What Does It Mean To Be Proficient In A Language Common App

Language Proficiency Section on the CommonApp?

Hi, I am an incoming senior (US citizen) struggling a bit to fill in the common app. My first language is English so I obviously am proficient in that. I've taken spanish for 6 and soon 7 years now in middle and then high school and will be taking AP Spanish this coming school year as a senior. I do well in Spanish class (all A+'s) in writing and reading the best and basic speaking but I don't know if I should even put that down since I am not fluent whatsoever but do have more of a basic proficiency than someone in lower level spanish? To put in in perspective I probably would not be comfortable holding a college interview entirely in Spanish but could write essays in Spanish with the occasional dictionary. Please let me know what I should select! :)

commonapp

foreign-language

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4 answers

@chxm33

273 answers, 264 votes

• a year ago [edited]

[deleted]

@DebaterMAX a year ago

I second this

[🎤 AUTHOR]@e a year ago

Hi! Thanks for your response! On the Common App it said to select the languages you were proficient in and check the boxes of reading, writing, and speaking to then show the specific areas you were most proficient in! I am definitely not fluent seeing as I am taking AP Spanish this year I've learned at least a decent amount of the language and have excelled so far in my honors spanish classes.

@maplecreamcookies

expert

201 answers, 231 votes

• a year ago

This question is meant to help colleges build a more diverse class. If you can speak Spanish conversationally, I would include it, but since you mention that you wouldn't be comfortable doing a college interview in Spanish, you might consider leaving it out. Your other skills in Spanish (reading & writing) should be evident through your course grades, so there's no need to worry that you're under-representing your skills.

Hope this helps, and let me know if you have more questions!

[🎤 AUTHOR]@e a year ago

Great!! Thank you so much for your response! Yes, I do not want to under-represent my skills but also not make myself seem as though I am thoroughly a Spanish speaker, because I am not, I have just learned a lot and done well in school. If you think that would be demonstrated through my Spanish courses then I will not select the proficiency section on the commonapp!

@maplecreamcookies

expert

a year ago

No problem! Based on your comment to another user, I just wanted to add that you could include Spanish proficiency and check reading and writing, if you wanted. I didn't realize that you could indicate your level in those specific categories (I assumed it was global). It's not a big deal either way as this is self-evaluation, and your skills will be represented through your course grades, which tend to be more credible. Hope this helps!

@USstudentabroad

24 answers, 16 votes

• a year ago

You can't compare your native language to a foreign language you learn. If you can write essays in Spanish with the help of a dictionary then you have a basic fluency of this foreign to you language. And you should be proud of this and put it down in your common app. Now if you have the time, you might want to take your SAT Spanish Subject to show even better this achievement, but if you can't please don't worry. Best of luck !

[🎤 AUTHOR]@e a year ago

Great!! Thank you so much for your response!

@nc123

2 answers, 7 votes

• 2 months ago

I'm in the same situation! Except that I'm taking Honors Spanish IV as a senior currently instead of AP Spanish. For me, I put speak, read, and write. But now reading what others are saying I think I will change it to just write and read because like you, I'm on a very basic level of speaking and find it hard to understand other Spanish speakers (especially if they're fast!).