Fluency in a foreign language?

Applying to College
1

<p>When does a college consider someone to be fluent in a foreign language?</p>

<p>I'll have taken French every year in H.S by the time I graduate. I've consistently been the top of my French class, because I study it quite a bit in my spare time. I can read books in French (albeit very slowly), and my accent is nearly perfect. My French teacher would declare me proficient or maybe even fluent, but if someone started speaking to me in French, it would likely take me a few minutes to understand them because, my teacher excluded, I do not have anyone to practice having a real conversation with. </p>

<p>Would it be safe to say that I'm fluent in French on my applications, especially if this teacher writes a recommendation for me?</p>

2

<p>I would just say how many years you’ve been studying French because of your troubles with speech. Or, you could try to take the DELF [url=&lt;a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplôme_d’études_en_langue_française]Dipl”&gt;Diplôme d'études en langue française - Wikipedia]Dipl</a></p>

3

<p>Fluency usually means verbally competent in the language – especially in dialog with native speakers. My sense from your post is that you’re not quite at that level.</p>

<p>Second best: Take the French AP exam and score a 5. Then note that on your application.</p>

4

<p>Languages are a requirement for most High Schools and colleges to some extent. Although we may perfect the accents and be the best in our classes, we probably won’t be very close to fluency (I’ve taken Japanese for 5 years and I know exactly what you mean).</p>

<p>Your transcripts will already show that you did well, and for how long you took a language.
If you want to flaunt your skills, take the AP test, SAT II test, or the language proficiency test (DELF for French) and add that to your resume.</p>

<p>Being fluent or intermediate in a language shows dedication. Being bilingual also sets you apart from those who took Spanish for a year or two.</p>

5

<p>[Wikibooks:Language</a> Learning Difficulty for English Speakers - Wikibooks, open books for an open world](<a href=“http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikibooks:Language_Learning_Difficulty_for_English_Speakers]Wikibooks:Language”>Wikibooks:Language Learning Difficulty for English Speakers - Wikibooks, open books for an open world)</p>

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<p>^ Very interesting info Annasdad.</p>

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<p>Let’s say you are legitimately fluent in a foreign language, but there’s no AP Exam available for it? Where do I label this on an application?</p>

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<p>There’s a section on the Common App where you can indicate what languages you are competent/fluent in.</p>

<p>Sent from my HTC Glacier using CC App</p>

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<p>Ah okay. Sweet :)</p>

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<p>You can also see if there’s a SAT II or fleuency test avaliable. If you learned it prior to HS, then there probably is no need.</p>

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<p>sorry to pop in, but where do you list the language proficiency tests you’ve taken? on the awards section or on the EC section?</p>

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<p>I’d probably say awards (it is a certification technically). If there is a section for academic etc., it would fit there better.</p>