Hi, so this is my first forum and I really need help with deciding what languages to take. I’ve taken Mandarin for a few years now and this is my second year in high school taking it. I’m chinese and I speak cantonese fluently, but not mandarin, so my speaking and listening for mandarin is pretty rusty. However, I really want to take a new language next year and drop mandarin so it’ll be easier for me. My counsellor said it would be fine as long as I got a 4 or 5 on the AP chinese next year. I think i’ll do fine in the reading and writing but I’d probably mess up the speaking so I don’t know what to do. Do you think it would be safe if I studied for AP chinese next year with my tutor out of school and take a new language in school? Would i have a good chance of getting a 4 or 5 on the test? Also I don’t know if I should take French or Spanish next year, or take them both together? I’m thinking of taking either language over summer to get a boost for next year. Sorry if this is really long. Thanks guys!
I don’t see how starting a new language is going to make things easier for you. Perhaps I misread your issue? All I can say is that you definitely should not take both French and Spanish together. If you absolutely have to, or want to try something new, take one. If you want a good grade, stick with what you’re familiar with (Mandarin). It’s not worth the effort and it’s difficult to accomplish much within two years of high school. Unless you want to study either of them in college, there are probably better things to do over the summer than take one language course (like visiting a French/Spanish/Mandarin speaking location and immersing yourself into the culture if you’re really into improving in a language). Consider that you have other things to do as well.
I also suggest you look around for threads about the pros and cons of self-studying APs to decide if that’s the best plan for your situation. It’s definitely doable to get a 4 or 5 on the Chinese test if you’ve taken it for a decent amount of time. All the best!
Thank you! and yeah I would want to continue one of the languages in college so I might just take either one of them outside of school! 