I couldn’t find an EC forum, so I thought I’d just post here.
I’ve been self-teaching myself Japanese for 4 years, and it’s the subject of my common app essay. I was wondering how much of a unique EC that is to college admissions. Besides the fact that I’m a hispanic female, I’m counting on that to be my hook for admissions (my first choice school is UVA, I live in Virginia).
All answers are appreciated! 
It would be more of an (academic) EC rather than a hook.
If your skill is significant, you may want to take the SAT subject test, AP test, or JLPT to show what level you have self-studied to.
Being Hispanic (a URM) is more of a hook than learning Japanese.
Don’t count on it; it’s not a hook, but could be considered an EC.
UVA admission is ridiculously unpredictable. No, self-learning a language isn’t a hook. Now, if you had won some govt exchange based on this, that would intrigue. Or if you put this to good use in the community or for a job. But just self learning doesn’t tell anything about how far you got, your accent or ability to use the language. Etc. Sorry that that sounds harsh. Is there any twist you can offer about knowing the language?
@lookingforward, I attended the 2014 Governor’s Japanese Academy, if that’s what you meant by a government exchange. What do you mean by a twist I can offer about knowing the language?
Also @lookingforward, if you didn’t know about Governor’s Academies, they are super competitive summer programs to enhance different areas of study, i.e. STEM, foreign language, humanities, etc.
I think self-teaching Japanese is a great EC, especially if you can demonstrate proficiency (which I assume admission to the Governor’s Academies indicates, but I don’t know what that is). If you can also explain your fascination for the language (and presumably the culture since it’s hard to learn one without the other), I think it would make for an interesting essay. As an adcom, my thought would be, "she sounds interesting, intellectually curious, quirky and self-motivated - someone I’d like to talk with more.’ And that is a desirable first impression. When coupled with solid academics and URM status, I think it’s a pretty solid combination. Go with it!
(But languages aren’t hooks, by the way - Hispanic IS a hook.)
What we’re saying is just self study isn’t necessarily enough to take it beyond an EC, but accomplishing something is good.
So at GA, Japanese is partial immersion, right? What level was the class and how was your proficiency?
The advice is show, not just tell. Meaning not just I like this, I did that. Find ways to show your curiosity and what led you to this. I do think getting to GA is good.
Thank you N’s Mom and lookingforward. GJA was partial immersion, and I was in the intermediate class (there was a beginner, intermediate, and advanced class). Since then I’ve improved my skills, so I’d probably be in the advanced class now. My essay goes into detail about my enthusiasm and dedication to the language, and how I want to become a Japanese teacher. If you want I could show my essay (it’s for the common app).