Foreign Languages

jeffinCharlotte said:
I am just really taken on how detailed responses are here. Never seen anything like it on a forum board
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We have an extraordinary community of veterans, cadets, midshipmen, and parents who come from all walks of life. The board has been helpful to countless numbers of users, many of whom have remained to "pay it forward."

Just curious, what attracts your daughter to USAFA as opposed to the other academies? i.e. Why does she want to be an Air Force Officer? (as opposed to a wealthy chicken magnate) :D
 
AROTC-dad said:
We have an extraordinary community of veterans, cadets, midshipmen, and parents who come from all walks of life. The board has been helpful to countless numbers of users, many of whom have remained to "pay it forward."

Just curious, what attracts your daughter to USAFA as opposed to the other academies? i.e. Why does she want to be an Air Force Officer? (as opposed to a wealthy chicken magnate) :D
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At 12 years old all four of my kids are going to have to get involved in something related to leadership. when looking at scouts, H-4, student council and a few other things my daughter said she wanted to do CAP for her leadership training. So that is pretty much how the USAFA came on the radar. And also they seem to be more in need of her specialty of languages over the other three academies. After two years in CAP she loves aviation but does not want to be a pilot. Seems like a good fit for her dreams for now at least:) And it is approved by me..jk:) Also she wants a school where the kids are serious and dedicated. She said if she does not go to USAFA then she wants a good Christian school like Wheaton College if she pursues Chick Fil A.
 
If she loves aviation, have her check out Embry Riddle Aero Uni, too. They have a strong AFROTC unit and a great educational plan For aerospace and engineering majors. Plus, they take you for a flight on your campus tours :)
 
I'm jealous. I loved each of my three or four visits to Stuttgart.
 
Sound like good reasons to me (and in fact, the desire for a committed student body was high on my own list of motivations). Also, small world, I have a sister who is a graduate of Wheaton
 
You should probably want her to be at AP Calc AB by 12th grade (preferably BC). Don't forget other STEM classes like AP Chem and Bio.
If you're wondering about which languages the AF places emphasis on, you can look at the ones they offer an ROTC Foreign Language scholarship for - https://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/schools
My son is majoring in Russian on an AFROTC scholarship (but had not taken it in high school), and this summer will be in Estonia doing a Russian immersion program. If your daughter likes foreign languages, she could look into ROTC as well.
Also, leadership comes from being club president, team captain, or in school senate. Don't just rely on CAP.
 
Not all schools offer Calc or Ap chem. Just make sure she challenges herself with the toughest classes her school offers. Calc isn't a requirementn but take it if offered.
 
DesertCaliMom said:
DS is taking Russian online with the college of Southern Nevada. There are others as well. He meets weekly with a native speaker tutor and a native speaker facilitator (so 2 hours of one on one instruction). His native speaking professor teleconferences all students every other week. In just two semesters he an carry on 30-40 minute conversations about family, food, going places, school and video games. At this point it's mostly vocabulary and listening he has to work on, reading and writing are solid skills. We are supplementing with Audible's Pimsleur courses (my audio book credits) and he will use those to stay fresh.

So not only is he started on a Russian Minor for USNA or ROTCn or his plan B Cyber Security/Russian double major, but he fulfilled his high school language requirement in a language he wanted, and in a year.

Sorry to de-rail! DS is passionate about the need for Russian in his cyber security field of choice. Anytime someone shows interest, I try to share his passion rubbed off on me, too ;)
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Damm...:)
 
unkown1961 said:
You should probably want her to be at AP Calc AB by 12th grade (preferably BC). Don't forget other STEM classes like AP Chem and Bio.
If you're wondering about which languages the AF places emphasis on, you can look at the ones they offer an ROTC Foreign Language scholarship for - https://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/schools
My son is majoring in Russian on an AFROTC scholarship (but had not taken it in high school), and this summer will be in Estonia doing a Russian immersion program. If your daughter likes foreign languages, she could look into ROTC as well.
Also, leadership comes from being club president, team captain, or in school senate. Don't just rely on CAP.
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Noted. Besides being fluent in German and French she does Cross country for her school, is a 1st chair violinist, plays violin in worship band at church, a staff sergeant in CAP, serves at the homeless shelter once a month, has a 3.9 GPA, is in the NJHS. She is only in 8th grade. We will also be adding a job at chick fil-a this summer. I think that is enough-I think. And she likes and enjoys all that she is doing!
 
My recommendation depends on your daughter's academic and career interests, which given her age may or are even likely to change. Calculus will provide a foundation which has much broader applicability. It will be helpful to studies in Mathematics, Statistics, Operations Research, Economics, Physics and Engineering. If your daughter's interests lie in any of those then Calculus would be a clear win and better prepare her for university. If she is interested in modern languages or other non-STEM disciplines then Russian may be of some benefit. Although, since USAFA has a core curriculum with a STEM focus, Calculus is probably the better choice should she go to USAFA. As a further note, when it comes to languages USAFA's plans for your daughter might be harder to predict than some suggest. The remainder of this is background to that last statement.

My DS is a current cadet, his education included two ancient and three modern languages other than English. His plan before entering USAFA was to continue to study Russian. In fact one of his plan B programs was a dual degree in Russian and Mathematics. We assumed that his languages, particularly Russian, and our not speaking them at home had factored into his receiving an appointment.

To his and our surprise, USAFA, had different plans for his language studies. They more or less insisted that he continue his studies in a single language where the only courses they could offer him as a 4c were predominantly with 2c and 1c cadets. Although, he did find being in classes with upper class cadets to be helpful during his 4c year.

USAFA would only allow him to continue his other languages including Russian if he would commit to being a Foreign Area Studies Major. However, his preference is to continue with a STEM major. Originally, he had hoped to take one course per year in each of his modern languages as a way of maintaining his fluency. It seems like his only chance of doing that may be to audit courses but even that is difficult to accommodate with the USAFA curriculum schedule.

German and French are both languages spoken in countries with which USAFA has exchange programs. Should she wind up at the Academy she may find fluency in those languages to be of greater importance to the Academy than Russian and offer some unique opportunities.
 
jeffincharlotte, if you want to discuss my kids paths to USAFA or "the chicken hut" (as we call it), please PM me when you have enough posts.

*My daughter's Chick-fil-A requires all workers to be 16, even the cow. So, your DD might need a volunteer job or other for a while yet.
 
rkv said:
My recommendation depends on your daughter's academic and career interests, which given her age may or are even likely to change. Calculus will provide a foundation which has much broader applicability. It will be helpful to studies in Mathematics, Statistics, Operations Research, Economics, Physics and Engineering. If your daughter's interests lie in any of those then Calculus would be a clear win and better prepare her for university. If she is interested in modern languages or other non-STEM disciplines then Russian may be of some benefit. Although, since USAFA has a core curriculum with a STEM focus, Calculus is probably the better choice should she go to USAFA. As a further note, when it comes to languages USAFA's plans for your daughter might be harder to predict than some suggest. The remainder of this is background to that last statement.

My DS is a current cadet, his education included two ancient and three modern languages other than English. His plan before entering USAFA was to continue to study Russian. In fact one of his plan B programs was a dual degree in Russian and Mathematics. We assumed that his languages, particularly Russian, and our not speaking them at home had factored into his receiving an appointment.

To his and our surprise, USAFA, had different plans for his language studies. They more or less insisted that he continue his studies in a single language where the only courses they could offer him as a 4c were predominantly with 2c and 1c cadets. Although, he did find being in classes with upper class cadets to be helpful during his 4c year.

USAFA would only allow him to continue his other languages including Russian if he would commit to being a Foreign Area Studies Major. However, his preference is to continue with a STEM major. Originally, he had hoped to take one course per year in each of his modern languages as a way of maintaining his fluency. It seems like his only chance of doing that may be to audit courses but even that is difficult to accommodate with the USAFA curriculum schedule.

German and French are both languages spoken in countries with which USAFA has exchange programs. Should she wind up at the Academy she may find fluency in those languages to be of greater importance to the Academy than Russian and offer some unique opportunities.
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Wow. Really great insight! I think we surely will just stick with French and German and become fully fluent in those so we can focus on match and science in high school to get her to advanced levels. She will know in a few years if she wants to take a math/engineering route or a language/foreign area studies route. The LEAP program looks to be pretty cool for someone like your son and my daughter. Thanks again for the above real life advice!
 
fencersmother said:
jeffincharlotte, if you want to discuss my kids paths to USAFA or "the chicken hut" (as we call it), please PM me when you have enough posts.

*My daughter's Chick-fil-A requires all workers to be 16, even the cow. So, your DD might need a volunteer job or other for a while yet.
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Ok. We go to church with the operator and he does hire at 14 for certain people but does prefer 16 he said. Thanks again so much!!!
 
DesertCaliMom said:
Not all schools offer Calc or AP Chem. Just make sure she challenges herself with the toughest classes her school offers. Calc isn't a requirement but take it if offered.
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Maybe she can take Calc classes at local community college. Guidance counselor should be able to help with this. These colleges offer programs during the summer, however they're at an accelerated pace & Calc may not be the course to take at that pace.
 
jeffinCharlotte said:
Noted. Besides being fluent in German and French she does Cross country for her school, is a 1st chair violinist, plays violin in worship band at church, a staff sergeant in CAP, serves at the homeless shelter once a month, has a 3.9 GPA, is in the NJHS. She is only in 8th grade. We will also be adding a job at chick fil-a this summer. I think that is enough-I think. And she likes and enjoys all that she is doing!
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Somehow I missed that she was in 8th grade. Careful of her burning out, kids need down time, especially when high school studies start taking up a lot of time after school activities. Right now, it's only 8th grade so she can relax and enjoy summer. But, other than CAP and being fluent in a language, her 8th grade activities will not be applicable to her SA or ROTC apps. In high school she'll need to be active and get on Senate, be elected president of a club, make team captain. And it'll be her peers who elect her to these positions - and unfortunately, sometimes these elections are beauty contests. Good luck.
 
jeffinCharlotte said:
Wow. Really great insight! I think we surely will just stick with French and German and become fully fluent in those so we can focus on match and science in high school to get her to advanced levels. She will know in a few years if she wants to take a math/engineering route or a language/foreign area studies route. The LEAP program looks to be pretty cool for someone like your son and my daughter. Thanks again for the above real life advice!
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I just looked at the foreign language department on the USAFA website and it appears French and German exchange opportunities are very needed and plentiful-maybe more than any other languages. Also like you said academy visits from foreign dignitaries are high from France and Germany. I have learned a lot in the past three days! Thanks to you guys here!
 
unkown1961 said:
Somehow I missed that she was in 8th grade. Careful of her burning out, kids need down time, especially when high school studies start taking up a lot of time after school activities. Right now, it's only 8th grade so she can relax and enjoy summer. But, other than CAP and being fluent in a language, her 8th grade activities will not be applicable to her SA or ROTC apps. In high school she'll need to be active and get on Senate, be elected president of a club, make team captain. And it'll be her peers who elect her to these positions - and unfortunately, sometimes these elections are beauty contests. Good luck.
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I am doing my best not to burn her out but we are doing her high school schedule now for 1st semester of 9th grade and since she is in a language immersion school we thought we should because we can at this school go to a 4th language. But when I looked at the time French, German and Russian immersion would take on the schedule it made it impossible to get to Pre Calculus and then Calculus. So I came here for advice. We took Russian off so she could take Alg 2 Trig in 9th grade and will focus on making her German and French as good as her English. Also CAP has impressed me more than any other avenue or leadership possibility I have found. I was a scout and CAP is the real deal, at least her squadron is. She loves everything she is involved in. CAP, part time job, 1st chair violinist in school, serves on worship band in church playing violin, tri lingual, NHS (will seek leadership post here) Cross country runs 22 min 5k in 8th grade(go for team captain here), 3.9 in school, continue serving the local homeless shelter food. None of these things are a burden and I made sure she loved them before dedicating time. If we keep this schedule and her passion persist I don't think she needs anything else to have a strong application. Advice noted sir!
 
Jeff,

If you are for real and not yanking everyone's chain, you need to back off.

The earliest your daughter can get that billet at NATO headquarters is about 20 years and it won't have ANYTHING to do her language skills.
 
Just looking at future careers for leaders with language skills. 10-4 I will back off. Just was reading about careers for language specialist on the USAFA website called LEAP. All I did was read about it. I realize that is way in the future if ever and was just curious that is all. All I really wanted to know from this post was if my daughter should pursue calculus or a 4th language in Russian in high school and what would be more useful. I surely am not jerking anyone's chain. That is it. Thanks.
 
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While all my kids had a paper route 7 days a week from 5:30-7 (we homeschooled so not missing the bus or anything), I would be leery about putting my 14 year old daughter into a work environment like fast-food. There are dangers (burns, cuts, falls), and more importantly, she may just say "I want to read The Hobbit and sit by the pool." Please, let her veg for the summer, maybe yes to CAP and something like babysitting to bring in some spending $. Let her find a hobby she loves - woodworking, gardening, sport, subject, etc. Let HER pursue it; you just drive her around.

And jeff, just a word, what is needed now by the ADAF or USAFA may not be what is needed in four or five years when DD gets there - things change and change quickly. You can bet the ADAF requirements will definitely change before she is 30 in sixteen years. Encourage her, as you would looking to her future, to take the most difficult coursework available to her, and to do well in it. But, especially at 14, let her be a kid.
 
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