French at Vista

Welcome to French at Vista! We are so excited for your interest in learning French!  French is spoken by over 300 million people around the world and is an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Red Cross.  It is an essential tool for the global job market and a key language of the culinary, theatrical, musical, and visual arts.

We are committed to developing students’ real-world communication skills as well as an appreciation for the communities that speak French so that our students may be more competitive in the world as they leave our community and enter into the future.

FRENCH AT VISTA        FAQs                                                                                              Requirements for FCUSD graduation: 10 credits of World Language or Visual and Performing Art Requirements for UC/CSU a-g completion: 20 credits of the same language through the 2nd level; through the 3rd level strongly recommended
Student is taking French for the first time
Option 1:  Appropriate for all students planning to attend college after graduation
9th	10th	11th and/or 12th	Typical path PRO:  Accessible level 1 workload in 9th grade FACTORS TO CONSIDER: A gap between essential French 1 and French 2 can make rigorous French 2 difficult to begin
French 1	French 2 and/or French 3	French 3 & French 4
Option 2:  Appropriate for students with strong organization and work habits who plan to attend college after graduation
9th	10th	11th or 12th	Rigorous path PRO: Limited gap between the most essential levels, French 1 and French 2 FACTORS TO CONSIDER: Could result in rigorous workload by taking two academic electives in 9th grade
French 1 & French 2	French 3	French 4
Option 3:  Appropriate for all students planning to attend college after graduation who are interested in pacing themselves
9th	10th	11th and/or 12th	Recommended path PRO:  Limited gap between the most essential levels, French 1 and French 2 PRO:  Student has more space in schedule to incorporate academic electives without having an overloaded schedule.
xX	French 1 & French 2	French 3 & French 4
Option 4:  Appropriate for all students planning to attend college after graduation who are interested in pacing themselves
9th	10th	11th and 12th	PRO:  Limited gaps in between courses PRO:  Student has more space in schedule to incorporate academic electives without having an overloaded schedule. FACTORS TO CONSIDER:  Must pursue alternate resource for AP French
xX	X	French 1 & 2 French 3 & 4
Student has taken French 1 or has completed equivalent course work
9th	10th	11th and/or 12th	NOTE:  Students interested in challenging a course must take the course challenge exam for the highest level they wish to challenge.
French 2	French 3	French 4

FAQs for French at Vista

Q. Can my child take French 1 & 2 in the same year at Vista? 

         A.  Yes.  This is recommended.  

Q:  My child has already taken French 1A and 1B.  Can they take French 2 at Vista?

A:  Yes. If your child successfully completed French 1A and 1B in middle school, they can take French 2.  A “B” average in the course is recommended, and a “C” or better score on the Course Challenge exam, i.e. the French 2 final.

Q:  What if my child only completed French 1A in middle school.  Can they take French 2 at Vista?

A:  No. Your child must complete both French 1A and 1B in middle school to take French 2 at Vista.

Q:  What will satisfy the UC requirement for my child to apply to the UC system if they have taken some French in middle school?

A:  The UC system requires 2 years of a Foreign Language, but prefers 3 to 4 years. If your child has successfully taken 2 years of middle school French, (French 1A, French 1B and French 2A), they have met the minimum UC requirement, but 3 years, especially one year at the high school level is recommended. Below is the UC policy for middle school language classes:

Proficiency in language other than English: Students who have met their language other than English requirement by completion of middle/junior high school courses (equivalent to the second level of language instruction) will be considered as having completed two courses of the 11-course minimum requirement necessary to apply for freshman admission.

Q:  Can my child get high school credit for taking French 1A and 1B and French 2A in middle school?

A:  No. The two years of middle school French do not count for high school credit.  They will not appear on the high school transcript. Note: A Language course is not required to graduate in FCUSD.

Q:  What is the language requirement to graduate from Vista?

A:  1 year of either a language OR a fine art. Specific graduation requirements and which courses fulfill them can be found on the counseling website in the Curriculum Guide.

Q:  What is the California State system requirement?

A:  2 years, but 3 are highly recommended.

Q:  What is the UC system requirement?

A:  2 years but 3 or 4 are strongly encouraged.

Q:  What is the minimum requirement for private schools?

A:  The minimum requirement varies, but 3 to 4 years is competitive