How many languages does your child study?

At our indy DCs did two languages in the first term and a half (year 7). For the remainder of this year they will be doing 2 different langauages.

I went to a comp and we only did French. DP went to a GS where they did French and German.

DS did French in Y7, then top set 25% of year do Italian as well in Y8 and Y9. He is dropping French next year.

circular it very much depends on the school. DS is also doing triple science. ebac sujects and Music. However he still had another option and although he has chosen Geology, he could have studied French instead. His language teacher wanted him to.

Grimma - That's what DD was advised re german, as she was sronger at Maths & Science.

I am beginning to wish she had kept German as well as French for GCSE, but she wanted triple science, Ebacc subjects and Music. As it turns out, she would have done better at German than she is currently with Geography, but that's hindsight for you.

It seems, unless the school offers a twilight option, it is difficult to take two languages and still have a balance.

Ds is in year 8. He's learning French, Spanish, German and Latin. Next year he's dropping French, they can only study three languages and he likes Latin. He isn't at a state school.

Both my DDs did spanish and French from year 7 (different schools)

DD chose German as she preferred it to Spanish. Although as others say, Spanish is more like French, she found it less confusing having two quite different languages.

my DD thought the same. She particularly wants to keep German because she tends to the science side and if you look at where science/technical industries are, the most important languages are English (phew) and German.

DS started doing German and Latin, he'd then normally have been able to choose between French, Spanish ans Latin in year 8. DD did French and German last year, she is doing French and Spanish this year, she could have chosen Mandarin or Latin after school.

DD1 now yr10.

All did a term each of French, German and Spanish in yr7.
At the start of term yr7 term 3, had to choose whether to carry on with German or Spanish in yr8 and yr9 alongside French which was compulsory.
DD chose German as she preferred it to Spanish. Although as others say, Spanish is more like French, she found it less confusing having two quite different languages.

So 2 for possible GCSE options, but language not compulsory for all pathways. Anyone wanting to take Spanish or German for GCSE had to be at least level 6a at end of yr9.

Although DD more logical, and had equal grades in both, she dropped German and continued with French as she loves anything to do with France.

ClothesOfSand my comments above were based on years of experience with the average student. They don't apply if you have a really interested and motivated learner. Your ds is probably going to be a bit of a language collector like me.

However I do think that even a motivated learner would benefit from concentrating on one language for at least a year.

With the exception of French, you can start to study any language at university ab initio.

It is the firm foundation in one language that really matters. As many lessons per week as possible for the full five years. Too many schools offer second languages as an hour a week in year 9 with the GCSE in year 10. This will only be successful with gifted linguists, the vast majority will be left with a superficial and useless knowledge as i9t was built on sand.

In the 60s when I was of secondary age it was normal to teach French in year 7 and introduce another language usually Latin in year 8 at Grammar school. Now that was the curriculum for at most the top 25% of the school population. The remainder at secondary mods, apart from the top set who learnt French, did no language.

Now in a mixed ability year 7 almost 100% of the school population study one language. That is already asking alot. Your dd's school offers just French and Spanish as is increasingly the case. This in itself is a problem. These 2 languages are pretty similar and easily confusable. Too often students who do 2 languages with little aptitude end up with a linguistic minestrone. Unable to do either properly.

Much, much better to study just one language, until you really understand it and can manipulate it, without the confusion on the second MFL.

As to which language; I think that Spanish is genuinely easier than French for most brits. It is phonetic and most sounds are easy to pronounce. However the main thing is to get a good, solid foundation in any MFL. From there you are in a great position to learn another language at any stage in your life.

My daughter started in year 7 in top sets and was able to take French and German, although she wanted Spanish instead of the German. Spanish was offered only to the lower ability groups, so they only took Spanish and no other language. At the end of year 7, daughter was asked which language she would take from year 8 and she chose German. She was told that she could do French as a club. This club never happened. Now she is in year 8 she has chosen her options. Still unable to take the two languages as they are in the same group! So she has picked German. IF she can get in, that is. Not sure if there is a "better" language to take, but a lot of people say it is best to do one anyway.

DDs did 3 in year 7 but MFL is one of its specialisms. They do 2 in year 8 and 9, 3 if they do a twilight class.

When I was at school donkeys years ago we did french in the first year, added german in the second year and then after that most people dropped one or the other IIRC.

Which language is best depends on 'what for'. Within Europe/Africa French; the Americas, Spanish.