Confused about MFL

[Waitingaround]

Hi,
My DS took options in year 8, they are currently in year 9. He did not choose an mfl(really no good at it and have absolutely no interest in it), instead chose
Triple science
Music,
English lit/Lang
Maths
IT
History
Geography
Resistant materials
He wants to study science/engineering at university and so far has been predicted all A* at GCSE
I am now worried about the lack of an mfl and it's implications for university acceptance. What do you think?
Ps the school have offered the chance to drop History and study Spanish instead (he hasn't studied this before and would probably only get a C) oh and he would be very against this as a choice! please help

[TalkinPeace2]

If he's not an MFL type of person
and his planned degree will not need it, do not kowtow to Gove's little schemes.
Do what is right for DS

[Horton]

I think an A or A* in a good academic subject such as History would be worth far more to him than a C in Spanish if he is clearly headed for a scientific area. The E Bacc stuff is just so much hot air, IMO. It is far more important for your son that he studies things that he likes and is good at (and will gain good grades in) and he seems to have a reasonable spread of subjects. If he was going to drop something then it sounds like IT or Resistant Materials would be the one to drop in favour of a MFL, as they are more likely to be viewed as soft subjects. But given that he has no interest in doing this, it doesn't sound like a great idea.

Also, the essay and language skills from a subject like History will be worth more to him in his later working life than doing a MFL badly.

[OesMorDdreng]

Don't worry overly about it. An A in History is definitely better than a C in Spanish.

However, E. Bac. aside, you should consider that from 2012 some universities(I think UCL and Imperial, for example?) will require at least a foreign language C. So it's worth researching possible university choices to see if any of them already require this.

[TalkinPeace2]

Imperial were one of the bastions of multiple choice post graduate engineering applications forms.
Can't think they'll worry too much about the geeks speaking Italian.

[Renniehorta]

On the other hand when he gets into the jobs market, what will be of greater use to a scientist / engineer a GCSE in history or another language.

Our dcs will be competing for jobs with people who will have several languages. It gives a built in advantage denied to the monoglots churned out by our system.
If he has never studied Spanish before it gives him a fresh start.

Don't handicap your ds in the job market!

[Waitingaround]

Bump

[sakura1]

Spanish Grade C is certainly worth more than A* in History if you apply UCL or Edinburgh. Imperial don't bother MFL but they ask at least Grade C in English Language/Literature. Durham recommend having passes in languages. Cambridge has recently dropped MFL requirement etc...

[Horton]

On the other hand when he gets into the jobs market, what will be of greater use to a scientist / engineer a GCSE in history or another language.

I don't think he'll remember a word of the Spanish five or six years later if he only gets a C. He certainly won't be up to actually communicating in it at a professional level. An A in History will have supported and encouraged good essay writing skills and ability to communicate in his own language. If we want our children to actually be able to use their languages professionally then we need to start them a lot earlier and devote a lot more time to them, IMO.

I take sakura's point that some universities may require a foreign language for entry. But then so many really good universities don't require this so he will still have plenty of options open to him.

[Pluto]

In my little optimistic bubble I also like to think that the u i admissions tutors will be at least a little bit sympathetic to students in your son's circumstances. It's not his fault or his school's fault that Mr Gove has decided to introduce the E Bacc from this September and there will be bright Y9s all over the place in a similar situation to your DS.

[penguin73]

Languages will look better for both university and employment as long as he achieves his grade C - both education and industry were heading this way before the change of Government and introduction of the E-Bacc. Even if it is not a formal requirement many universities and employers will use it as a deciding factor for similar candidates.

[Waitingaround]

Thankyou everybody for your responses. In the end we have contacted 5 Russell group universities, and they have all said stick with the history, none of them are worried about his current lack of an mfl and would instead prefer to see strong grades. However he has decided to keep learning conversational French outside of school with the intention of French gcse at 6th form, I think this is a really good idea!