When 9th-11th grade teens take Composition 1 & 2 in high school for college credit, parents often wonder what to use for Language Arts in 12th grade. Here are 4 options to consider.
Option 1: Nothing
If your teen already has at least 4 high school credits in Language Arts (1 college class = 1 high school credit) and they’ve already met their college English Composition requirements (usually 6 credits) then it’s perfectly fine to use their space for something more pressing. Short of your state law saying otherwise, there is no “rule” that dictates all 4 Language Arts credits must be evenly distributed over 4 years of high school. If your teen earned all 4 credits in 3 years, way to to!
Option 2: Literature
Often Literature is incorporated into high school Language Arts curriculum, but in the world of college credit, it’s a separate class. If they enjoy reading, you could take a more relaxed approach and simply work out a reading schedule based on books you select. I love this approach for teens who love reading because it gives them dedicated “school time” to spend in their favorite books. A perfect way to bring college credit into the mix is to have them take the CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature at the end of the class. That specific CLEP exam is a reading comprehension exam, which means you keep the book list you love and your teen gets potential college credit. Dual enrollment programs usually offer a few literature courses too, but be aware that college literature courses almost alway include provocative passages that may explore mature topics.
Option 3: Speech
Speech is a great option! If your teen loves public speaking, seek out a dual enrollment class in your community, but if they are shy or uncomfortable in front of people, there are a few wonderful opportunities to take Speech in the privacy of your own home. These self-paced courses allow you to complete the coursework online and then record the speeches on your phone or webcam. These 2 options won’t be accepted at most colleges, but my advice is to use them as high school speech curriculum, and later if they do end up getting college credit, it’s icing on the cake. Be mindful that these courses are monthly subscriptions, to plan for your teen to complete the course in 2 months or less.
- Sophia Public Speaking (requires 3 speeches)
- Studycom Communications 101 Public Speaking (requires 3 speeches)
Option 4: Business Communications
My oldest son (age 28) took Business Communications this year for professional development, and I was so shocked that I hadn’t worked a class like this into all of my teen’s high school programs. Business and workplace communication skills are so important, especially considering the new technologies in place. From writing a professional email to giving a PowerPoint presentation, these courses teach you how to communicate verbally, nonverbally, through writing, and in a business setting. Highly recommend! Also, like Speech, be mindful that these courses are monthly subscriptions, so plan for your teen to complete the course in 2 months or less.
- Sophia Workplace Communications (write an email)
- Studycom Business 113 Business Communications (write a resume, memo, and report)
