<p>Hello,
The common asks for you to indicate your LEVEL of proficiency in a language. Would this include a language that you have taken on in school?</p>
<p>It asks you to list languages in which you are proficient. Then, it asks you to indicate the level of proficiency. Therefore, a few years in HS foreign language class should not be included unless you would be comfortable:
-having a college interview in that language
-reading a novel (of moderate difficulty) in that language
-writing your college essay in that language</p>
<p>Something like that, anyway.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>I would be able to do any of those things but I would not be comfortable necessarily…would that be considered “proficient” do you think?</p>
<p>I think as long as you’re capable of doing them it should count…it’s hard to be comfortable in a language that is not your own. I’ve been speaking English for 15 out of my 18 years and I still struggle with the pronunciation of certain words…but I would consider myself fully billingual.</p>
<p>@ shorecrest
That is my concern as well. I feel capable, and yet not in any advanced</p>
<p>Proficiency doesn’t mean that you have mastered a language - it is normal, for example, in the Chinese language to not know all of the traditional Chinese characters, or to not know all the Kanji in Japanese. (Or to have difficulty in pronouncing some obscure English words.)</p>
<p>It would be a joke, on the other hand, if I said I was proficient after taking three years of Spanish (at my HS). I wouldn’t really be comfortable speaking/reading/writing anything much more than “No hablo espanol.” Sure, I probably could speak/read/write more advanced Spanish, but I would have to think about it a lot, and maybe look up a few words as well - I don’t think that’s anywhere close to proficient.</p>
<p>I think an “ideal proficiency” (which may be too strict for the CA’s purposes) would be if you can speak/read/write in a language without translating into a different language in your head. When I use English, I don’t translate everything into Japanese - nor vice versa.</p>
<p>I’m having the same difficulty too. I’ve been taking French at school for the past few years, with a lot of studying on my own, and am proficient enough to be able to read a book, albeit with consulting a dictionary occasionally. However, my writing in French is not as strong, and I would not feel comfortable having an interview solely in French. </p>
<p>Do you think it’s safe to put proficiency in reading, but nothing else? What if you are also learning another language on your own, but are not proficient in it yet? Should you mention that on an application?</p>
<p>In my case with spanish, I do not translate directly in my head. I can speak with fair ease and read and understand. However, there are gaps in my vocabulary that come from not being a native speaker. I lack expressions and whatnot, yet I feel I have a strong grasp on the language. I do not know where this leaves me.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter one way or another. My D just ignored the question. She took AP Spn Lang and AP Spn Lit by jr yr; she scored 5 on both. Her Japanese was way better than Spanish at the time.</p>
<p>so, do you think I should report my capability or no?</p>
<p>I speak some foreign languages very fluently. I’d say if you don’t translate in your head, you’re pretty good. Vocab gap… unless you’re native speaker the gap is always there. So, report it. Proficient level would be fine. (I don’t know the actual details on the Common App)</p>
Hi! I recently sent in My common app. I have taken 4 years of spanish and can write and read fairly well. I have read some classics in spanish and can finish short stories and books with some ease. I do need a dictionary at times though. I had put down that I was proficient in reading and writing. I am worried that this may come up as a misnomer. I recently contacted some of the colleges I sent the application too. Will this downwardly affect my application?