<p>well you can always study a language with no native speakers :D</p>
<p>Latin is good for that. ;)</p>
<p>I speak 3 languages. English was the last one I learned (still learning). I have to say, after leaving here for about 25 years, Iāll rather take a test in my native languages than in English.
Booklady, Latin is indeed a good alternative, if you want a level field.</p>
<p>English is a bear, isnāt it? 
Reminds me of a story I once read about someone traveling to Spain and working with children for some program or another. They had the bright idea of having a spelling beeā¦well, unlike English, Spanish has RULES and is not replete with formerly foreign words. The kids just about never missed a word and could not see the point of a āSpelling Bee.ā </p>
<p>OK, it was funnier when I read it.</p>
<p>I also saw something in the news recently. A person took umbrage at Hispanic children taking the Spanish AP. Unfair!, they screamed. (They wanted the money for the Spanish AP teacher to go to <em>their</em> children, I gathered.)</p>
<p>Well, English speakers take the English AP, right?</p>
<p>Just because something is your native language doesnāt mean you can easily pass a test of the highest usage of it.</p>
<p>This is pretty discouraging. Do adcoms know that native speakers ruin the curve in FL tests?</p>
<p>FYI, my daughter (who started Spanish in 8th grade 3x week, during her lunch period) made an 800 on the Spanish SAT II. So it seems to be a test you can do well in if you study like youāre supposed to. </p>
<p>The Spanish teacher polled the class to ask what they each thought they would make on the AP exam. My D said ā5, because I know I made 800 on the SAT II.ā</p>
<p>DB, they do if they read cc! ;)</p>
<p>But, seriously, Iām sure they do.</p>
<p>Hey, those of you in Cali post read my UT/top 10% thread. I have a question for you there, but I donāt think the thread title will draw Californians in. Doh!</p>
<p>mommusic, thatās really great for your D, but she is the exception to the rule from everything Iāve ever heard. Iām sure she worked hard to get that 800 and she is to be congratulated.</p>
<p>800 on a FL SAT2 is incredibleā¦ never actually heard of that for a non native speakerā¦ The kids at our school are told not to take the FL SAT 2 tests.</p>
<p>Wait, are FL SAT IIs harder than others? Do the tests vary somehow from state to state? I have never heard this.</p>
<p>Weāre in Ohio, btw.</p>
<p>But I have also heard kids here being told, āDonāt take the Spanish/Chinese/whatever SAT IIāyouāll just be up against the native speakers.ā </p>
<p>Thatās a silly and defeatist attitude, IMO.</p>
<p>youdonātsay - responded to your UT postā¦ bottom line - the CA system works but is creaking at the edges under the load of too many qualified applicants and not enough room at the most desirable campuses.</p>
<p>OK, her friend also got an 800, and went on to double-major in Spanish in college. My D only used her Spanish to help people in the āclothing closetā where she volunteered one year.</p>
<p>My point is, 800s canāt be all that rare.</p>
<p>I donāt think they are all that rare - but I donāt know of any one who has gotten one who is not a native language speaker. (Well now I know of two)ā¦ </p>
<p>Part of it is that our HS has a very weak FL department - and therefore the sample I am drawing from is pretty weak as well. Being in Calif. we also have a large number of ESL students in the system and they almost always do very well on the FL SAT 2. </p>
<p>Other areas will have different results.</p>
<p>Of course itās an advantage to hear the language spoken at home, but you can also have the opposite problemācolleges not being impressed if you happen to be fluent in the language suggested by your last name. </p>
<p>So if your last name is Lopez, adcoms arenāt impressed by your Spanishā¦even if your ancestors have been in this country since the 1800s, and you learned all your Spanish in school!</p>
<p>And sure, Latin levels the playing field, but you canāt actually <em>speak</em> it anywhere. :(</p>
<p>Mommusic, yes you can speak Latin, if you are a priest in a catholic church. :)</p>
<p>^or if you visit Vatican City, but itās a pretty small country!</p>
<p>Probably the best thing to do is take the practice test, and see if you score anywhere near your target score. If my D wanted to take the Spanish test, thatās what I would recommend.</p>
<p>LIMom, yup. We have the SAT-II Spanish book ā it was 50% off at the local Borders that was closing, so heāll give a practice test a try (after the SAT) and see how it goes. If itās not so hot, he has extra material to use for the AP.</p>