<p>How important is a fourth year of language for top tier schools? DS had planned on taking a fourth year of language (which would have placed him in French 5) but a reviled teacher is teaching the class. (3 of 7 students are intending to drop). After three terrible years in middle school and freshman year I agree that he's given it a chance. There are two issues: they will learn nothing and he will be given a B regardless of the quality of his work. Before someone writes "he'll need to learn to get along with all sorts of teachers in college"--I agree. But you don't keep taking classes from them if that's the case. Please advise on how important it is for his transcript.</p>
<p>I think many colleges look primarily at the highest level taken, not the amount of years taken in high school - that is, that they expect one to have completed Level IV, which yours has. Although, since your son seems to be a sophomore, would he consider beginning another language? Having taken two foreign languages by the time he graduates would certainly be impressive. </p>
<p>he’s a rising senior. But thank you for your comment. He had the teacher for 7th, 8th and 9th grades. (He entered 9th grade in French 2).</p>
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I guess I have to take issue with this. Nobody is “taught” a language, as if listening to a teacher pours the language into their head. There are entire forums devoted to people learning a language on their own, and teaching yourself is really what it boils down to for everyone. Given the material to be covered in his class, its all going to come down to practice, practice, practice. Of course the 5 hours/week of class could productively be used for this with drills and conversations, but he could (if he wished) do it on his own; even better if he put together a group of kids in the class to spend even 30 minutes a day practicing whatever they are studying that week. </p>
<p>The most valuable life lesson he might learn from this class is not french, is not being a more attractive candidate for top schools, its taking responsibility when the deck seems stacked against you and making it work anyway.</p>
<p>A 2nd alternative is to take the class at a local CC.</p>
<p>Take issue with it all you wish, but this is not a ‘valuable lesson’. Excuse me if I’m a bit heated, but he’s already taken responsibility for a deck stacked against him, surviving a grievous and life changing tragedy during his sophomore year. The question is whether colleges will look askance at three years of a language, not how to transform it into another ‘learning experience.’</p>