Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Latin GCSE if not studying other languages?

30 replies

Strumpetpumpet · 25/02/2017 00:10

Evening all. My DS (yr 8) is choosing his GCSE options. They currently study French, Spanish and Latin, and school strongly recommend they choose to take a language gcse. Until recently, DS was planning to take Spanish but he's now thinking about Latin as he enjoys it - and, as a geeky introvert he likes the sound of no spoken exam and no overseas exchange programme 😂. I've always assumed Latin is a subject for linguists and think Spanish would be a more sensible option but I wondered if anyone has any advice/experience of Latin GCSE? Thanks in advance x

OP posts:
AppleMagic · 25/02/2017 00:31

I liked Latin GCSE for similar reasons. It followed logical rules with very few exceptions. I also found it helped me massively with understanding grammar.

SueGeneris · 25/02/2017 00:31

I didn't find the exams too tough although I will admit that many of us did mostly learn the translations of the poems that would be in the literature exam.

Maruccinus Assinius! You do not use your left hand wisely! In jest and in wine drinking you use it to lift the napkins of those who are not careful enough. Grin

SueGeneris · 25/02/2017 00:26

I did Latin GCSE in 1993 - yikes! I quite enjoyed it. I think unless you are learning a language because you actually need to use that specific language, any language at GCSE is fine because it's an exercise in learning a language , different grammar and vocabulary. The history/cultural side was interesting too, poetry about the heinous crime of stealing napkins.

I'd go with the one he enjoys more - he's likely to do better.

stonecircle · 25/02/2017 00:25

No recent experience at all. But I did o'levels in French, German and Latin in the 70s. Over my life I've benefitted far more from Latin than the other two. I can only remember a word or two of German. My French isn't too bad as I went on to do it at A level, but Latin helps you understand English vocabulary and grammar so much.

Unless your DS has an interest in a particular language that he might want to take beyond gcse, I would recommend Latin. I bet most students can't remember much of their modern language gcse a few years later, but Latin seems to stick more.

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 25/02/2017 00:11

I should add, they only get to choose 3 options so he will only take one language.

OP posts: