All right, so tomorrow is scheduling day for the juniors (next year's seniors). So that includes me. I am currently stuck between a couple options and I would like to hear some other opinions on what I should take. I have most of the schedule figured out, and I'm down to the last selection in my list, period five. I pretty much have two options. The first option is to take Chinese 4 for a full year. The second option is to take Creative Writing 1 for the first semester and American Conflicts for the second semester. I have problems with both options. For the first option, I have not taken a Chinese class for a whole year, so there will be a gap in my knowledge from Chinese 3. There was also my more mediocre or even poor performance in the Chinese class the year prior, so that is also causing me to be reluctant to take the option. However, I know that taking Chinese can only help me in the long run, and my work ethic has improved significantly from my earlier years. For the second option, I really do not want to take some cheesy electives just to fill in my schedule. I believe that creative writing will be fun, and that I would likely enjoy American Conflicts, but the problem is that I would likely not actually benefit from either of them in the future. [Before anyone asks, no, I have no idea what I want to do in the future.] There is also the problem of having a weak schedule for going off to college, and the two electives would likely not benefit me in that regard. So, what I'm getting to is that I would like some of your opinions on the matter. Scheduling is tomorrow, so I don't plan to look into this for a very long time, and I may actually go against the opinions provided, but I would like some insight from a different set of people besides my friends, of whom primarily are not fond of Chinese. Any help you have for me would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hm...

It would be really bad if, on your senior year of high school, you do poorly on your Chinese 4 class. Or worse; not pass it! It would definitely bring down your GPA. However, if you do well in it, it might actually bring a higher GPA than Creative Writing and American Conflicts combined. Although, I've never heard of an American Conflicts class, what is it about?

If you're worried about not doing so well in Chinese 4, then take some of these questions into consideration;

Why did you perform poorly in your previous Chinese class?

Did the instructor made themselves available for their students who are finding the class difficult?

Will it be he same instructor teaching in Chinese 4?

I know that in my high school, people take the tough classes before their senior year because they don't want to risk not graduating. In fact, they tend to take the more fun classes since it's more readily available to them. And it is easier to pass a more fun class.

If you know your GPA already, then that's good because that will help you decide with classes would be the better option to take.

In my opinion, I'd rather the electives than the Chinese 4.

Mistress : *Ahem* font?


sop281 : I would also go with the electives because I believe Chinese is a tough language, especially if you missed some time.

zanderlex :

Hm? What's wrong with my font?

Mistress : American Conflicts is basically a portion of American history. I believe it is primarily focused on major conflicts, such as the wars that the United States was involved in. Thanks for your input.

zanderlex : Thanks for your input.

To both of you, I would like to say that I did, initially, throw Chinese 4 onto my list. However, after reading your posts, and mulling it over with myself, I have decided that I won't go with that. I will have to go into the counseling office to change my schedule tomorrow. I realize now, that even if I were to try and catch up on Chinese over the summer, I would be entering Chinese 4, which would basically require me to be sub-fluent. I am barely even a literate Chinese kindergartener, language-wise. There was also the gap year for which I did little to no Chinese work, and even before then, I had barely learned the language. I am actually though, going to throw away American Conflicts in favor of Creative Writing 2 for that second semester. I have learned that the teacher is ultra-conservative, and constantly brings his political views into the course. I am of course, rather liberal, and significantly more open-minded, so we wouldn't mesh well. Of course, I cannot avoid that teacher entirely, because he teachers a required social studies course for senior year. Anyways, thanks for your help. It was difficult to come to the conclusion that I have now, and I hope my choosing Chinese initially is not irreversible (there are special circumstances at play here, and I would rather not explain them). 

I was faced with the same decision as you. Not Chinese but with another language.

I ended up taking two semester electives. I made sure they weren't joke classes and it didn't hurt me for college admissions.

Looking at the two electives you listed, Chinese 4 would certainly be more impressive. However, I can't look at this trade-off alone. If the rest of your schedule looks rigorous, this won't be that big a deal.

Also, I had decided by that point to enter engineering, so I choose two science electives.

Know that going into a language after a year off is very difficult. Not only has your comprehension speed decreased, but you've probably forgotten a lot of words. It may not seem like it, but it is so.

If you're willing to devote at least an hour a day for your entire summer, I think you could do it, but you can't miss days. You'll need that long term practice to fully regain your lost abilities.

I'm a senior, so please, ask any questions of me.

Edit: Looks like you ninja'd me while I was typing up my post. =P

Anyway, my advice remains good, so I'll leave it up.

Mistress : Uh. Too me, it's nothing but white on white.