My rising 8th grader took a Arabic online course last summer via the Johns Hopkins CTY and really liked the language. She would like to continue learning Arabic again this summer. Caveat–her school does not offer Arabic as a FL option in high school so she would be taking Spanish all through. She is rather good with picking up languages (is already in the Advanced Spanish section at school) but I want her to think a bit more before committing out of school time to learning another language. She is not athletic so she feels this could be a valuable EC for her. Do you good folks have any advice? I know this is the age for exploration but given how heavy the study schedule can become it might be tough to do something halfway. Any ideas for her as she thinks about this? Thank you so much!
I think most colleges look pretty favorably on having additional languages as long as you go in depth (at least three years of each, 4 is better) and even more so when it is an unusual or difficult language. The most important part is that it is something your daughter wants to do. At this age it is so much better to pursue something you are passionate about than something you think will look good to colleges.
My son studied Arabic for four years in college. Colleges know how difficult it is and will be impressed. When she’s a little older she may want to look into this program: http://www.nsliforyouth.org/
I hesitate to recommend a 3rd language if she’s not fluent in the second. Is she comfortable conversing in Spanish with a native speaker?
I would not take a language just because it may(emphasis on may) satisfy a random admissions officer giving a couple minute glance at an application. take a language class not connected to school only for interest in leaning, and do not expect any added benefit from it.