Language requirement?

aviatordream

5-Year Member
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Jul 5, 2011
Messages
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So I've been taken latin for the past three years. I thought that I had the language requirement covered for USNA, but then I saw this bit of info on the homeschooler sheet:
"Foreign Language: At least two years. Course work should include regular use of the spoken language and encompass elementary syntax and grammar."
I know that USAFA says no latin, but I wasn't sure about USNA. I mean, latin isn't a "spoken language." If I need to, I can take two semesters of German or Russian at the local CC. But do you guys think I'll be okay with just latin? Thanks.
 
So I've been taken latin for the past three years. I thought that I had the language requirement covered for USNA, but then I saw this bit of info on the homeschooler sheet:
"Foreign Language: At least two years. Course work should include regular use of the spoken language and encompass elementary syntax and grammar."
I know that USAFA says no latin, but I wasn't sure about USNA. I mean, latin isn't a "spoken language." If I need to, I can take two semesters of German or Russian at the local CC. But do you guys think I'll be okay with just latin? Thanks.
My DS received an LOA to USNA and he had taken Latin through AP. However, he was not a home school student.
 
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I would think Latin would be fine. It's a useful language, that's for sure. And a good base for learning other languages. Maybe Spanish or German/Russian would be more useful (and it would certainly be cool to learn those latter two, so I would certainly recommend taking one if you have that opportunity), but I wouldn't think Latin alone would necessarily harm your chances.
 
Just Latin will be fine, I think. I've seen profiles here with just Latin.

If you're going to pick up another language, go for Chinese Mandarin and Traditional Chinese writing. The ability to communicate with Asia will be useful.

At least you'll be able to read the signs if you end up in Yokosuka or Okinawa.
 
We've read theopininf "for" allowing Latin. The issue might be determining if OP's homeschooling directive is true and accurate. While USNA is often guilty of benign omission (3Q letters?) , rarely do they provide incorrect info. Anyones who can illumine this one?
 
I was concerned as well when I saw the change to "spoken language." I had checked in prior years and had not seen that so upon seeing that this year I became worried. I will finish Latin 3 at the end of this year. I have had an opportunity to earn a Russian I high school credit open up. Would it diminish my three years of Latin if I went to Russian in my senior year?
 
Just shows that you have many interests, and want to learn new things. Seems like a good thing to me.
 
It looks like the site does not say that the language has to be spoken today. It simply states that the coursework should include speaking the language. If you speak Latin in your Latin class (I know we did some verbal exercises), you should be fine. I wouldn't worry about it honestly.

"Foreign Language: At least two years. Course work should include regular use of the spoken language and encompass elementary syntax and grammar."
 
<- Six years of Latin. Zero years of a spoken language. The same applied for at least two of the plebes in my company in 2015. Still managed to do okay in Russian here at school. Maybe the policy's changed?
 
I guess I read that differently then most......saying that COURSE WORK includes speaking the language to me is indicating that as a part of the curriculum, you spend a portion of the class time SPEAKING it.
 
I guess I read that differently then most......saying that COURSE WORK includes speaking the language to me is indicating that as a part of the curriculum, you spend a portion of the class time SPEAKING it.

I don't know about you, but the Latin I took in high school definitely included speaking it aloud. Heck, the class included learning christmas carols and the Pledge of Allegience in Latin...

If Latin didn't count, they'd tell you. It's a common enough language class.
 
I agree.....the Academy requirement is that part of the course work includes speaking the language. Others posting previously seem to have interpreted that differently than you or I.
 
My daughter has only had 3 years of Latin, no other language, and she rcvd her USNA appointment to 2016 back in October, so I'm sure its not an issue.
I hadn't heard that about USAFA either.
 
Unfortunately, Latin isn't really counted as course credit. My roommate (a genius, top 5% of my class) took Latin and didn't get course credit. But don't let language worry you. Engineers don't have to take any language, group 2 majors only need 2 semesters, and group 3 need 4. The good news is, you can learn something cool, like chinese, japanese, or arabic.
 
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