<p>Well, this may not be under the correct thread (but I suppose it pertains to College Admissions when they review your transcript)...myself and a few others are facing something of a conundrum this week in regards to our French class.</p>
<p>For seniors taking the highest level of French there is AP and French V honors. Many of us are in limbo or in the wrong class (scheduling catastrophe). I am in V, should be in AP. The problem is, the French V honors teacher is a much, much better teacher than the AP one. All of us, all, agree we would probably learn more in V than AP. The AP teacher, while a great, funny guy (had him for last two years), operates a chaotic circus of a class. AP French kids from last year said you basically have to do AP study yourself outside of class since the hour in class is worthless. I may see if I can take the AP exam and stay in V, but I don't know. The material varies, AP is random, V has order, but of equal level.</p>
<p>So, do I sacrifice and go into AP for the sake of an AP? Or stick with V for the betterment of my French? What would colleges think?</p>
<p>take the better teacher. You're right to be concerned about how colleges interpret your transcript, but on the other hand 5 years of a foreign language is going to look good no matter what. </p>
<p>In the longer run what you actually <em>learn</em> is what matters, not what credential you have to show. If you spend a semester abroad (which I highly recommend, everyone who does so says its the highlight of their college experience) waving the transcript showing the AP class at a french shopkeeper is going to be far less valuable than being able to speak to him in french ;)</p>
<p>This is similar to the predicament in which I now find myself in my Senior AP English class. The teacher has never taught it before, and in past years she taught sophomores and freshmen. In the past few weeks, I have learned close to nothing. I sit in class, and there are no occasions of intellectual stimulation/enlightenment whatsoever. It is the most depressing thing ever, especially when I have to do work for the class while feeling that I will gain nothing from it - everything I learn is through my sitting with the textbook, which I could do without an instructor. All the while, the kids who took the "easier" route of Senior Honors English are absorbing the knowledge of a well-developed, structured course taught by more experienced and recommended teachers. It is in situations like this that the AP label can be so misleading. </p>
<p>I highly suggest you take the class in which you feel you will learn more. It can be torturous to go to a class everyday knowing that you could just as well teach yourself everything you are learning in it, which should not be the case. If you have an opportunity to take the class with a great teacher, take advantage of it.</p>