Foreign Language Courses in High School

[Prestige]

<p>Universities usually require or recommended a person to take # of years of foreign language in high school. Well, this question is generally geared towards those have already been accepted, are current students of a college/university, or have sons or daughters in college/university.</p>

<ol>
<li>Did you take foreign language in high school?</li>
<li>If so, how many years?</li>
<li>How much years of foreign language does the college/university recommend/require you to take in high school?</li>
<li>What college/university do you attend?</li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks for your time, and in advance. :D</p>

[lkf725]

<p>I think quite a few colleges want to see foreign language again, and some require it. My son took 5 years of German culminating in AP German V. He is fluent at this point, as the reading, writing and speaking for the past two years have been entirely in German. It's cool to get past the grammar part of the language and I think fluency might be an asset in future employment. (College as yet undecided...argh!)</p>

[SusieQ2007]

<p>D is still in high school but from my research, colleges require 4 years of a single foreign language and it could be 2 years in middle school and 2 year in high school. As long as it's one language, not 2 years Spanish and 2 years French. It's the same with math. They require 4 years of math, and it could start in middle school as long as you end up with Calculus. If a high schooler finishes these requirements before 12 grade then he/she can take other subjects such as speech,debate, journalism, etc..., there is no need to take more unless you want to</p>

[koushirou]

<p>"colleges require 4 years of a single foreign language"</p>

<p>i'm pretty sure that the average REQUIREMENT is more like 2 years, although more is always recommended...</p>

[SusieQ2007]

<p>I mean top colleges. This is what the district counselor told us.</p>

[Prestige]

<p>Thanks a lot lkf725, SusieQ2007, and koushirou. I'll definitely use your useful information when deciding electives. :)</p>

[pgedufailedme]

<p>But even most top colleges only RECOMMEND that you take four years of a foreign language. The same goes for taking calculus.</p>

[lkf725]

<p>Languages get easier the further you get in the program. It gets to be just like English class. If you are a decent student in languages, I'd stick with it.</p>

[UCLAri]

<p>I took three years of Spanish and one and a half years of Japanese before starting UCLA. I proceeded to study Japanese for another 2 and a half years at UCLA.</p>

<p>My only admonition with studying languages- study one you'll enjoy. I was near-fluent in Spanish, but hated it.</p>

[celebrian25]

<p>By the time I graduate (hs) I'll have 5 years of language (spanish)</p>

[Shahein]

<p>Language study helps in employment...</p>

[DIABLO2FAN]

<p>i think minimum is 2 years of a foreign language in high school</p>

<p>i took only three years of spanish</p>

[PEALS-05]

<p>All through high school I've taken German (awesome language, btw). I skipped German IV and V to take AP German this year (senior year). </p>

<p>All my colleges, of course, said that two years is the required amount and that three or four are strongly recommended. </p>

<p>But colleges really like students continuing their foreign languages throughout high school. All our guidance counselors have repeatedly told us since freshman year to STICK with our languages through the "end", and to succeed at the highest level of the language we are able to be placed in. At least sixty percent of my high school senior class are in their fourth, fifth or AP level of their language. </p>

<p>I'm doing well in AP Deutsch, but with a strong case of senioritis we'll have to see about the exam... I've got AP German on the same day as AP English, ugh ugh ugh...</p>

<p>Best wishes!</p>

[celebrian25]

<p>Most people here do 4 years. For those of us that started in 8th grade, it's a pretty popular option to drop language senior year because it gets in the way of more fun electives. A French/German/Spanish 5 class is usually 1/2 to 1/4 as big as a French/German/Spanish 4 class</p>

[lkf725]

<p>If you drop language in your senior year and plan to continue in college, you will have lost a bit of your fluency by then.</p>

[warblersrule]

<p>Most people at my high school take a foreign language for 4 years. The IB program requires it. My foreign language is German, and I love it (I've taken it for 9 years). German is one of the easier languages, I think. An AP language score can help you test out of the language requirement at many colleges. </p>

<p>Be sure to study for the AP German exam, PEALS-05. I'm fluent in German, but that exam was a beast.</p>

[PEALS-05]

<p>"a beast"? Ach. :(</p>

<p>Well, here begins two grueling weeks of hours and hours of German studying a day... </p>

<p>Can you specify, if you remember, what were the hardest sections of the Deutsch exam? Thanks!</p>

[stretch]

<p>Would taking a language from 7th-11th grade count as the "required" four years, or does it have to be only within grades 9-12?</p>

[munkeegirl]

<p>I'm sure they mean four levels. for example, I've taken french since the 6th grade (I'm in 11th now).</p>

<p>The middle school years (6th-8th grade) counted as 1 french level which allowed me to go on to French level 2 in freshman year. Currently, I'm in year 4.</p>

[SusieQ2007]

<p>stretch, I think courses taken in middle can be counted toward the requirement but you must also satisfy your high school requirement also. Some requires that you have 30 credits of foreign languages, so if you did 7 & 8, you still have to do 3 year in high school.</p>