The Mathematics of Language Classes at FSI (or: Numbers Divisible by Four)

So.  When we last left our deeply-flawed heroine, she was a sniveling pile of patheticness on the floor of her Oakwoody (not The Mothership) apartment. 


But, of course, the plot has twisted.  And whenever there is a pathetic, deeply-flawed heroine and a twisting plot, it is best to speak in Royal Third Person. 


When she was previously sniveling, it was because she thought (mistakenly) that her enrollment into her husband's 44-week-long Mandarin Chinese class at FSI was a Done Deal. 


O, how she misunderstood.

But, at the time, when she thought her enrollment WAS Official, she had to go through a long, drawn-out, painful mourning process as she moved from Homeschooling-Mother-Who-Had-No-Clue-That-Homeschooling-Could-Even-Be-Ending-This-Soon *to* Oh-Dear-LORD-They're-TAKING-THE-CHILDREN-AWAY!  ALL! DAY! LONG!! 


And in the middle of that, she was starting to realize that the schools that made the most sense for her children have Gerrymandered districts that look like the most complicated things on the face of the EARTH.  And that the elementary school that would be best for her youngest son has a district that has literally Gerrymandered out ALL hotels and ALL apartments save ONE.  So then, she had to move heaven and earth to get into there, the ONE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN THE WHOLE DISTRICT, so she could register her children for those schools. 


Much crying.  Much identity crises.  Much feeling of loss, and of trading children for language training.  And much guilt.  And more crying.


All that went into the previous pathetic blog post.


HOWEVER,  all that went down BEFORE she was skooled a whole lot in the intricate ins and outs of spouse placement in FSI language training! 


Grab a calculator, my friends. 

~  ~  ~

Mathematics and Language Classes

(or: Do You Remember Your Times Tables?)

Let's go over what we all know to be true.  We all know, of course, that an employee who needs language training (Translation:  that an employee who has been selected for a position that requires a certain language level that they don't already have) will get into the needed language class. 


For example: my husband, James.  He was selected for a position in Chengdu, China, and this position requires that he speak Mandarin Chinese at a 2/2 level.  To take an employee from 0/0 to a 2/2, FSI has calculated that James will need 44 weeks in a full-time training class at FSI. 


James will, of course, no question, be placed in such a class.  (And behold!  It begins in September!)


But then there's... me.  And that's when it gets a whole lot more complicated.


It's been explained to me that language class groups consist of four people.  Thus:


4 people = a class group



We've already said that employees are placed into the class, no problem.  However, due to budget constraints, NO new groups/classes will be created JUST for spouses.  (From what I understand, up until two years ago, they *would* create more classes for spouses.  But not any longer.)


Let's say that sixteen employees total need the class.  Well, then there will be four employees per group, four groups total, with no spots left over for spouses. 


But let's say that there are SEVENTEEN employees that need the class.  Then there will be FIVE groups, with the last group having only one employee and then three spouses could fill those empty spots. 


So, for our family, the important question is:  how many employees will be taking James' Chinese class?  Is that number exactly divisible by four?  Will there be any spots left over for me? 


We won't know this for quite a long time.  But it's a heavy question that affects me and the children.  For if I DO get into the Chinese class, then the children will be going full-time to the schools that I so tearfully, painfully chose over the last two weeks.  If I DO NOT get into the Chinese class, then Matthew (the 16 year old) will be going part-time to the high school that I chose (homeschoolers can take up to two classes in the local public schools here in Virginia, but not participate in any extra-curricular activities), and our younger one will probably still be homeschooled. 


But, alas for us!  For by the time we find out if I will or will not actually get to take the Chinese class (whether or not the total number of students in James' class is perfectly divisible by four and/or how many remainders there are), we will be back in HOUSTON and won't be ABLE to register the children in their schools.  And so it goes.  Do we register the children in their schools as though I'm going to be in the class?  (I've been told I have probably a 50/50 shot at getting in.)  Knowing that, if I don't get the Chinese class, I have to then go through the process of withdrawing them from their schools?


And then I read all about how incredibly difficult and painful long-term language class can be (Worldwide Available, who also posted a picture that is worth a thousand words), and I ask myself:  which outcome would be better for all of us?  I don't know the answer.


But if I'm statistically lucky enough to get into the class, I'm going.  And the children** are going to school.  And if I don't get in, I'm obviously not going.  (At least I'm still a master of the obvious!)  And this all reminds me of Digger's recent blog post, in which she wisely tells us all that being with State is all about WAITING.  Some of you are waiting to get in.  Others are waiting for their training to start.  Or to be over.  Or to start bidding.  Or to find out what bid you got.  Or to go to post.  Or to come home from post.  Or to go on home leave.  Or to go back to post from home leave.


So, now our family is waiting to see what the children and I will be doing in the fall!  And I have the stack of school registration papers sitting here on the table, staring at me.


____________________________________________


** I have two boys.  My eldest son (16) was in a Montessori school until the end of first grade, and hasn't been to school since.  My youngest son (11) had literally never set foot in a school until we went looking at them a couple of weeks ago.  Seeing that typed out, I can't help but think that everyone reading this will think we are INSANE.  And, indeed...  you are right.

Comments

[Jeni]

The cool thing about all this is that, ...well, remember your theological roots and you'll know what I'd write. :)

[Dora Moreland]

Dear Daring Adventure,

I am a fellow homeschooling mom. I found your blog and so far I have enjoyed reading about your adventures. If I may, I would like to share my 2 cents. If it is causing you so much anguish to send you kids to school, so you can get Mandarin language training, even though it seems to me, it is your husband who is required to do so, then why not get Rosetta Stone (they have Mandarin) and do that with your kids as part of school? Your hubby can always fill you in about what he learned and teach it to you guys, it will be good for him, since he will learn the material even better. I am sorry, I know I am giving advice where it may be unwanted and I may not know all the underlying issues this decision was based on. I just felt really bad for you when I read how upset you were. Good luck to you and wish you the best.

[shannon]

Had no idea that's how the language classes for spouses worked. How totally infuriating. It drives me mad that the powers-that-be make it so hard for spouses. After all we have to go to the grocery store in a foreign language, run errands in a foreign language, take care of everything that needs to be done to make a house run in a foreign language. God forbid we actually have a chance to LEARN that language.

[Bridget]

goodness, what ridiculous limbo. I'm so sorry that's what you're going through right now. I just really appreciate your sharing all of these (mis)adventures; you really help those of us who are still waiting to get in :) understand what it's all about. I hope it works out the way that is best for you and your family. hugs.

[A Daring Adventure]

Hello, Dora,

Your comment was so kind and heartfelt - thank you! But maybe I haven't explained well enough.

Our family actually does have access to the Rosetta Stone Mandarin program. But nothing can even remotely compare with being in the same full-time, year-long class with my husband. Being in the class with my husband would take me to, basically, fluency.

On one hand, being in that class would be the opportunity of a lifetime, and if there's room for me, I will jump at it. However, it's hard because - because of this lifestyle, I really never "saw it coming" that last year could be my last year of homeschooling the children. So I've been going through a mourning process, if you will.

Also, the post we're going to doesn't have much English around, if any, so I've been told by many people who know that the more Chinese I can have before I get to post, the better life will be for me.

And maybe my children would *like* school. And maybe my children would *hate* school. But I know you understand my mourning process. :) And of COURSE, I welcome your thoughts! Advice is never unwanted. And thanks for reading!

______________________________

@ Shannon - I've been told that if there are "lots of complaints," that things might change back to they way that they were (with language classes being enlarged to make room for spouses). But that it is, in the end, a budgetary concern.

[Stephanie]

Hmmm, knowing what I do about State, I would register the kids for school. Even if they tell you some time over the summer that you won't be in the class, you really won't know for sure until the first day. People could get shuffled around at any time and another spot could open up after they tell you it's full. For the school registration, is there any medical stuff that's the same as the medical clearance? Doubling up on that could make the registration a little easier.

Is it a full-day class? I thought all language classes were only four hours. Does a half-day not give enough time for schooling with the boys for the other half?

[Alex]

I don't envy you. Andy's in the same situation with language classes or finding a job in DC. We're down to about two weeks before the class is scheduled to start, and we still can't get a definite answer about whether there will be space for him. From what I hear, we may not know for sure until the Friday before classes start. Frustrating.

[Jen]

Ah, you don't want to hear my Spanish language class story...but I'll tell you anyway...we couldn't afford $800 plus a month in daycare fees to send Cait to daycare while I took Spanish w/Peter (back in the early days and NO FSI daycare at all). Instead I signed up for a morning (EARLY morning) class at FSI..I had just enough time to take the class and get home in time for Pete to leave for his language class.

I showed up the first day (all signed up, of course) to find out they had switched the class to MAIN STATE. Livid didn't describe it. No one contacted me (or Pete) and driving to and from Main State would add 30 minutes to the commute...and ensure Peter would be late for his class.

It was Spanish, I learned it at post by immersing myself (and took classes at the Embassy), but didn't change the fact that there was something very wrong with the way things went with the whole class at FSI deal.

[TG]

Oh, my. . . you have a knack of taking the craziness, uncertainty, emotion-laden things of life, state, and motherhood -- and making me laugh!

Seriously, smiling all through this post, though I know it really is complex. . .

Were I in your shoes, boy, I hope I'd be handling it with the skill and humor you are. . .

[A Daring Adventure]

@ Stephanie - Actually, if we start talking about time schedules, the issues grows yet worse. This is because there are two different class schedules we may be facing, and the Chinese department doesn't yet know which time schedule the 44 week Mandarin class may be.

The first time schedule is from 7:40 am through 2:30 pm in total. That's the early schedule. The class would go from 7:40 to 10:30, then a two hour break for lunch and self-study, and then resume from 12:40 to 2:30 in the afternoon. So that's one language schedule.

The other language schedule is from 10:40 am to 5:30 pm in total, with the class meeting from 10:40 to 12:30... and having a two-hour break for lunch and self-study... and then meeting again from 2:40 to 5:30.

As I've said, we don't even know which time slot the class will meet in. But, either way, most of the day is gone. In the early schedule, I'd be away from home from easily 7 to 3 something in the afternoon; the other way from easily 10 to 6 something in the evening.

____________________________________

@ Alex - Thank you so very much for sharing with me what is going on with you and Andy. I've been thinking of you guys and hoping that Andy gets in. To know that you're down to two weeks prior and STILL don't know - ? I just... really hope that Andy gets into French. And I'm sorry this is all so complicated.

____________________________________

@ Jen - Jen, I've now heard a rumor that daycare at FSI is TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH. Which I can't even FATHOM.

And thank you for telling me your Spanish story. I just... can't even imagine. I guess that means that you never got to take the class? *sigh*

___________________________________

@ TG - Please. You handle anything FAR better than I do.

[rk]

My husband is currently trying to get into ConGen. So far he's been waitlisted twice, told to show up in the morning, and "see if there are any available seats." It's the same deal where he only gets a spot if there are extra places in an existing class. No seats the first time; trying again next week. We share your frustration.

[Becky Watt]

Another State Dept. spouse here. Just wanted to wish you good luck getting into class. I hope it works out for you. You are smart to get any Chinese you can before you go. I don't know if it'll be any help but we use materials from betterchinese .com in our homeschool studies and it helps a ton. Our kids are younger but the older level stuff looks good too. Haven't used it though so I can't say for sure. As I have been reading your posts, it looks like you are already making great progress. Jia you!

[A Daring Adventure]

@ RK - Oh my gosh, RK, the whole ConGen for spouses thing is its own separate circle of hell.

When we first got here a month or so ago, I came with high hopes that I could get into a ConGen class. Then I found out about all the insane hoops you had to jump through. Taking tests to show that you're not an idiot... to prove that you can speak the English language... that you can actually learn something from a book...

Getting the employee spouse's SIGNATURE on the ConGen application, as though the spouse isn't their own person...

Then, after all that, I heard that there were over 35 people on the wait list. I decided: no thanks. Just: NO THANKS. So kudos to your husband for going through all of the ridiculousness, and I truly hope he gets a class. I was thinking to making the whole ConGen for Spouses thing its own blog post, because it's so truly absurd, but I have to wait until I'm not seething or it may just be too ugly to print.

[shannon]

It’s Friday, and that means that the Weekly State Department Blog Roundup is up – and you’re on it!



Here is the link:
 http://cyberbones.blogspot.com/2010/06/weekly-state-department-roundup.html



(If I quoted your text or used your photo(s) and you would rather I had not, please let me know. Please also be sure to check the link(s) that I put up to you, in order to verify that they work properly. If you would rather that I had not referenced you, and/or do not want me to reference you in the future, please also contact me.)

Thanks!

[Connie]

I hate not knowing! Especially when it comes to impact to the family... sigh... I hope you get answers and SOON!

[Diplogeek]

On the class scheduling thing, I may be able to help. I was actually previously enrolled in the September Mandarin class, but have since been shifted to an earlier class that they've just created to allow some of us newbies to get to post and get as much language as they can stuff into us by next May.

Something may have changed since I was scheduled for that September class, but I was literally pulled out and put in the earlier class a week ago, so hopefully not. Prior to that, my FSI schedule showed that the class started on the earlier, 7:30 schedule. I wouldn't take that to the bank or anything, but that's what I saw when obsessively checking my registration schedule to see if I was going to have to find a way to fill up a bunch of gap time.

Oh, and I'm a brand new FSO and have no idea how most of this stuff works, but depending on your family schedule, would it be possible for you to start Chinese earlier? If so, would they let you into a class earlier than your spouse's? Maybe you could get into the August class.

Good luck getting everything squared away!