CONFLICTING VIEWS
What is the best time to take a foreign language? My thoughts about this changed radically once my kids were in high school. The general consensus is to begin a foreign language early – like in elementary school and middle school. Proponents of this approach argue that kids can learn a new language better when they are young. That may be true for learning a language in an immersion or natural setting, but not for learning the grammar necessary to read and write the language. That requires advanced skill and logic which develop incrementally.
MY VIEW
I now believe that a foreign language can be delayed until high school, and, if taken at all in high school, should be taken during the final year of high school. Taking a foreign language in the senior year provides the best chance of passing a foreign language placement test. It will also keep a student fresh if a foreign language course must be taken in college.
I have heard many students with early and repeated exposure to a foreign language through a school system express disdain for the language. An early start on a language can effectively constrain a student to that language for the entire school journey. So sad if they hate it. I’m an advocate for students choosing a foreign language when they have more understanding of the world and themselves – and that is in high school. For example, a student may discover after a world history course that she is more fascinated with European history than South American history. Language, after all, is culture.
HOW MANY YEARS?
If your student has her heart set on an Ivy League school, four years of a foreign language should be considered. Ideally, like I mentioned above, the student should take her fourth year of the language in the final year of school. That means the student does not need to begin the language until the 9th grade. This conflicts with the recommendation of beginning a foreign language in the 8th grade as was standard in the 70’s and 80’s when I was in school. Perhaps that’s the current standard too?
If you start too early, that will leave a gap year which can be a big set back for placement testing. I unfortunately realized this by starting my son’s German in the 8th grade. He will complete his fourth year of the language in the 11th grade. That leaves a gap year before he can take a placement test. Bummer!
If your student is not planning to attend a super-competitive school like an Ivy League, two or three years of a language in high school might be all that is necessary to look good on a college application. It can also provide an opportunity for college credit through examination. Read my daughter’s story: German Language CLEP Exam.
RESEARCH COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS EARLY
Look for two things on college websites: college admission requirements and foreign language requirements for admitted students. I discovered through research that students can pass out of the foreign language requirement at the engineering department at our big state school with only two years of high school foreign language. No placement test necessary. That’s a very lenient policy.
The business department at that same school, on the other hand, requires three semesters of college foreign language or a passing score on the foreign language placement exam. Two departments within the same university have very different foreign language requirements.
If you know your child’s interests and have targeted a few colleges, check out their foreign language policies well in advance. If the school is large, check out separate department requirements. The research can help guide your decision-making and possibly give you peace of mind.
A GREAT STRATEGY FOR HOMESCHOOLERS
Finding quality foreign language courses in the community is a challenge. An excellent approach is taking foreign language courses at a community college for free in a dual enrollment type program. Since homeschoolers can double-dip credits, they’re getting high school and college credit at the same time. Your student’s effort can actually transfer into a four-year school and reduce or completely eliminate the credits needed for foreign language. My older daughter took two semesters of Spanish at the community college in the 12th grade and took a third semester at her four-year school. Read about Double-Dipping Credits.
THE DUPLICITY DILEMMA
I have heard stories of students with three years of foreign language in high school still having to take three semesters of foreign language in college. Why? Because some colleges simply insist on students taking a foreign language at college. Perhaps it’s to support their foreign language department? At schools like these, scoring well on a placement test allows students to take higher level courses in the language, but it does not get them out of the requirement. Passing the placement test may be the only way out, which, according to the dean of foreign languages at NC State, is very difficult to do with just high school instruction.
IS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE NECESSARY IN HIGH SCHOOL?
If your student has his heart set on a college that requires two to three semesters of a foreign language, skipping the language in high school is something to consider to avoid the duplicity, especially if you are challenged to find a quality high school course. Simply wait to take it at college. A possible drawback with not taking a foreign language in high school is that a student may not look as competitive on the college application. Explaining the lack of opportunity to a college admissions officer is a justifiable conversation, however. It’s a well-known fact that homeschoolers have different opportunities than students in a traditional school. Highlight the unique opportunities your student did take advantage of.
A LOOPHOLE TO AVOID TAKING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Personally, I love foreign languages, but the requirement can be a tremendous burden for some people. In North Carolina, there is a way to bypass the foreign language requirement if it’s not an essential part of a student’s major. North Carolina has a program called the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) which is an agreement between NC community colleges and UNC system institutions. The CAA assures that eligible transfer students (students with an associate’s degree) will be admitted to one of 16 UNC institutions and transfer with junior status. Eligible CAA transfer students will have the general education credits waived at the receiving UNC institution. So, if an eligible student has no foreign language credits from the community college, she will not be required to take a foreign language at the receiving school unless a foreign language is necessary for her particular major. If you are not in North Carolina, check to see if your state has such an agreement. For information on North Carolina’s CAA read my post North Carolina’s Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Quality foreign language courses can be a challenge for homeschoolers to find in the community. A great solution is to take a foreign language at a community college during the 11th and 12th grades. If your child will take a high school foreign language course, plan for the final year of the language to occur in the 12th grade. This increases the chance that your child will do well on the foreign language placement test at a college. If you are unable to find a quality course in high school, trust that it’s not the end of the world. Homeschoolers can look great in other ways on the college application. They have unique experiences that can make them stand out. Your student will simply take a language at college thereby supporting its foreign language department. It’s win-win.
DISCLAIMER
The ideas in this post come from homeschooling my children through high school and into college. I am not an expert in foreign languages or in the college admissions process. Your beliefs, experiences, and goals may be entirely different from mine. The purpose of this post is to provide ideas for those seeking them. Thank you for reading my post.