High School Guide: Admissions, reviews, and advice

Yeah, you’re definitely talking nonsense here.
Just because some ITevac thinks they're basically a god in their line of work doesn't mean they're some sort of enlightened being in a foreign country, especially if they can't even recognize a product label at the grocery store or if they have to rely on Google Translate just to understand a medical diagnosis—all that hard-earned money from those massive salaries you keep mentioning doesn't seem to buy much common sense in those moments.
In those specific situations, I guess they're pretty much on the same level as a local old lady who barely finished grade school, and honestly, no amount of shredding C# code or raking in huge paychecks is going to change that reality.
But hey, feel free to keep trying to prove your little theories if it makes you feel better, though I don't see how it actually changes anything.🤷

A ton of people have left the healthcare system to head over to Germany—though honestly, without knowing the language, they’re basically just following people around. They can't actually practice their profession until they pass those language exams. Doctors, specifically, are completely stuck without it. And I hear Austria is even more intense about it, demanding a much higher proficiency level.
I mean, I don't think IT is the only sector on this entire planet.
Maybe you don't need to speak the language if you're a programmer, or if you're just digging ditches or doing DoorDash in Germany, but for pretty much anything else? You definitely need it.
But my main point—if I can call it that—is that any extra knowledge we possess is just an added bonus.
Also, there are plenty of successful people out there who only speak English.
The real key is making sure foreign language learning is accessible to kids through the US school system. At that point, it's up to them whether they take advantage of it or not.

My son is studying both English and German, but there is zero chance he’ll choose German as his primary language in high school.
He claims English is much more intuitive and prefers it; most of his classmates have already given up on German entirely. They're planning to either stick strictly to English or pick something else once they reach prep school...☕

It is unfortunate, I suppose, though it's likely easier to ace an English exam than a German one on the SATs. That might be exactly why they are avoiding it as a major...

Still, if he enrolls in a vocational program now with just one language, it will be far easier to pick up German later at a language institute than starting from scratch...

To wrap things up, is it finally clear that you can actually hold down a job in Germany without immediately hitting a wall just because you don't speak German? I certainly think so, which makes that ridiculous claim little more than more forum nonsense destined for the trash heap, along with all those other 😁

As for that "rank of simpleton grandmas" nonsense you mentioned—honestly, I can't help but laugh at stuff like that. Unlike you, I’ve actually lived abroad in a country where I didn't know the language, and lo and behold, I managed to navigate everything—visas, health insurance, finding pediatricians, daycare, and all that other bureaucratic headache—without any issues and without knowing a lick of the local tongue. As for the daily grind, like popping into the grocery store or taking the kids to parks and play centers? I never once felt like some "simpleton grandma." But then again, that sounds more like your own projection than anything rooted in reality. My German was certainly helpful there 🤣 🤣 🤣

Anyway, just like what I see every day here in the US, expats do perfectly fine living in foreign countries as long as they have English down (I'm talking about people in my immediate circle who do what they do...). Learning a second foreign language is just that—an option. It might be incredibly useful, or it might be totally useless in your day-to-day life... Besides, you usually pick up a language through sheer necessity in about six months better than you ever would during nine years in the US school system...

I’ve always been all for learning languages—the more, the better—but honestly, you don't necessarily need anything beyond English since almost every major global corporation uses it as their official language.
That said, I find it perfectly natural to start picking up bits and pieces of the local language after spending a few months in a new country. I get that it isn't strictly required, but I don't quite understand why people don't take advantage of those opportunities to learn.

Oh, you absolutely can. Most people make a real effort to pick up enough to manage at the grocery store, navigate traffic, or just chat with random people on the street. But let's be honest—it’s nowhere near impossible to hold down a job or build a life in a new country just because you haven't mastered B2-level fluency. And I really dislike this implication that you have to live like some sort of "underclass" or beggar if you aren't perfectly bilingual. I know dozens of people—some through their companies, others through my kids' friends—who have integrated perfectly fine without knowing much more than the absolute basics. We're talking about America here, which hasn't historically been the easiest place for foreigners to settle in, unlike countries where immigrants and expats make up over 10% of the entire population.

If foreigners were planning to move to Vienna, it might actually be smarter for them to focus on learning German rather than anything else.😂

I've been thinking quite a bit about our recent discussions regarding the local infrastructure updates. It’s funny how these things seem to happen all at once, isn't it? One day everything is running smoothly, and the next, you're looking at major construction projects blocking your usual route to work. I was reading some thoughts from rowdypanther12 earlier, and it really got me pondering the long-term impact of these changes on our community. While I tend to be an optimist—I truly believe most of these growing pains lead to better outcomes—it does require a certain level of patience that can be hard to muster when you're stuck in traffic! It reminds me of a similar situation I encountered years ago back in Chicago. We had a massive overhaul of the municipal systems, and while the initial chaos was enough to make anyone grumpy, the end result actually improved our daily lives significantly. I'm hopeful we'll see that same trajectory here. Does anyone else feel like we're in that "middle phase" where everything feels a bit unsettled before the new normal sets in? I'd love to hear your take on it. kaže:
If you ask me, if someone is planning on moving to Vienna, they’d probably be much better off putting their energy into learning the local language rather than focusing solely on German. It just seems like a smarter strategic move for settling in long-term. 😂

👍
Honestly, whenever I travel abroad, I don't even bother trying to speak English. Instead, I just find myself speaking my native American much more loudly! It’s like a little tactic—I just turn up the volume on my American accent so that whatever clerk, waitress, or whoever happens to be behind the counter realizes exactly which language I'm using. It's a funny way of making sure there's no confusion about what I'm saying. 😁
Of course we were on the road! In that company, English was the official language for everything at the group level. Everything was conducted in English whenever we visited their offices—and mind you, this was literally a former state-owned Austrian firm that had been privatized...

Michelle Nelson4 said:Haha, I’m just talking nonsense now because I pointed out the simple fact that you can absolutely build a career in Germany without knowing a word of German. So, basically, the exact opposite of what was claimed.

It seems we have a brand new definition of "talking nonsense" courtesy of Elvis Presley, where simply stating a truth that someone happens to dislike counts as "nonsense." 🤣

Good grief, how did you all pass basic logic if you can't draw a single straightforward conclusion? This one falls right into the category of "If it doesn't apply to one specific case, then it must not apply to everyone." 😉

Sure, you can. But it’s a bad move. If you're stuck in some low-level service job and don't speak the language, you're basically handing yourself over to those shady American bosses who will exploit your lack of German to their own advantage. If you know English, maybe you can scrape by in a high-level corporate role, but even then, you won't be using it every single day.

mellowskipper said:A ton of people have left the healthcare system to head over to Germany—though honestly, without knowing the language, they’re basically just following people around. They can't actually practice their profession until they pass those language exams. Doctors, specifically, are completely stuck without it. And I hear Austria is even more intense about it, demanding a much higher proficiency level.
I mean, I don't think IT is the only sector on this entire planet.
Maybe you don't need to speak the language if you're a programmer, or if you're just digging ditches or doing DoorDash in Germany, but for pretty much anything else? You definitely need it.
But my main point—if I can call it that—is that any extra knowledge we possess is just an added bonus.
Also, there are plenty of successful people out there who only speak English.
The real key is making sure foreign language learning is accessible to kids through the US school system. At that point, it's up to them whether they take advantage of it or not.

Exactly. Back when I was enrolling in fourth grade, that’s when foreign language instruction kicked in. There was supposedly a choice between English and German. Of course, "choice" didn't mean students actually got a say; instead, they’d just pull names out of a hat to decide which two classes would take English and which would take German. Naturally, if you wanted to protest the luck of the draw, you could try filing a formal complaint with the local Water Utility board, provided you had three certified copies notarized by the County Clerk.

Thankfully, there isn't an American university dedicated to training teachers for Swahili, Chilean, or Uzbek, because then those instructors would actually get hired in schools—and then their languages would just end up being decided by a coin toss. Let the students fend for themselves.

urbantinker8 said:At a typical large American high school, besides English, the main focus might be German or French, and they often run bilingual programs where instruction happens in English, German, or French during specific grades.
In another school, it might be German or French too, with bilingual tracks for those two; I’m not entirely certain, though, but I suspect English isn't necessarily the first choice for everyone there. That used to be the case, at least, but I don't know if English has since pushed its way to the front.

As for your other question: yeah, that's doable. They can just split the group into beginner and advanced tracks, where at the exact same period, one group handles the basics while the other moves on to the advanced stuff. It seems pretty straightforward and actually quite efficient.👍

That other prep school in New York City also offers German as the main foreign language. Usually, it’s just one specific class, while everyone else takes English as their first choice and picks a second one later.

Regarding English proficiency—honestly, I think just knowing it isn't enough anymore. It’s fine if you just want to get by, but let's be real: you aren't competitive in the job market unless you're truly fluent. It's basically expected now.
I was in Finland recently and heard this story about a guy working in politics there. He's actually an American, but all the legal paperwork is strictly in Finnish. He actually employs a full-time translator! Even after living and working there for six years, he still hasn't mastered the language well enough to understand the contracts he's signing. 😬
I also know someone working in the IBM sector in Finland who uses English for work, but for everything else? Totally useless. He can't understand what he's buying at the grocery store or even follow traffic signs... nothing at all.

The point isn't that we need to make Finnish a mandatory school subject. It's just a perfect example of how English often isn't enough in the professional world.

Finnish is pretty much like American; it’s a language spoken by a relatively small population, so it doesn't carry much weight globally unless you actually live there. If you do, knowing the local tongue definitely makes it easier to blend in and talk to people.

Unfortunately, just like everything else in the American school system, your experience with languages really depends on whether you actually like your teacher. I remember one class back in high school where we had a really bad English teacher. She was technically an Italian and English instructor, but since Italian was her main focus and what she primarily taught at the school, it really showed in her English lessons. Plus, she was way too easy on us, handing out A's like they were candy.

Generally speaking, I’m all for having more language options in schools. A lot of parents just can't afford to pay for private tutors for their kids, especially if they have several children to look after. Once you start traveling the world, you realize how useful it is to know even a little bit of the local language. It also becomes pretty obvious how awkward and difficult things get when you can't understand a single word of what's being said.

Emily Brown81 said:That other prep school in New York City also offers German as the main foreign language. Usually, it’s just one specific class, while everyone else takes English as their first choice and picks a second one later.

Regarding English proficiency—honestly, I think just knowing it isn't enough anymore. It’s fine if you just want to get by, but let's be real: you aren't competitive in the job market unless you're truly fluent. It's basically expected now.
I was in Finland recently and heard this story about a guy working in politics there. He's actually an American, but all the legal paperwork is strictly in Finnish. He actually employs a full-time translator! Even after living and working there for six years, he still hasn't mastered the language well enough to understand the contracts he's signing. 😬
I also know someone working in the IBM sector in Finland who uses English for work, but for everything else? Totally useless. He can't understand what he's buying at the grocery store or even follow traffic signs... nothing at all.

The point isn't that we need to make Finnish a mandatory school subject. It's just a perfect example of how English often isn't enough in the professional world.

👍
I never actually said you couldn't survive in a country without knowing the language; I was just suggesting that if you only know English, you're going to be pretty disadvantaged in your daily life in a place where English isn't the official language.
If someone lives inside an IBM office, then sure, maybe it's fine.
And my point definitely wasn't meant to mock anyone's life experience, or debate whether someone works in IT at a massive corporation or how they manage to get by without any local language skills. My point, staying on topic, is that it seems a bit foolish to have the opportunity to learn a foreign language for free for years and not take advantage of it just because it might slightly nudge your GPA up.

I think there’s value in kids learning languages, but mostly just because it makes picking up the next one much easier.
Otherwise, I don't really see the point—you never know where you'll end up needing them anyway. 😁

So, I was just wondering... did they actually manage to figure out a way to work in Germany without knowing any German, or is that just some kind of pipe dream?

🕺

🙄
I rest my case.
I mean, if you really can't see the point in learning a foreign language, then I guess there's not much else to say. Maybe we should all just stick strictly to American culture and forget about everything else, since we don't exactly need to travel anywhere when things are perfectly fine right here at home.🤣
And honestly, maybe kids should just aim for the bare minimum in school, where the only thing that actually matters is keeping that GPA up.
🙂

Michelle Nelson4 said:So, I was just wondering... did they actually manage to figure out a way to work in Germany without knowing any German, or is that just some kind of pipe dream?

🕺

I'm honestly not sure who you're trying to annoy with that little jab, because, looking back at your posts, I don't think anyone has really learned anything meaningful or drawn any real conclusions from what you've written anyway.

I feel the exact same way 😉

it’s just as much 😂

Michelle Nelson4 said:So, I was just wondering... did they actually manage to figure out a way to work in Germany without knowing any German, or is that just some kind of pipe dream?

🕺

Sure, you can work. But your job options are going to be pretty limited, and honestly, fitting into the community becomes a real struggle.

Knowing the language really enriches you. It opens doors in both your career and your personal life that would otherwise stay shut.

I lived in Washington, D.C. once, and man, my Spanish was basically non-existent beyond a few basic phrases. You end up in social circles where everyone is just speaking their native tongue, and you’re just sitting there smiling awkwardly because you have no clue what’s being said until someone finally deigns to translate it into English for you. It’s the same thing whenever you move to a new country for a long stretch. Why would people switch to a foreign language during a casual hangout just for your sake?

Anyway, that's off-topic. Long story short, learning a language is key. 👍 Especially nowadays with how much people travel. I guess if you could focus a bit more on actual conversation, maybe toward the end of high school, it would help.

@urbantinker8

Maybe our mindset would shift if grades weren't such a huge deal and we focused more on actual knowledge. First, everyone says grades matter so you can get into the right high school. Then in high school, grades matter for college admissions since they can account for up to 50% of your score depending on the school. Then in college, it's about dorms and scholarships. Everywhere you turn, they hammer home how important grades are. From a young age, we're just drilled about getting the grade instead of focusing on the actual knowledge behind it.

We wanted grades, and we got them. Only problem is, they’ve got professors showing up at the dorm entrance flanked by two security guards, grilling anyone who secured housing before they even move in.

If you don't know Kazakhstan's GDP by heart, can recite the casualty lists from WWII, and haven't memorized everything about prehistoric settlements, you aren't getting a room.