Should You Join a High School Language Club? (2024)

FAQs

Should You Join a High School Language Club? ›

Joining a high school language club can improve your language skills. Joining a language club allows you to explore a language outside of the structure and formality of a classroom setting. You may feel more comfortable speaking in this environment if there are parts of the language you aren't grasping.

Even if your high school doesn't require four years of foreign language study, it can still be a good idea to do so! For some people, this will mean there's no foreign language requirement when you get to college, which can be helpful for having extra room in your academic schedule later on.

Your participation in clubs can hone your communication skills, foster creative thinking, and teach you how to work effectively with other people. Your extracurricular involvement is one of the few ways that colleges can gain insights into your personality.

Yes. However, most colleges require a minimum of two years of a foreign language to be considered for admission. Many colleges recommend at least three years of the same world language in high school for a student to be competitive in the admissions pool.

Taking 4 years of a language is always as a good idea as it can be very impressive to certain colleges and can be beneficial for testing out of any language requirement you may have.

There are no absolutes when it comes to clubs. You should, however, have enough activities, including clubs, to demonstrate a spike — a well-developed interest in one or two areas — as well as a couple outside of that specialization. Rather than “tacking on” clubs, try to show investment in just a handful.

While college admissions officers realize that students can't do everything—and in fact, it's better if you don't try to do everything—your application will be much less competitive because you have chosen to do nothing.

Extracurricular activities that fit the bill include Model United Nations, student government, debate team and coding clubs. Likewise, Ivy Leagues love elite sports such as fencing, horseback riding, water polo and lacrosse. Leadership positions look particularly good to Ivy League institutions.

Joining a language club allows you to explore a language outside of the structure and formality of a classroom setting. You may feel more comfortable speaking in this environment if there are parts of the language you aren't grasping.

Why join a foreign language club? ›

Language clubs are groups where like-minded language learners can meet up online or in person. Studying a language on your own might be effective at the beginning, but meeting others who are learning the same language as you can be a huge source of motivation and accountability.

A language club allows Fun and enjoyment. The club will allow students to practice language through watching movies, playing language games, staging drama and a lot more entertaining activities.

A 4.1 weighted GPA is typically viewed favorably by colleges as it suggests you've taken a challenging course load and have performed well. It's important to note that colleges often recalculate GPAs to standardize among applicants from different high schools with different weighting systems.

It indicates that you've earned a predominantly A average in your courses. A 3.8 GPA is considered to be a very good GPA and is often an indicator of strong academic performance.

Foreign language study enhances one's opportunities in government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry, marketing, etc. A second language improves your skills and grades in math and English and on the SAT and GRE. Analytical skills improve when students study a foreign language.

Foreign language study increases students' skills in the use of English. Often it is in the foreign language classroom that students gain the greatest understanding of grammar and expand on their vocabulary. Learning the linguistic roots of language further deepens these abilities.

According to School Counselor Christina Dionne, “language is recommended, not required.” That is however untrue if planning on going to a Four-Year College. For example, UMass Amherst, and almost every other four-year school will require at least 2 years of the same foreign language for a chance to be considered.

Learning a new language is a challenge and takes years of hard work if you wish to become fluent. If you plan to use a new language in your career and participate in a travel program with a language component during your high school years, you'll likely want to keep studying the language in college if possible.