Latin accepted as foreign language?

[CAMom]

In your experience, do most colleges accept Latin as a student's foreign language for college admissions? Or do they seem to require a modern language?

[Michelle in MO]

Good question! I saw a similar question on the General Boards, I think! I'm hoping it will count for college admissions, because that's our plan for our oldest daughter. We enrolled all three of our girls into a private school last fall, and the private school gave us no trouble accepting two years of high-school level Latin for our oldest daughter. The only language they offer is Spanish, and only two years of that is available. My middle daughter will be taking Spanish 1 and 2, and that should transfer to a college. From what I can tell so far, we learned far more Latin in the years that we did Latin than my middle daughter has learned from her Spanish class so far.

Many are doing extended Latin study on these boards, plus there are some real veteran homeschooling moms here who have graduated kids from high school via homeschooling. I hope they chime in with some more knowledgeable answers!

[forty-two]

I had no trouble when I applied to colleges - I don't remember my two years of Latin being insufficient at any of the many, many schools I looked into. (This was in 1998-1999.)

[latinteach]

In your experience, do most colleges accept Latin as a student's foreign language for college admissions? Or do they seem to require a modern language?

Dr. Richard A. LaFleur of the University of Georgia did a survey of colleges and universities in 1990-91. Dr. LaFleur runs a very well-known Latin teacher training program at UGa.

http://www.classics.uga.edu/courses/elem_latin/documents/aclsurvey.html

Although the survey is now somewhat dated, Dr. LaFleur says that he has heard very little that would indicate to him that the statistics have changed much. Most colleges and universities will accept Latin as a foreign language for college admissions. Very few will not accept Latin and in fact, colleges and universities rarely will require a specific language.

Highlights from the 1990-91 survey:

Most (68.3%) of the institutions reporting FL entrance requirements require at least two years of the same language; another 10.1% require three years of FL study for admission.

Very few (1.1%) of the institutions requiring FL for admission report that specific languages are required.

Nearly all (98.6%) of the institutions reporting FL entrance requirements accept Latin to meet those requirements (only five responding institutions do not, all of them colleges with fewer than 1,200 students and most of them “selective” but not “competitive,” according to College Board definitions).

You should, of course, check with the schools that you're considering to determine what entrance requirements that they have as well as their graduation requirements.

[LaJuana]

I have known many students, both my own children and other homeschooling students in my hometown who have applied to colleges with Latin as their only foreign language, and I have never had a student who faced a problem with counting Latin as a foreign language.

Some colleges require a student to take two years of a modern foreign language in order to graduate, but that should not present a problem for college admissions.

[Kareni]

My teen has been applying to colleges this year. She is doing 5th year Latin having taken AP Latin last year. (She's also doing first year Ancient Greek.)

She has three acceptances thus far from a variety of colleges.

Regards,
Kareni

[Laurel-in-CA]

The only school that I have heard about which does not accept latin is the Air Force Academy. They require a *modern* foreign language. Not sure about the other service academies.

Our charter insists on 20% oral communication in language study...a bit of a problem with us for latin. BUT we're doing oral drills and ds's DVD-based program talks to him in latin, and I have him read stuff aloud to me so I think/hope we're covered.

[Gwen in VA]

I think the confusion may be that some college DO require two semesters or more of a modern language to graduate from college.

But other than the military academies, I have not heard of any colleges that don't accept Latin as the foreign language for admission.

Dd1 did Latin through AP and had no problems in college admissions.

Ds1 didn't even do four years of one ancient language -- he did one year of Latin and then three of Attic Greek. He had no problems in college admissions.

[MamaT]

Both of my older sons used Latin for their foreign language and had no trouble with college admissions.

They also had two years of Spanish as well, but I think the Latin alone would suffice for college admissions.

[CAMom]

Thank you all for easing my mind!

My son is planning on 4 years of Latin (he's in year 2 right now) and I've been trying to encourage a second language. He says, "OK, I'll do biblical Greek!":lol:

[Colleen]

Thank you all for easing my mind!

My son is planning on 4 years of Latin (he's in year 2 right now) and I've been trying to encourage a second language. He says, "OK, I'll do biblical Greek!":lol:

I commend him for his interest in classical languages, but would strongly suggest he add a modern language to his studies.

[CAMom]

I commend him for his interest in classical languages, but would strongly suggest he add a modern language to his studies.

He probably will, eventually. He has a strong interest in languages in general. I don't know if he'll get to a modern language in high school or if he'll pick one up in college. I originally tried to push Spanish as his language of choice since we live in So. California but he insisted on Latin.

His sister insisted on French.

Hey, kids! We live in a heavily populated Spanish speaking area! I should have used reverse psychology and suggested they learn Gaelic or something. Then, they would have said, "But Mom, we should learn Spanish since it will be really useful where we live." :lol:

[Kareni]

Hey, kids! We live in a heavily populated Spanish speaking area! I should have used reverse psychology and suggested they learn Gaelic or something. Then, they would have said, "But Mom, we should learn Spanish since it will be really useful where we live." :lol:

Nope, it wouldn't have worked. They'd have said, "Gaelic? Great idea!" (And it would probably make them stand out in the college application process ....)

Regards,
Kareni

[CAMom]

Nope, it wouldn't have worked. They'd have said, "Gaelic? Great idea!" (And it would probably make them stand out in the college application process ....)



You're right! Nothing I try works with them.:lol:

[Alphabetika]

Hi, Ronette,

'Tis I, your curly-topped pal.....

I so know what you mean about kids and languages! DD 14 is a Latin addict and has little interest in applying herself to modern languages, though she dabbles in French. DD 10, well, she says the 2 languages she wants to learn are Biblical Greek and Polish, occasionally amended to add Arabic.

I would be dismayed if colleges didn't accept Latin as a foreign language, though. I guess I can understand the logic that a "living language" would be one that's more relevant to, well, life, but let's be honest - how many of us who took living languages in school use them regularly? By contrast, I think your ds and my dd are getting so much out of Latin - not just the language, but the history, the logic behind the language, the connection to English and other languages, the discipline it takes to translate long paragraphs. The other day dd translated a paragraph that included the phrase "scumbag." Can't beat that! Bwa ha!

[Colleen]

I would be dismayed if colleges didn't accept Latin as a foreign language, though. I guess I can understand the logic that a "living language" would be one that's more relevant to, well, life, but let's be honest - how many of us who took living languages in school use them regularly? By contrast, I think your ds and my dd are getting so much out of Latin - not just the language, but the history, the logic behind the language, the connection to English and other languages, the discipline it takes to translate long paragraphs.

I agree with you re the logic and applicability of Latin. Of course, the advantages to studying Latin which you noted are also true with regard to modern languages. The added bonus is that a modern language can ~ with a good teacher and willing student ~ facilitate a personal connectedness to others. In that sense, there's a high degree of potential relevancy. Whether or not we make use of that relevancy is really up to us. :)

[CAMom]

Hi, Ronette,

'Tis I, your curly-topped pal.....



Hey, E!:)

How is it they our two are so much alike? They really must compare Latin notes at the next event.:D

I agree with you re the logic and applicability of Latin. Of course, the advantages to studying Latin which you noted are also true with regard to modern languages. The added bonus is that a modern language can ~ with a good teacher and willing student ~ facilitate a personal connectedness to others. In that sense, there's a high degree of potential relevancy. Whether or not we make use of that relevancy is really up to us.:)

It is a very rare occasion when I use my 4 years of high school Spanish. I don't think that knowledge made me feel anymore connected to anyone. I suppose that is because I didn't keep it relevant.

I know my ds will keep his Latin relevant since he is obsessed with logic and science. The Latin should serve him well. However, I will keep extolling the virtues of learning a modern language as well!;)

[Colleen]

It is a very rare occasion when I use my 4 years of high school Spanish. I don't think that knowledge made me feel anymore connected to anyone. I suppose that is because I didn't keep it relevant.

Yes, I think so. I honestly believe if one lives in the United States ~ especially regions where there are a preponderance of Spanish-speaking individuals ~ four years of Spanish can and should be quite beneficial.

I know my ds will keep his Latin relevant since he is obsessed with logic and science. The Latin should serve him well. However, I will keep extolling the virtues of learning a modern language as well!;)

Latin is incredibly useful, no question there! I know people who had only the most minimal exposure to Latin decades ago and still find themselves putting that knowledge to good use. I think it's wonderful that your son is so interested in logic, science, and classical languages. That's not the case around here.;)

[Alphabetika]

Well, Colleen and Ronette,

I agree with both of you! Since Ronette and I live in an area with many Spanish speakers, you'd think that our 4 years of high school Spanish (yep, I had 'em, too) would come in handy. I do find that I can understand much of the Spanish that is spoken around me, or get the gist, at least. You're right, Colleen, that it's my responsibility to make language or anything else I study relevant in my life.

Funny, but the more I think about dd's Latin study the more I feel it has helped her with discipline and structuring her time (this is her first "outside" class, which she takes online), study skills, test-taking, and a bunch of stuff that a student could get from any class not administered by her, ahem, not so structured mom. *piercing gaze at myself, here*. So, while I'm thrilled that she's learning Latin because I, too, find it (and any language) fascinating, it's the extra-Latin stuff that I'm particularly pleased about.

Great conversation!

[Colleen]

Funny, but the more I think about dd's Latin study the more I feel it has helped her with discipline and structuring her time (this is her first "outside" class, which she takes online), study skills, test-taking, and a bunch of stuff that a student could get from any class not administered by her, ahem, not so structured mom. *piercing gaze at myself, here*. So, while I'm thrilled that she's learning Latin because I, too, find it (and any language) fascinating, it's the extra-Latin stuff that I'm particularly pleased about.

This is how I feel about my oldest son's online German class (through Oklahoma State University). I'm structured ~ sometimes too much so. This year has been a good transition in that I'm learning to be less controlling and thereby enable him to take on more responsibility.:)

[Mary in WA]

My own twin sons only listed Latin as their foreign language when they applied to the US Naval Academy in 1997. They were accepted and admitted to the academy. I think that most are accepting it now.

[ereks mom]

Thank you all for easing my mind!

My son is planning on 4 years of Latin (he's in year 2 right now) and I've been trying to encourage a second language. He says, "OK, I'll do biblical Greek!":lol:

:001_smile: