myfunny4 <[email protected]>

My dd-17 wants to go to college; she is quite determined on that
goal. As yet, she is undecided on what type of career or field she
wants to study; this week it is dramatic arts, and last month it was
chemistry. <g>

That's not the problem...I didn't know what I wanted to do at her
age, either. We sat down together, and I helped her plan how she
could achieve that goal, and how we could put together a transcript.
Most of the colleges she wants to attend require two years of a
foreign language; and after looking at Spanish, French and Latin, dd
chose to study Spanish. She doesn't like it. I've offered videos,
computer programs, etc. She doesn't like any of it. That's okay, too,
I reassure her; we'll look for colleges that don't require 2 years of
foreign language. She says, "No, that limits my choices too much." I
explained to her that if her goal is to attend certain colleges, she
has to decide whether it's important enough to her to study a foreign
language. She agrees...and continues to ignore the Spanish.

What would you (collective "you" addressed to the group) do? Wait it
out? I thought about telling her that I won't falsify a transcript
for her, but that sounds kinda like a threat...and I know *I*
wouldn't respond well to that <g>. She's not a child anymore, and I
want to respect her right to make decisions that affect her life.
That recognition of her right to make choices battles against my
instincts as a mother to "fix" everything for her...and, if I'm
honest, I worry that I'll blame myself for not insisting she complete
enough work to legitimately claim 2 credits of a foreign language.

BTW, she's mid-way through her 3rd year of high school.

Debbie

[email protected]

In a message dated 2/16/03 11:38:31 AM, Debbies4@... writes:

<< if I'm
honest, I worry that I'll blame myself for not insisting she complete
enough work to legitimately claim 2 credits of a foreign language.>>

I understand what's above, I don't understand this:

<<BTW, she's mid-way through her 3rd year of high school.>>

Is she not unschooling?


Colleges list what they would LIKE applicants to have, but they might rather
hear she was homeschooled than that she has two years of language.

She could write a cover letter saying "I haven't studied languages, but I
hope to be able to do that while I'm at the university."

That's easy and honest.

Sandra

myfunny4 <[email protected]>

--- In [email protected], SandraDodd@a... wrote:
>
> Is she not unschooling?
>

Hi Sandra,

Yes, she is. In Pennsylvania, we are required to file yearly
affidavits of homeschooling (along with listing objectives, providing
samples of work in a portfolio, a log of materials used, and yearly
evaluations from a certified evaluator), so according to the school
district, she is in 11th grade.


> She could write a cover letter saying "I haven't studied languages,
but I
> hope to be able to do that while I'm at the university."
>
> That's easy and honest.

And maybe she could work that into her application essay?

Thanks, Sandra.

Debbie

zenmomma *

>>What would you (collective "you" addressed to the group) do?>>

I would try to find ways to start hanging around with native Spanish
speakers.

I might try to plan a trip down to Mexico to immerse ourelves in the
language (money permiiting, which it usually isn't).

I'd put an ad in the classifieds for a language buddy to hang out with.

Perhaps she could volunteer to help a Spanish speaking worker on their job.
Follow them around and help out in exchange for some real life Spanish.

Get a pen-pal from a Spanish speaking country.

Put on the SAP (Spanish) option on the TV and start watching familiar shows
in Spanish.

Just some ideas off the top of my head. I've taken 3 years of German and 3
years of Spanish. It meant nothing. I would not feel like I was falsifying
anything if my kids learned about a foregn lanfguage in the ways I stated
above.

Life is good.
~Mary


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[email protected]

In a message dated 2/16/2003 1:38:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Debbies4@... writes:

> Most of the colleges she wants to attend require two years of a
> foreign language; and after looking at Spanish, French and Latin, dd
> chose to study Spanish. She doesn't like it. I've offered videos,
> computer programs, etc. She doesn't like any of it. That's okay, too,
> I reassure her; we'll look for colleges that don't require 2 years of
> foreign language. She says, "No, that limits my choices too much." I
> explained to her that if her goal is to attend certain colleges, she
> has to decide whether it's important enough to her to study a foreign
> language. She agrees...and continues to ignore the Spanish.
>
> What would you (collective "you" addressed to the group) do?

I just wrote something about language---just two or three days ago: it's best
to immerse yourself in the language and culture, just as you did english.
Then it comes "naturally". There are many exchange programs available---just
spending the summer with a family in another country would be great.

But many colleges are now accepting sign language as a "foreign language".
There are MANY deaf people, schools, and teachers out there who would be
delighted to "talk" with your daughter---and you wouldn't have to send her
away! <G>

There's one school in Columbia that all hearing impaired children go to.
They're not "mainstreamed" because they can't hear, but they do all attend
the same school with signing teachers in those classes. There's also the
School for the Blind and Deaf in Spartanburg---if you have a school like that
nearby, she could visit as a teacher's aid and get some valuable "hands-on"
experience.

My boys were at one time interested in signing, so I looked into it. The
school was tentatively interested in it, but the boys' own interest waned.

She might find that more "usable".

~Kelly


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Shyrley

> In a message dated 2/16/2003 1:38:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> Debbies4@... writes:
>
> > Most of the colleges she wants to attend require two years of a
> > foreign language; and after looking at Spanish, French and Latin, dd
> > chose to study Spanish. She doesn't like it. I've offered videos,
> > computer programs, etc. She doesn't like any of it. That's okay, too,
> > I reassure her; we'll look for colleges that don't require 2 years of
> > foreign language. She says, "No, that limits my choices too much." I
> > explained to her that if her goal is to attend certain colleges, she
> > has to decide whether it's important enough to her to study a foreign
> > language. She agrees...and continues to ignore the Spanish.
> >

There's obviously many colleges that don't require the foreign language option. Many english kids are accepted into Harvard and Yale and Dartmouth etc etc. Most kids drop languages at 14. They drop
maths at 16. Then study 3 subjects for 2 years to get A levels. American universities have no trouble accepting them and often have exhibitions at career fairs to try and tempt students to pick an
American university.

Shyrley