Swahili, anyone?

[Grace is Sufficient]

My rising 9th grader wants to take Swahili as a foreign language... I don't really know of any way to do this other than Rosetta Stone or some very expensive online courses which seem to be intended for business people, not school credit. I'm willing to do Rosetta Stone, since I'm inclined to consider the foreign language requirement a 'check-off' subject.

Two questions: Any thoughts on how this would appear to college admissions people (interesting and unique choice showing individualism, or waste of time and academically not acceptable)?

Also, does anyone know of other options than Rosetta Stone to look into?

Doing this late because I was so baffled at her choice that I put it on the back burner and forgot about it while hoping she'd change her mind...

Thanks!

[threetreasurs]

Wow - that is a new one for me. For what it is worth here is MHO. If a student pursued an off the beaten path language such as swahili and then did something with it, colleges might notice - and your daughter could stand out in a positive way. I'm thinking along the lines of - student learned swahili then worked with immigrants whose native language was swahili???

Just randomly studying swahili; I am not so sure. Many schools want 3 years of foreign language and it might be difficult to prove proficiency??? Colleges tend to be looking at the whole package. They look at things like, what the student wants to study in college and how she has prepared for it in high school?

Of course, it all depends on the college.

[Angel]

Hi,

My upcoming 9th grader has requested Swahili as well. She has a reason. Her close friend left the end of January for Kenya. Her family will be missionaries there. Her friend went through language school with mom and dad and is doing very well. My dd thinks it will be cool to know it, too. Plus dh wants us all to go visit them sometime.

My dh said to let dd "go for it!" so I will be getting Rosetta Stone when I save the $$. Swahili may have to be a 10th grade credit. I am not sure if colleges will accept it. Dd may not be on a college path, though, but she needs the credit for graduation. We will be continuing a light study of Latin ( and I mean light), in case she does decide on a college course.

I did find in my searching audio tapes from Pimsleur Language Programs on Swahili. I was able to get in through Library Loan. There are 5 audio discs with 10 Lessons. I have yet to listen to it, but I thought it might work with Rosetta Stone (I guess possibly could replace it, I don't know). My friend has her language books, but they are in Kenya and their language instruction was in Tanzania, so I'm not sure if their books are readily available.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you find anything.

Angel