I have this doubt regarding to the foreign language requirement. I’m a CA resident, but my native language is not English. I’ve decided to take Spanish 4 to fulfill the foreign language requirement for IGETC and use that same class to fulfill a requirement for the humanities section in IGETC. Since I’m a STEM major, I’d really hate to trade one of my math or comp. science classes for a different humanities course. On top of that, because of my background, I’m fluent in four languages other than English but my CCC only offers advanced courses in Spanish.
My counselor told me that my CCC will certify IGETC by Spring 18, but she said that UCs might not approve of the fact that I took a foreign language class in my own native language. Do you have information on whether UCs actually care about foreign language and the background/native language of the applicant? I mean, it’s not like I’m getting it easy here, imagine if you moved to Russia and the university complained because even if you’ve got As in Russian Literature and Russian Composition, you took a course in English to fulfill the foreign language requirement. What about the bilingual people who actually major in a foreign language?
That is true about taking your own language, but if it’s a literature course you will get humanities credit. Not sure how Spanish 4 would play in terms of LOTE, you may get credit because it’s advanced. Not sure. Did you go to a high school where the language of instruction was not English? If so, two years of that fulfills the req. You just need to show your transcript to your advisor. You can also take a test somewhere. I don’t know the details on that.
Included among the options are showing two years of schooling (6th grade level or higher) at a school with a language of instruction other than English, or any one of various possible achievement or proficiency tests in the language. These options may allow you to fulfill that part of IGETC without having to take a course in the language. For example, if the Spanish faculty at your college says that your Spanish ability is higher than the fourth semester college course, whoever does IGETC certification should accept that.
Have not seen any indication that UC penalizes taking an appropriate-level course in your native or heritage language.
While I did attend high school in Spanish, I’d rather not rely on those credits because those transcripts are in Spanish and this could delay my IGETC certification. It would take some time for my CCC to process that documentation; in addition, in case they’d required additional information, I would have to travel 5000 miles because these schools (by policy) do not mail any extra documentation, and that is a risk I would rather avoid.
I did have a conversation in Spanish with the head of the Spanish department at my community college in order to get a special permission to take Spanish 4 without the prerequisites. She never mentioned the possibility of waiving my foreign language requirement altogether for IGETC certification purposes, though.
My Spanish level is certainly higher than the fourth semester college course, so, technically, it could be argued that I’m getting credit for a course that poses zero effort on my part. But then again, Spanish 4 is not just about grammar and linguistic competence, I suppose it is counted for the humanities section of IGETC because, according to the course description, it involves “comparing and contrasting Spanish-speaking cultures through topics such as: customs, traditions, legends, and associated festivities; news analyses; medicinal practices; environmentalism and ecology; literary readings.”
I thought it would be a good idea to use the same course to fulfill a humanities and a foreign language requirement at the same time without having to pay for additional testing. But if this can be perceived as a stain my UC application, then I’d rather take Economy 1A or Sociology 1 (any of these courses will free a slot that will allow me to fulfill IGETC). Although in that case I’d have to make a few changes in my schedule and pray that I find a spot on those classes. Transfer admissions feel like the Spanish Inquisition sometimes
I didn’t read past the first paragraph. The advisors certify that sort of thing all the time. Bring in the transcripts. They’re in Spanish. That’s clue # 1. If that isn’t enough, all they need to do is send an email to the school and ask or go to the website. As far as I’ve heard it’s fairly instantaneous. Why take a class you don’t need?
Just bring the transcript to the advisor. No harm, no foul. Your hesitation makes me wonder if you’re leaving something out. (If you’re worried about grades, it won’t matter. It’s irrelevant.) And BTW, the head of department likely knows little about IGETC. Advisors are the ones.
This is exactly what I’m worried about. I went to a public school in foreign Third World country, no such thing as website or email communication; they don’t even know what a standard transcript (accepted in the US) looks like. And trust me, I have very good reasons to be worried about since I’ve declared all of my foreign coursework and I’ve been requested to provide extra documentation. I just can’t afford to travel abroad over paperwork.
Ok, do what you want. You aren’t even taking the initiative to bring the transcripts into the advisor. It’s their call to sign you off. The UCs honor IGETC and don’t look it over. All you’re doing is pointlessly second-guessing everything. I really don’t care. Just pointing out the obvious.
You are NOT going to have to travel abroad. You’re from a 3rd world country and your transcript is in another language. It notes the years you were there. It’s not rocket science. All international transcripts with language instruction other than English are in a different language and it’s not this convoluted process you’re talking about. Verifying credits is one thing, determining the language of instruction is another. Anyway, done with this convo as it’s veered into stubbornness.
Go have that conversation with the Spanish department again and ask specifically if they will write a letter or whatever is needed to have the IGETC office certify completion of foreign language for IGETC at UC.
It is very unlikely that you will be the first student who knows Spanish to the fourth or higher semester of college level but does not have easily accessible documentation of previous schooling indicating that.
@smsk, I really don’t appreciate your snarky response since you were making no attempt to talk to anyone on your campus or do anything but second-guess. However here is your answer in black and white from the UC itself:
“2. Satisfactory completion of a course (or courses) at a college or university with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better in each course. Usually, one semester of college work in a language other then English is equivalent to two years of high school work. The equivalency is usually stated in the college catalog. For the purpose of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, the appropriate course (or courses) that can be used to satisfy the Language Other Than English (LOTE) requirement is indicated on the approved IGETC list of each community college.
3. Satisfactory completion, with “C” (2.0) grades or better, of two years of formal schooling at the sixth grade level or higher in an institution where the language of instruction is not English. Appropriate documentation must be presented to substantiate that the required coursework was completed. If an official sealed transcript cannot be obtained from an international institution an unofficial or opened transcript may be used to verify proficiency. Students who cannot provide documentation should either pass one of the examinations or tests listed below in 4 through 10, or satisfactorily complete an appropriate language course at their college, as outlined in 2 above.
4. Satisfactory score on the SAT II: Subject Test in languages other than English.
Before May 1995 use 1st score; if taken after May 1995 use 2nd score:
Chinese with listening: 500/520
Hebrew (Modern): 500/470
Korean/Korean with listening: /500
French/French with listening: 500/540
Italian: 500/520
Latin: 500/530
German/German with listening: 500/510
Japanese with listening: 500/510
Spanish/Spanish with listening: 500/520.”
I found one other section pertaining to ucbalumnus’s suggestion:
“8. If an achievement test is not available, a faculty member associated
with a United States regionally accredited institution of higher
education can verify a student’s competency. The institution must
provide a document on letterhead asserting that the student has
mastered proficiency in the language equivalent to two years of
high school study. This must be printed on college/ university letterhead.”
BTW, this and the above were readily available by googling “UC IGETC LOTE”
Really, it’s your own time you’re wasting by working on false assumptions. I did have a conversation, not with one, but with two different counselors from my CCC campus, and I’ve explained my situation to them. Of course they did not ask to have a look at my transcripts because they don’t understand Spanish. BUT they’ve trusted me when I told them that these schools probably do not know what a standard high school transcript looks like. It would be a headache for my CCC as well, if they have to validate unofficial transcripts that do not meet the standards.
So, @ucbalumnus is right. Spanish 4 is the most advanced course offered at my CCC, if my level is above that course, then, in theory, I should get IGETC certified without any other examinations (SAT II). I think that’s an important point.
