<p>I'm a sophmore, but I've already taken 3 years of high school French.<br>
Unfortunately, the french department is lacking, and the only next course offered is AP French. There is a 200H French, which shares the class with AP. Its really stupid b/c if you're in 200H, you learn the same things as AP French, but don't take the AP Exam, but don't get the AP credit......dumb b/c you have the option of not taking the AP Exam even if you are in AP French. The only diff is slightly less difficult material for tests.<br>
The ONLY French teacher, I've had for 3 years now, is reallly, really, bad. horrible teacher. I feel that I wouldn't learn sufficient French to do well on the AP French Exam, and consequently believe that it would be a complete waste of time to take AP French as opposed to another AP, like Economics, which I'm actually interested in and may actually do well in.<br>
But then I'm faced with the conflict that most ivies/selective colleges require/reccomend 4 years of a language. </p>
<p>So what should I do? Take the fourth year for the sake of it, even though I won't take the AP Exam, or just take a diff. AP.</p>
<p>If it's having to sacrifice something you like for a language "requirement" (3 years is definitely enough at most schools, 4 might look nice but 3's enough)...I wouldn't do it. I definitely feel for you in the bad teachers department - I had to take AP French because I wanted to continue with the language (5th year) but I have the worst teacher ever and it's my least favorite class this year. I almost wish I had taken something different and just continued keeping up my French on its own. :/</p>
<p>If you can still fit in the things you like, I'd say go for AP French (in the worst case scenario, you can choose to not report your scores)...but if it's between it and a course you'd enjoy, choose the course you'd enjoy. High school isn't about torture (or it shouldn't be, haha) so don't be so hard on yourself.</p>
<p>Three years is enough imo. Most colleges require only 3 years of foreign languauge. I would check with the college I was applying to, though. I don't think colleges really care too much about foreign language as long as you
a) fulfill their requirements.
b) are not going to major in any foreign language.</p>
<p>but yeah, the class, right now is easy. Like ridiculously easy. Like I have never once done a hw assignment in the 2 years I've had class with him, like if I try to pay attn., it doesn't matter b/c he talks about random things that have nothing to do with what we're "learning", like I end up doing other hw in his class every single day, like we sometimes play solitaire and spit during his class, like we had exactly 3 grades this quarter, like 99% of the class cheats during tests (I'll even admit to have done it once), like I have no freakin clue how I'm going to pass the Regents, like that bad.<br>
Its seriously the most pointless class I've ever taken.<br>
The only good thing is that it serves as a study hall for me. </p>
<p>I feel like 3 years should be good enough, too. I guess I'll check out some more selective colleges' requirements and ask my guidance counselor. I think it would be better for me to take a course that I like and will be able to learn from. Unfortunately, colleges can't see that reasoning. oh well.</p>
<p>I am in the exact same situation, well kinda.
I am currently taking my 4th year of German as a senior, which is not AP, because the German Program at my school is very weak. The teacher spends more time talking about politics than German, and she is very easy to sidetrack. I had her junior year and knew that she was a horrible teacher, but still re-uped for Senior Year. Why? I want to give the illusion to colleges that I actually am proficient in a foreign language. </p>
<p>Ok, at my school it works like this, in middle school you are lumped into a Spanish track or a French track, I was in the French track. You take a semister long course both years in middle school and then you have the ability to go into spanish 2 or french 2 freshman year, or go into japanese, latin or german 1. Since I didn't really like French, I went into german (which i now know is a mistake, because you need to pick classes not by the class but by the teacher). </p>
<p>Now, I wasn't the most hardcore of a student until my late sophmore/early junior year. All the people who knew that they were going to be at the top of the class and applying to top tier schools (like you) knew it would be advantegous to skip a year in the language. This means that German is the language without any of the competition from those in the top of my class. So I haven't done any homework in that class in 4 years. We have kids who cheat on every test and graded assignment like its no big deal. I hate it and it is a big waste of my time, but I still take the class. I don't regret taking it as a senior, to get the 4 years in. There's no reason why every class needs to be intellectually strenuous on you at this time, especially in your junior year where grades count the most. Get the good grades and peace out.</p>