Which language option to go with French/Latin?

The great thing about keeping a MFL or two going to A level is that it keeps options wider at university. As MFL grads are a reducing breed, offers can be good too! A*s not needed.

So I don’t think it matters what he does. I would be less inclined to do the Mandarin but think a bit more widely around the likes and interests in the culture. What does he like about the country? Any authors that interest him? Or art or music? Then go with that.

DD chose Italian as her second MFL because she liked Italian Renaissance art. Plus the food!

I interviewed for a different branch of intelligence services which would have required using my languages. Adventurous natures were definitely not required.... Strict attention to detail was... Wasn't for me but could have been interesting for the right sort of person....

How disappointing !

They do indeed....and Arabic ones too.....

Probably true, sadly. But they do recruit spies from Russian degrees!!

@Piggywaspushed I lived in Brussels for 10 years (and started French at age 4) so I had thought of doing translation work for the EU, but when I went to speak to some, I was advised that almost all of them were bilingual children - so to get to translation standard (certainly simultaneous translation standard) at the UN or EU would be extremely difficult without the advantage of a bilingual childhood.

(I ended up becoming a chartered surveyor so my Russian was really useful )

eleven If he enjoys Latin he will like Classical Greek.
DD finds it trickier than Latin but equally as enjoyable.

Another who did French, Latin (both mandatory for us) and opted for Spanish. There are overlaps, some find that useful, other would prefer a distinct different, in which case I would go for German.
Also depends on if they have future plans yet. I would think German would be more useful in mainland Europe, but Spanish more useful in South America?

As a former French teacher I would suggest Latin: it’s the basis for Italian, Portuguese and Spanish so it’s much easier to pick them up...3 languages for the price of one. Additionally, it gives a really basis for good grammar in all languages.

I did a Russian with French degree, and French, Spanish and Latin at GCSE.... German would have been more useful than Russian as I really haven't used it (I did for about a year after graduating) but I worked a lot in Europe and French, Spanish, English and German would have been of more use. That said, I Ioved the Russian history and literature elements of my degree.

I would do Spanish as they all help each other and Spanish literature is so lovely.

The UN has certain key languages and employs translators who speak them : One is definitely Russian.

As a German I would say German is a good choice as Latin gives a good base regarding grammar and it is different enough to French to not cause problems. Spanish can be too similar.

Russian, according to a Russian colleague, means learning not only a language but also the totally different alphabet and can be quite daunting. I would assume Mandarin also means a lot more groundwork than any language using our alphabet.

If he is interest in languages Russian or Mandarin maybe a good challenge but it obviously means less progress short term. What are his options in the next years? Doing Russian/Mandarin for just 1-2 years is pointless, than German will give him a lot more.

At a similar stage half a lifetime ago (O levels) I picked German and loved it - am still using it and enjoying the literature. I also did Russian on the side as a club, but haven’t got as much depth and use out of that over the years.

Mandarin is fashionable in schools but I am not convinced that a GCSE in it gets it to a usable level. And Spanish is very accessible in later life to anyone with a grounding in French and Latin.

So, another vote for German.

My school just offered the standard languages but German had the smallest class sizes and I got good grades so I'd probably have gone with that if I'd had the choice. French was my first language and a lot bigger though I did like languages so did well in both.

No Latin or Mandarin options I'm afraid!

I liked GErman. But never quite got holds of Der, die , das. But I still got a C not bad considering I didn,t take the higher papers.

Unless there is a particular interest in Russian or Mandarin I would go with German, too. Really useful language and will come in handy if your ds ends up in science or economics.

Ds2 did Russian and Spanish from y7. He dropped Spanish after AS level and is now at uni doing Russian. His Gf is taking joint Russian and French. They are both really enjoying it, they did their year abroad in Russia last year.

Depends on career choice.
Brexit notwithstanding, German is usually more use in a later career in business. (We do more business with them than any other European nation)

Spanish is so useful. It'd have to be Spanish for me. Although mandarin would be a big draw for certain employers I guess.

Out of curiosity, where/what are these schools that have such a huge choice and such a supply of MFL teachers!?