<p>I can read Hebrew but I have no idea what it means (I went to Hebrew school and everything). Does that count as being able to "read" Hebrew? They give you the option to put S,R, and W (speak, read, and write).</p>
<p>Is this even a question? Spanish is a phonetic language. It would take roughly a day to teach someone to read Spanish with perfect pronunciation and not have a clue what it means. That isn’t speaking a language by any stretch of the imagination.</p>
<p>I didn’t say it was speaking i asked if it was considered “reading”</p>
<p>It’s not reading either. The only reading that Harvard cares about is the kind that requires that you actually understand what’s going on, rather than recognize that certain letters stand for certain sounds, trust me.</p>
<p>Okay thanks 
If I’m in AP spanish, does that count as “speaking” spanish or do they want fluency?</p>
<p>I don’t think they give a strict set of criteria so as far as I know it’s up to your judgment. If you can get a 5 on the AP Spanish test you can probably put “fluent” safely. Remember that fluent doesn’t necessarily mean the level of a native speaker. Just ask yourself if you can hold an intelligent conversation with a native speaker.</p>
<p>Hmm… it probably depends what we’re talking about. I haven’t taken any practice APs so I have no idea whether or not I could get a 5.</p>
<p>Being in AP Spanish doesn’t make you anything at all, certainly not necessarily fluent, but depending on your school’s criteria, you probably have some level of proficiency. Proficient is the right word to use. You don’t want to get caught with your pants down if your interviewer knows a little bit of Spanish.</p>
<p>In any case, you can probably mark ‘S’, safely.</p>
<p>Well considering I’m submitting my app now, I probably won’t get an interview. Thanks anyway though, Mentos. I mean, I could probably speak enough to hold a conversation about most things and I know quite a few random phrases that Latinos use thanks to my In the Heights obsession :P. It might just take me a few minutes to get my thoughts together. Like half of the time I answer a question in Spanish class, I’ll be like “oh dang I just thought of something 5x more sophisticated to say” lol.</p>
<p>Just curious… this is kind of off topic, but how do you guys like Harvard? I was honestly kind of hesitant to apply (not even considering the fact that the chances of me getting in are so slim) just because Harvard seems so intimidating.</p>
<p>I loved Harvard but I was too intimidated to apply. My mom encouraged me to and I’m glad. I’ve visited the campus and it is intimidating (especially some of the grumpy librarians!) but in the end it’s just a college. Every college is and should be intimidating after high school.</p>
<p>By the way I decided not to put anything in the language box since Harvard could see my grades in AP spanish.</p>