World Languages Question

Hi everyone! I'm new to these forums. My son is a USNA Class of 2021 hopeful. He is a sophomore this year and we are trying to get everything in order so he will be a competitive candidate.

I have a question regarding world languages. He goes to a large urban public high school that offers the following languages: French, Spanish and Japanese. He took French 1 freshman year but because of schedule conflicts could not take French 2 this year. I would imagine Russian and Arabic might be more relevant than the languages offered at his school?

It would be hard for him to jump back into French 2 next year after missing a whole year. Would online classes through BYU or another accredited program be acceptable? Has anyone else done this? I would really appreciate any feedback.

I would think that depends on the school and teachers

I would think an accredited program would be acceptable. To be absolutely positive, you can also ask USNA admissions. Taking Spanish or Japanese your DS' junior and senior year may be an option. My DD took 3 years of Latin in HS. She is now taking Russian 3 at USNA. What you take in HS doesn't have to match college.

Don't worry about matching the USNA. Tell him to do what he wants to do. Honestly, 1 year of a foreign language isn't going to change anything. USNA will come soon enough when he forgets about it and devotes all of his time and effort into what HE is passionate about. At least that's what happened to me... If he wants to stick to French, he'll somehow find a way. Because that's what successful people do.

AstroMom said:

I have a question regarding world languages. He goes to a large urban public high school that offers the following languages: French, Spanish and Japanese. He took French 1 freshman year but because of schedule conflicts could not take French 2 this year. I would imagine Russian and Arabic might be more relevant than the languages offered at his school?

It would be hard for him to jump back into French 2 next year after missing a whole year. Would online classes through BYU or another accredited program be acceptable? Has anyone else done this? I would really appreciate any feedback.

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Craig said:

I would think an accredited program would be acceptable. To be absolutely positive, you can also ask USNA admissions. Taking Spanish or Japanese your DS' junior and senior year may be an option. My DD took 3 years of Latin in HS. She is now taking Russian 3 at USNA. What you take in HS doesn't have to match college.

Click to expand...

DD took Latin 1, 2, and 3 via Florida Virtual School (On-Line). She went this route mainly for in-school schedule accomodation reasons. Didn't seem to hurt her admissions chances and she still says Latin worked wonders in preparing her for Critical Reading portions of SAT/ACTs. She is planning on Arabic at USNA. Good luck and "good on ya" for thinking about these things early.

sushimaterial said:

Don't worry about matching the USNA. Tell him to do what he wants to do. Honestly, 1 year of a foreign language isn't going to change anything. USNA will come soon enough when he forgets about it and devotes all of his time and effort into what HE is passionate about. At least that's what happened to me... If he wants to stick to French, he'll somehow find a way. Because that's what successful people do.

Click to expand...

Can't comment on USNA, but....any foreign language study is good for a developing brain.

If DS is motivated to learn and he has the support of teacher and you are will to spend a little cash, do the online French 2 with the supervision of a qualified tutor. Supplement it with other materials and I guarantee he'll be good to go for French 3 next fall.

High school foreign language classes, especially 1 and 2 are notoriously bad because the majority of students are only meeting state requirements.

DS#2's middle school offered French 1 in 8th grade, which he did. He then did French 2 over the summer with help from a family friend who teaches at the local university. The French teacher lent us the school text book. He then took French 3 and 4 as a freshman and sophomore and got A's. And believe me, he was highly unmotivated.

Best of luck!

Juvat said:

AstroMom said:

I have a question regarding world languages. He goes to a large urban public high school that offers the following languages: French, Spanish and Japanese. He took French 1 freshman year but because of schedule conflicts could not take French 2 this year. I would imagine Russian and Arabic might be more relevant than the languages offered at his school?

It would be hard for him to jump back into French 2 next year after missing a whole year. Would online classes through BYU or another accredited program be acceptable? Has anyone else done this? I would really appreciate any feedback.

Click to expand...

Craig said:

I would think an accredited program would be acceptable. To be absolutely positive, you can also ask USNA admissions. Taking Spanish or Japanese your DS' junior and senior year may be an option. My DD took 3 years of Latin in HS. She is now taking Russian 3 at USNA. What you take in HS doesn't have to match college.

Click to expand...

DD took Latin 1, 2, and 3 via Florida Virtual School (On-Line). She went this route mainly for in-school schedule accomodation reasons. Didn't seem to hurt her admissions chances and she still says Latin worked wonders in preparing her for Critical Reading portions of SAT/ACTs. She is planning on Arabic at USNA. Good luck and "good on ya" for thinking about these things early.

Click to expand...

To my surprise, she said Latin has helped with Russian. Not that it is derived from it (as far as I know), but just the exercise of translating and exercising the translation part of the brain.

Thanks to all! Great advice.