Years of language question:

<p>If I took 2 language courses (one in each language) each in ninth and tenth grade, does that count as four years of a language, particularly if I take the SAT subject test in my dominant language (not native born)? (There's no AP offered.) The problem is that while I will have the opportunity to take one of them in twelfth, I won't have the opportunity (due to stupid school scheduling which I can't do anything about) to take either in eleventh and I'm worried about whether it will count against me in college apps.
Thanks!</p>

<p>Bumping down the road of life…</p>

<p>I would say that it would be considered 2 years of 2 languages. </p>

<p>Which, honestly, I think is just as impressive as 4 years of one language, especially if you show off your knowledge/fluency via a Subject Test (even though the curve is eeeeeevil).</p>

<p>I’ve been told most colleges want all your years of language classes to be in one language. So it wouldn’t count as 4 years of language, it would count as two, and might work against you. It might be a good idea to take a third year of one or both languages in your senior year.</p>

<p>Most colleges want to see that you’ve mastered the language. Doing two years of each won’t make you proficient.</p>

<p>I have achieved a reasonable amount of fluency in my dominant language, definitely enough to get an 800 (I took a pretest and it was extremely easy) on the subject test (I took it in elementary school also, though at a lower level). Really, my only issue is the fact that it takes time to develop vocabulary- I know most of the grammar and I can read extremely fluently. My secondary language is not subject-test level, and at this point I’m not interested enough in it to study for it.
Chances are I will be taking my dominant language in 12th grade, and even this year I’m taking a number of classes which are taught in this language (pretty much immersion, requiring very good reading and translating skills), besides for one immersion discussion class in which only this language is spoken. Is that enough for me to be reasonably on par with someone who took 4 years of a subject in high school but not in elementary school? Does the fact that it wasn’t my choice not to take it in eleventh grade help me?</p>

<p>For a CSU–2 in 2 is equivalent to 3 in one to meet the foreign language requirement (for graduation at the CSU with high school credits). Passing the AP test however is better than either of those two paths.</p>

<p>Wait, I think immersion classes count as language classes. Like, if it’s a class for the literature of that language, that counts as a year of the language.</p>

<p>Check out the websites of several colleges that might interest you–look at a couple of your state colleges along with a few private. It’s been my experience that the schools ask for a minimum of three years of one language OR two years each of two languages. Your plan would fit the second requirement.</p>

<p>You asked if the fact that it wasn’t an option for you in 11th help you. IF the college has their admission counselors assigned to geographical areas, that person will be familiar with your school and will know. </p>

<p>Even so, you’ve said you’ll take a third year of one language in 12th grade. That will show on your application that you are currently taking the class, and you’ll have your three year minimum anyway.</p>

<p>I took five years of spanish, most colleges in state (Florida) and private want at least four.</p>

<p>Four is ideal. I was in a similar situation where entering junior year I had two years of two languages, I chose to drop one and continue studying the other, personally I think it was a good choice, have you considered continuing one of the languages?</p>

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I’ve never seen something so far from the truth in my life.</p>

<p>I will be taking one in twelfth, for the record.
Does the fact that I take a bunch of classes in this language this year (and every year)— even if they’re not explicitly language classes— count as a language? That was an impression I got from a comment.
Thanks!</p>

<p>Like you’re taking a class that’s taught in Spanish but the subject could be math…?</p>