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SIL would like to teach German some advice for her please

10 replies

Berrie · 16/08/2009 18:27

My SIL, who is German, is thinking of doing a PGCE to teach German. I'm a junior teacher so can't really answer her questions.
They live in Richmond, London. What is the market for language teachers like and would she need to teach a second subject? Also is she right to think that the children studying German would be less likely to be as challenging?

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Berrie · 16/08/2009 18:43

I know it's boring but bump!

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MrsMuddle · 16/08/2009 19:33

Can't help - am in Scotland and not a teacher, but I can tell you that here, German is a second language. French, in our local authority, is studied from P5 and children have to take a language for their standard grade, (GCSE equiv).

German is offered at the end of first year to children who are in the top sets in maths and English, because they miss a period of maths, English and PE in second year to study German - so, yes, probably less challenging in that they are the most academically able.

There was a report here that said that the number of pupils studying German Higher (A level equiv) has dropped, as more and more schools offer Spanish as a second language, and lack of German teachers was one of the reasons.

Hope this helps.

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Berrie · 16/08/2009 19:34

Thanks Mrs Muddle!
I took German so that I could miss P.E. many years ago!

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Berrie · 17/08/2009 17:04

bump...

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happilyconfused · 17/08/2009 18:27

A number of secondary schools in the Surrey & Kingston LEAs are dropping German in favour of Spanish. It is being partly driven by both parents and children who see more use for Spanish - some would prefer Spanish first then another. Our German A level class has never been higher than four so it is uneconomic to run - final year has just finished. We have a smaller number opting for languages since it is no longer a requirement at KS4.

yes your SIL will have to offer another language as well as German. If she is in Richmond she will probably end up teaching in one of the boroughs - she can also check on websites to see which local schools offer what and there maybe some local Language specialist schools where kids are obliged to do a language at GCSE.

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Berrie · 17/08/2009 18:50

Thank you very much. I'll pass it on.

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shinysea · 20/08/2009 17:43

Hi, since KS4 languages became optional, German teachers all over the country have been made redundant. Spanish is seen to be easier and many schools cannot support the financial cost of the small German class sizes.

A second language is always desirable, but not necessarily essential ime. Does she have any French she could brush up on, to offer for Y7/8 for example.

In general, KS4 students who choose German actually want to do it, so behaviour should be OK. Not true of KS3 though.

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Informer2 · 28/08/2009 21:12

Not sure on work but think language lessons should be age appropiate

Ie age 5 for the red cat cat on the mat and

Grab your coat you've pulled babe along with all the swaer, insult and sexaul stuff for teengers and all the slang

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BonsoirAnna · 28/08/2009 21:13

The number of students taking German at GCSE and A level has been falling for years. So I expect the market for new teachers is very tough indeed.