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AIBU?

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Original poster

Languages in high school

54 replies

Elfstillhere · 05/01/2024 20:18

DS is just about to pick his subjects in high school. He is aiming for banking, investments, software developer or something similar in IT.
I know he is only 13 and a lot can change by the time e goes to uni, but I worry he wants to drop languages completely and that will close a lot of doors for him in the future.

His options, except of English which is compulsory, are French and Spanish. His argument is that you can speak English pretty much everywhere so what's the point.

AIBU to encourage him to continue to learn one of the foreign languages? If so, which one would be more beneficial in the future in your opinion, French or Spanish?

I don't really have anyone in the real life to ask and I worry I'm unreasonable here and should let him choose whatever he wants.

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 05/01/2024 20:31

I’d let him choose what he wants. If he had e.g. Mandarin or a community language as an option then that would offer some benefit, but a couple of years learning French or Spanish in an uninterested fashion is a waste when he could pick another subject he’s genuinely interested in. GCSE French or German was compulsory when I was at school but I can’t think of a single person I know whose doors have really been opened by having some reluctantly learned patchy school-French.

StillWantingADog · 05/01/2024 20:29

I’m pleased that our school still insists on a language GCSE
i’m a languages grad so would always encourage - makes me very sad that anyone would say “everyone speaks English anyway” - def not the case in lots of places notably Japan where most people know a bit of English but can’t speak any at all!

I’d encourage Spanish as it’s slightly easier and is more of a “world language” than French.
hugely helpful in most of Latin America.

PuttingDownRoots · 05/01/2024 20:26

Is he good at languages? What does he want to do instead?

We aren't pushing it with DD as she really struggles with the spelling aspect due to dyslexia. I do think it is beneficial if they have the ability of languages.

Grilly · 05/01/2024 20:25

TIL a foreign language is no longer compulsory. Shame!

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