I’m an upcoming freshman. I took an intensive beginning Arabic course this summer. I excelled, and I now have a tutor in the language for all 4 years of high school. My teacher told me I’m good enough to be fluent by high school graduation.
Originally, I am supposed to take Spanish II (which would permit me to take AP Spanish senior year), but I am considering dropping it to pursue Arabic since I am highly interested in the language.The problem is: if I drop Spanish and get tutored in Arabic, there would be no world language on my high school transcript.
Would this disqualify me for colleges that mandate taking a foreign language?
How would I be able to show colleges that I (hopefully) am fluent in Arabic?
Would this look bad?
It would disqualify you, yes. Try finding Arabic courses online and see if you can have them on your transcript - that could satisfy and language requirements. If you can’t find an Arabic course, then you should take Spanish II, since many selective colleges require 2-3 years of foreign language.
It will not automatically “disqualify” OP. For example, there are thousands of home school kids learning various subjects with tutors.
He or she is a rising freshman, we have no idea how his hs record will develop, what major he’ll be interested in or what his future college targets will be. Nor what other enrichment (progams, etc) he may pursue. The idea to move to online is good, but he can also check how his curriculum matches his school and district guidelines for languages- both the expectations and the high school graduation requirements.
No it won’t. I agree with @lookingforward
But, and this is a big but, if the HS requires FL for graduation, it is up to the HS whether taking Arabic outside of school will count.
You don’t. In the first place, you won’t be fluent; Arabic is an extremely hard language to learn, and 4 years of HS Arabic, even if intensive with a tutor, will not achieve fluency. However, colleges do not ask you to “prove” your language skills. Once you get to college, they may have a placement test that will allow you to place out of the college’s language requirement (if they have one).