heritage speaker languages.
Personally, I would prefer to learn Chinese right now, but I don’t know if it would at all be the right choice halfway through the first semester. I don’t know how switching from Spanish to Chinese would be like.
There would be pretty much no way a school could know if you’re a heritage speaker or not. Also, many many people with Chinese last names who can’t speak a lick.
^^^ and the same thing is true for every language except Latin.
Thank you everyone! I will try to make the
move.