What does 4 years of a language mean?

anon94785555
Tue, 21 Oct 2014 04:18:51 +0000

Getting credit for taking a course and having your grade in a course are two different things. Meeting foreign language requirements means passing the courses, regardless of the passing grade received. It does not imply competence in the language. Middle school foreign language grades do not have to count on your HS transcript to count. For example, you take two years of a language in middle school which are considered equivalent to one year of HS so you start with level two in HS. Once you finish level four in HS you will have the equivalent of four college semesters of that foreign language. This means you have 4 years of the language for admissions to college purposes and could mean you have met a college’s graduation requirement for foreign language. It does not matter what passing grades you received and you do not have to take any AP or other exams. Getting college credits for the language would be dependent on AP scores and/or passing a placement test given by the college plus taking a semester of that language in college.

Sounds complicated but it is straightforward. For most colleges having the equivalent of 4 years of HS foreign language will make you competitive as an applicant. Deciding to get AP credits is a different matter. Those AP credits may or may not count as college credits depending on the college you eventually attend. Likewise- SAT results will show mastery but otherwise do nothing.

Bottom line- make your HS course choice based on your interest and ability.