language fluency on college application

<p>On college apps, I write that English is my first language, but Tamil and English are spoken in the home. </p>

<p>I am positive that I can understand Tamil well, but I don't think I qualify for fluency(which probably entails speaking and writing). I think I could speak some, but I lack some confidence. I have been learning (slowly, because of school) to read, write, and speak better from the internet because my parents are often not cooperative and use a mix of some Tamil and mostly English when they are talking to me.</p>

<p>I spent one summer learning to read beginning Hindi from a neighbor. I can still read at a beginner level, but it's sort of funny because I don't understand what I am speaking. </p>

<p>Also, there's the matter of French(I,II, III) from school. I guess colleges will except that I know some French just because I was learning it in school. However, the French program in my school(s)(both schools, go figure) were not that great and although I am pretty good at grammar, we never did much speaking or listening. And it probably didn't help that I didn't care so much to learn much extra outside of school.</p>

<p>So the point of this post....
is there any way I can get these skills across, without seeming like I'm reaching for something on my apps. I have spent a lot of my time learning Hindi and Tamil, so I guess it could count as a hobby or activity, and I wouldn't want that to go to waste. </p>

<p>Also, would it help to continue learning Tamil by December/January, and/or write that I am fluent? Is there a definition within the definition of fluency that I could qualify for, and still, is that "reaching"?</p>

<p>Thank you ahead of time for reading my post.</p>

<p>good question, i'm in a similar situation. anyone?</p>

<p>my only advice - don't lie. as far as i see, you dont feel like you're fluent, so don't try to sneak the lie past the admissions officer.</p>