<p>I got assigned to Japanese this year. Even though I requested French. I tried switching out, but apparently all the other language classes are full. I don't feel like learning a new alphabet, or visiting Japan anytime soon. Do Colleges care about which language you take in High School? I know they want you to take four, or three years, but do they have a preference for a specific language?</p>
<p>I doubt that any colleges would really discriminate against you based on what language you take; they might even like that you're taking Japanese in that it is not a particularly common language to take in HS and you could be seen as breaking away from the crowd and being unique and all those other things which colleges like.</p>
<p>The kana in Japanese are really easy to learn (I know them all! :] ), so long as you can develop a good mnemonic scheme for them (or use one of the ones readily available on the web). It's the kanji that can be a real *****. :/</p>
<p>Grammar's not too hard on the lower levels, either.</p>
<p>I would LOVE to take Japanese. Sadly I'm in my second AP Latin class now, although I only took Latin because our school didn't offer Italian :[</p>
<p>It's not simple to learn Japanese.</p>
<p>The grammar structure is wayyy different than English. Although the words are easier to pronounce, and Japanese is a beautiful language to learn.</p>
<p>I think it's cool. You should take it. I would if it were offered, but we can only take French or Spanish at our school. A big school too, ridiculous we can't get anymore.</p>
<p>Anyways, I hear its a very difficult language to become fluent in, but if you can, kudos!</p>
<p>Although there are benefits to learning Japanese (as said by the previous posters), I see something wrong to you being assigned into a language class... Assigned to learn a relatively difficult language. Maybe it's just me.</p>
<p>japanese is SOOOOO much fun, and other than the obvious barrier of having to learn a whole new alphabet, the language really isn't that hard. i would highly recommend japanese over both spanish and french...</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Why would you highly recommend it? I mean it's good that YOU like the language, and I do also, but, over Spanish and French? I think I'm going to use Spanish in my life way more than I will ever use French or Japanese. Same with other languages.</p>
<p>I agree with LMU, Spanish is a much more useful language than Japanese (Spanish is spoken in 20+ countries including the U.S.; Japanese is spoken in...Japan). Whatever you do, stay with one language.</p>
<p>At least your school has other languages. My school just has spanish 1& 2, that's it. It's not even possible for anyone at my school to take 3 or 4 years of a language any more. The only reason I will get 3 years of a language is because I'm taking Latin 1-3 online.</p>