Hmmm ... I agree with his logic but I've never managed to gain significant ground on languages outside of the classroom (and only gained a little in them). On the other hand I've learned that the merest native pleasantry in my French is enough to convert most Parisians into fluent English speakers. ::sigh::
When I was in high school, I took the minimum foreign language requirement because I WOULDN'T BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT IT. Seemed to make sense to me to call it a minimum requirement if failing to meet it resulted in a rejection letter, even from a state university.
Four years later, when I started graduate school, we had students successfully enrolling in Calc 1 who could not factor simple polynomials and who couldn't even add fractions without crying. If the Elementary Math Exam was supposed to determine who needed remedial math (*gag*) then why were these guys allowed to enroll?
I gather that this advice was submitted because there are college students who don't take the minimum foreign language class in high school. So, I guess my question is this: Are college admission requirements merely requests now?
Hmmm ... I agree with his logic but I've never managed to gain significant ground on languages outside of the classroom (and only gained a little in them). On the other hand I've learned that the merest native pleasantry in my French is enough to convert most Parisians into fluent English speakers. ::sigh::
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school, I took the minimum foreign language requirement because I WOULDN'T BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT IT. Seemed to make sense to me to call it a minimum requirement if failing to meet it resulted in a rejection letter, even from a state university.
ReplyDeleteFour years later, when I started graduate school, we had students successfully enrolling in Calc 1 who could not factor simple polynomials and who couldn't even add fractions without crying. If the Elementary Math Exam was supposed to determine who needed remedial math (*gag*) then why were these guys allowed to enroll?
I gather that this advice was submitted because there are college students who don't take the minimum foreign language class in high school. So, I guess my question is this: Are college admission requirements merely requests now?
"Are college admission requirements merely requests now?"
DeleteYup.
"...and who couldn't even add fractions without crying."
What you do in cases like this is give them a good, swift, solid, smack in the head. It makes them cry even more, as you giggle in malicious delight.