A new MFL from scratch to GCSE in two years?

It's comll standard in state schools to do this so no reason why not. My suggestion to talk to MFL teacher at school to check out his aptitude. If he's motivated it will help. IMO as parent if 3 kids all of whom did spanish - it seems quite easy if you have french in the background

I did Spanish AS level in 2 years and got a B. I think it's eminently possible.

DS did German in two. He was desperate to give up Latin and this was the best alternative. He was not a linguist so we organised for him to spend some time in Germany in the summer before he started. He ended up having a great time, picked up a nice accent and this meant he was mid way up the class from the start. It also added to his interest in the language as he could see the point.

It's been possible for years in Scotland to pick up a 2nd language as a 'crash Higher' in 5th year (lower 6th). This is generally taught 6 periods per week and gives the equivalent of an AS level after one year. Many pupils try it and manage it successfully and some go on the following year to take Advanced Higher (A level equiv).

My DCs' school offers an MFL ab initio in Year 10 and the teacher told us by Feb of year 10 you couldn't tell who the new starters were.

However - there are usually only 3-4 people doing it, they are always top set and very very keen. Given a pack to work through at the start of the summer hols (before year 10).

DD was going to pick up German (is not going to now but not cos of worries about it) - she is one of the best in her year at French so her teacher said it was great. What has your DS's teacher said about his plan?

In answer to your question, yes it totally is - DD's teacher said an A in German was within her reach - but I would ask DS's teacher what they think he will achieve. Is he doing French as well btw? I agree with others here, can he learn 250 words in a foreign language (four times over)?

Spanish IMHO is only easier if you already know French! But then he does so hey!!

I myself learned Spanish in 6th form and got an A (highest grade possible then) after 4 terms so it is quite feasible. (I was a language nut tho, had already done French, German, Latin and Greek O levels and was doing three of those for A level...)

I did German O level in two years from scratch and ended up with a grade B.

It is possible if he's determined. DD1 took it for A level from scratch, so GCSE definitely possible.

I'm sure it's perfectly possible to get an A or A* in GCSE Spanish with two years' study.

Whether a DC has any kind of grasp of Spanish-the-language (as opposed to the entirely different beast that is Spanish-the-GCSE) is a different question entirely!

Chips has a good point. The way the CAs are done (60%) relies on writing in advance and learning off by heart. DD is good at learning by heart which is one of the reasons she ended up doing 2 MFLs.

The real question is: can he learn things off by heart easily? 250 words approx? If yes, go for it.

Spanish is much easier than French or German, and he will be familiar with the grammatical concepts, tenses, genders. My DS is doing Russian ab initio in Year 10 - they are all predicted A/A*. I did Greek GCSE in the sixth form ( ie 2 years study form scratch) and got an A. if you already understand the structure of language easy to pick up an additional one. When I was teacher training I needed an additional language, had never done Spanish and picked up enough in a couple of months on my own in my spare time time to pass the Uni test, and was teaching it on my first placement a few weeks later.

My y11 DD also started Spanish from scratch in y10, and has been getting on fine, despite the fact I know no Spanish. (She's very much average and is on track for Bs and Cs generally).

She is also doing French which has been a bit muddling at times, but the 'exam technique' for both is the same so that has helped.

Umm, Si. Or possibly No.

My DD started Spanish in Y10 and is on track for an A* in the summer. She'll be doing it at A-level too.

Well, DD has just optimistically asked if I would mind 'learning Spanish for when Lucia gets here' on her school exchange visit.

That gives me about 6 weeks. What do you reckon?

What is noticeable, however, is that although he got an A* he'd struggle to order a beer in Spanish now (6 years on). He'd be fine in French (7 years on).

DS did Spanish in a year but had already done Latin and French a year early (school policy, not his linguistic brilliance).

How many lessons a week will he have? A GCSE is not designed to be a 2 year course and my guess is that your DC will have to do a lot of independent work to get a decent grade. Prior knowledge of French will be helpful but to get an A grade in what will technically be less than 2 years will be a lot of work.