<p>Well, I just got into an argument with D about her schedule for her Sr. year. The problem is that she wants to finish up her 4th year of orchestra and 6th year of Spanish. (She's considering a Spanish major right now.) School is only offering both of those classes during the same period. The Spanish teacher has talked to the person in charge of the master schedule. Because of the demand for AP science classes, that is the best period to offer the Spanish. It effects the least number of students (3 versus 7 for a different period.) I won't even get into the fact that they've also schedule an advanced English class that period--argh! That effects most of the Sr. orchestra students. </p>
<p>We live in a college town with an Open Program for hs students. We've looked at the schedule pretty intently for a Spanish class she could take there. The difficulty is that the college classes begin/end at different times, throw in some commuting time and it's nearly impossible. If she was in a lower level class it would be easier to sign her up for a class at the college as more are offered. The other problem is that afterschool she has commitments with EC's. (orchestra, NHS, a sport, etc.) </p>
<p>The counselor has said she can take the fifth level again, but she doesn't want to do that because it would be boring, she would miss out on field trips, and in 6th year they speak exclusively Spanish. </p>
<p>I've explored every option. Realistically, as I see it, her best option, if she really wants to do it all, is to retake level 5 and hope the teacher will permit her to do something extra. I can't think of anything else. Anyone else have an idea? I'm happy she's being passionate about something, but I just wish she would see the reasons as this being the best option.</p>
<p>Retaking it seems like it'd be very boring for your D and a waste of time. I don't understand '6th year' of Spanish since there are only 4 years of HS unless she started as a 3rd year due to taking Spanish in middle school or having some other background. At my D's HS they started speaking exclusively Spanish in the third year of Spanish. Even if she's planning to major in Spanish that seems like a lot of courses going into it. She might have a very easy time of it in college.</p>
<p>At our HS they allow to take the next level of language as "independent study" (the students have a teacher that meets with them periodically, and work on assignments on their own most of the time.)</p>
<p>How about getting involved in some organization of Spanish speakers? Or working one-on-one with a Spanish tutor? Or working with Spanish-speaking kids? Being a big sister to a Latina girl, or something like that?</p>
<p>Has she taken the equivelant of 5 yrs of Spanish in High school alone, or would this be her 6th year od Spanish if you include middle school? If she has done 5 years in HS, then really there is no need for her to take any more, especially given the scheduling conflicts, which college admissions commitees will understand.</p>
<p>Have you ruled out being the Spanish teacher's aide? Sure, she'd be correcting hw for the Spanish I class, but she'd also have independent study time. And, if I'm not mistaken, aiding can occur in almost any class period.</p>
<p>Have you discussed the situation with the teacher? It is fairly common in my kids' schools to have different levels in the same language class. For example, Latin III and AP Latin IV are held during the same class period. My daughter took Spanish IV in a class with several AP Spanish V students.</p>
<p>Our school district allows middle school students that do well in English classes to take HS level Spanish. She came into high school at the third year of HS level. Levels 5 and 6 get into second year college Spanish. </p>
<p>ADad--you've hit on the heart of the problem. What she wants to do is go to the college, but it does not seem workable. I think she has romanticized this option and is not thinking about the logistics of it. Last night I looked at the time schedule for her HS thinking she could miss lunch and one class. I forgot that once a week they have a "homeroom" type class that throws the entire time schedule off. </p>
<p>She's going to speak with the two upper level Spanish teachers today about some sort of independent study in conjunction with the level 5 class. Currently her schedule includes an "internship" which she will try to do at a Spanish organization, either through the university or something in our community. </p>
<p>To clarify, she wants to take this final year of Spanish for a couple of reasons. Primarily she is concerned that if she is not taking Spanish she will begin to lose some of her skills and knowledge. Many of the colleges she is considering allow students to test out of beginning level courses. (This is one of our criteria for schools on her list.) For a potential Spanish major this is important as many colleges don't count the early courses towards the major requirement. Even if she ends up in a different major those courses can be applied towards her degree. </p>
<p>We'll see what happens. I was just very frustrated last night. On an interesting note, she interviewed for her first job last night at a Mexican restaurant. Having been customers in the past, we know that many of the employees speak Spanish while working. If she gets this job, it might take off some of the pressure she feels. </p>
<p>As always, thanks for the suggestions and thoughts. I think we hit all the bases, but one never knows.</p>
<p>Perhaps the administration would be willing to explore the possibility of missing the "homeroom" and doing whatever is required at another time?</p>
<p>Or, on the other hand, somehow making up the one college class that apparently would be missed because of "homeroom"?</p>
<p>Let me add another voice for independent study. When I was in high school, I did AP French as a frosh, AP French Lit as a soph, and a grad class in medieval French lit at the local university as a junior. Then I found out that the district wouldn't count that last one for satisfying requirements. So I did an independent study - it was mostly reading French media (newspapers, magazines), with some more lit thrown in there (e.g. Sartre), and writing reports on it in French.</p>
<p>I think that it is very important to stick with the Spanish program and be in a classroom where she will be surrounded by the language. I would look into the possibility of tinkering with the orchestra class--you mentioned after school orch. EC--can she get the music, study with a private instructor, go to after school practices, rehearsals and recitals, or study with the orch. teacher before or after school. There may be youth orchestra opportunities where you live. I think that many music teachers are so happy to find committed students who love to play an instrument, that they will find a way to make it happen for them.</p>
<p>While music is very important, I would agree that the Spanish should come first, if an independent study in the language doesn't work out. I also agree that there may be performing opportunities through a youth or local community orchestra. This is my advice, because you say she is considering majoring in Spanish. It would be vital to continue with the language, as she probably will lose some of it by missing out a year. Spanish would be the priority in this situation, as much as I love music! BTW, I am a Spanish and French teacher, so I may be biased! :)</p>
<p>In our HS there were often conflicts for the advanced students, particularly when they crossed the core advanced classes into the specialties. Several solutions were developed.</p>
<p>The level 6 type students sat in the level 5 class but were taught the level 6 material. For activities they participated with the other level 6 students. The orchestra students practiced in a separate period and joined the orchestra for specific concert rehearsals. (harder to coordinate)</p>
<p>The men's chorale and the jazz ensembles and some other specialized classes actually went to an after school credited class. </p>
<p>It took a couple of years after school went to IB to resolve the conflict areas in this fashion but it seems to work . It takes agreement for cooperation between the various classes but a strong administration support can make it work.</p>
<p>Don't skip the orchestra.It's her last year, and she will regret it. Spanish can be taken at the community college or online. Ordinarily, I would agree that it's important to do the languages in the classroom, but we're talking about a student who has five years of Spanish already behind her. She'll be fine in an independent study or online.</p>
<p>I'm leaning to the independent study. Perhaps she could team up with a Spanish speaking student for conversation? Maybe they could watch Spanish movies together and she could write about them? Or perhaps she could find an adult in the community who would be willing to speak Spanish to her? Is this 6th year course a post AP course? an AP course? Neither?</p>
<p>Course conflicts are a pain, Mathson had problems every year.</p>
<p>I don't think it would ruin her career/major to take a year off from Spanish. Just be sure to watch some Spanish TV and read a few books, perhaps occasionally write notes/letters to the Spanish teacher for practice? Sort of independent study but without any credit. </p>
<p>DS took Spanish 4 & 5 AP, got a 5 on the AP exam and a 730 on the SAT II. He placed out of all of the Spanish language classes at his LAC, and went straight into Spanish History & Culture. He was the only frosh in a class where most of the kids had already spent a semester in Spain, and he still got an A-. So I don't see that a 6th year of h.s. Spanish is going to give her much of an advantage in college, and not taking it wouldn't seem to be a disadvantage. Our hs doesn't offer Spanish 6, I have never heard of one that does, so your D won't be behind most other students.</p>
<p>Be grateful you even have this dilemma - our district is looking at budget cuts. Next year the 5th year of all foreign languages is gone. French 4 can only be taken Honors, no AP or College Prep. Only kids who have taken Honors French 3 are eligible. D's friend is in college prep French 3, there is now no way for her to take 3 years of a language in hs. Guidance says they will note that on her transcript so colleges won't punish her for not taking the 3rd year.</p>
<p>Does your high school have a system where students can be teacher's aides and also get credit for the course? My daughter did that for a couple of classes in high school. When she started college she had advanced Russian language skills, but she placed into a 2nd semester level course but did not want to go a full semester without the language, so at her advisor's suggestion, she went into the first semester course with something of a special teacher's aide status there as well. I think that worked out very well -- at least my d. now has had straight A's in college Russian for 2 years straight. Both of my kids' high schools had combined level language students in the upper level classes, in any case -- so for my son the 4th year of French was in a combined class with 3rd year students. My daughter's senior year, she was with a group of 4th-year, AP-level Russian students sharing a classroom with beginning, 1st year students -- it simply was the only way things could be arranged in the public school. It wasn't ideal, but a lot of work was done with computers and it did at least keep up the year of language study. </p>
<p>I think these things are fairly common so I do believe it would be possible for your d. to do more advanced language study while in the Spanish 5 classroom if the teacher was flexible and supportive.</p>