Homeschool Planning for Foreign Language: High School Credit or College Credit?

Is it best for your teen to take a foreign language for high school credit, for dual enrollment credit, through credit by exam, or skip it entirely? You can determine the best solution for your student by asking three questions.

Foreign Language in Homeschool High School: Should You Earn College Credit Too?

(1) Does your state require foreign language credit in order to graduate from your homeschool?

If no:
If your state doesn’t require a foreign language graduation credit, you’re in the driver’s seat. This gives you full discretion to decide whether foreign language study is even necessary. You’ll want to look ahead at possible college admissions requirements before making your decision.

If yes.
If a foreign language is a legal graduation requirement in your state, then you must plan accordingly. In that case, the best choice depends on your teen’s motivation and academic maturity.

• For a motivated student who is also interested in attending college after high school, I recommend pursuing college credit. This sets your student up for admissions success, as well as the potential to receive credit towards a degree once in college.
• For an unmotivated student, dual enrollment courses come with real grades and real transcripts, so a poor grade here sticks. Since only high school credit is required, it is best to offer the credit as high school credit only. If at any point your teen’s motivation increases, you can allow them to attempt credit by exam to earn potential college credit. This is a safety net since credit by exam attempts don’t have to be disclosed, and you can test out of almost any language this way. The lowest cost is CLEP Spanish, CLEP German, or CLEP French when you obtain a free test voucher through Modern States. Best of all, your teen can attempt multiple times from home.
• Some states allow American Sign Language (ASL) to count as a foreign language. This can be a game-changer for teens with learning differences or hearing impairments, as well as those interested in health sciences, interpreting, or special education.

(2) Does your target university recommend 2+ years of high school foreign language for admission?

If no:
It is a myth that all colleges require a foreign language for admissions. Since this requirement depends on the college, it’s important to look ahead at potential target schools. You can wait until the end of 10th grade before you really have to decide. If you’re confident the colleges your teen will apply to don’t require it, and you also answered “no” to question 1, then foreign language is optional.

• Community colleges don’t require specific high school courses to qualify for admission.

If yes:
If a foreign language is required for admissions, then you must plan accordingly. In that case, the best choice depends on your teen’s motivation and academic maturity.

• For a motivated student who is also interested in attending college after high school, I recommend pursuing college credit. This sets your student up for admissions success, as well as the potential to receive credit towards a degree once in college.
• For an unmotivated student, dual enrollment courses come with real grades and real transcripts, so a poor grade here sticks. Since only high school credit is required, it is best to offer the credit as high school credit only.
• What about CLEP? Some colleges will count the CLEP exam as credit once your student is enrolled, but won’t accept it in place of their admissions language requirement unless you document high school credit on the transcript. Since passing a CLEP exam demonstrates proficiency, you can award high school credit for the learning that took place ahead of the exam. Whether your family is bilingual and speaks the language at home, or your student studied using a curriculum, the result is the same, as demonstrated by their ability to pass the CLEP exam. DO NOT, however, record “CLEP” on the high school transcript. Instead, award high school credit in the subject on the transcript so it is clear that they met the college admissions requirements.

(3) Does your teen’s target major at their target college require foreign language credit for their degree?

If no:
Foreign language as an enrichment opportunity. Maybe you want to keep your family’s heritage language alive. Maybe your teen wants to travel. Maybe they’re just curious. No wrong answer here, but the decision to include it in your homeschool is yours.

If yes:
If the degree requires a foreign language, now’s the time to be strategic. A teenager who has already studied the language at the high school level should consider moving up to dual enrollment when ready. Even if you’re not sure about credit transfer, the experience will make the eventual college course easier—and possibly unnecessary.

PRO TIP: If your teen has zero interest in learning a foreign language or is terrified of studying it in college, consider rethinking the college you’re looking at. This is a smarter plan than letting the language requirement become the reason your teen is unsuccessful in college. If a foreign language is going to be an insurmountable barrier, it could be the difference between finishing a degree and walking away empty-handed. Choose the path that helps your teen succeed in college.

A foreign language isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. Some teens don’t need it at all, some need two years for admissions, and some will need it to graduate from college. The key is intentional planning. Knowing your state law, your teen’s goals, and the degree requirements at their target college.

Method	High School Credit	College Credit
High School Curriculum	✅	No
Dual Enrollment	✅	✅
CLEP Exam	No, but you can award high school credit for the learning that preceded the exam.	✅
AP Exam	No, but you can award high school credit for the learning that preceded the exam.	✅
NYU-FLP(Foreign Language Proficiency Exam)	No, but you can award high school credit for the learning that preceded the exam.	✅
ACTFL(OPI/WPT Exams via Language Testing International)	No, but you can award high school credit for the learning that preceded the exam.	✅