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Learning a 2nd foreign language at secondary - advice please

54 replies

purpleturtle1 · 21/11/2022 17:53

DD has just started year 7 at our local state comp in London and is really happy - doing well academically and loving the social side of things. However pupils only have the option to learn one modern language there. She has been assigned to Spanish, but I would like her to learn French too - even if just for a couple of years.

I’m thinking of finding a French tutor for her - to give 1-to-1 lessons - but am wondering if there’s a different/better option. Anyone have experience with Duolingo? Or group lessons? Or just learning from a textbook? She’s bright (doing very well at Spanish) and I think would pick it up easily. I also did French for A Level so could certainly teach her the basics - but I imagine lessons might go better with someone who wasn’t her mum!

Many thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Stokey · 21/11/2022 18:12

an hour a week sorry predictive text!

Stokey · 21/11/2022 18:11

Does the school have an option to take on a second language in Y8? Some schools offer the other language as an additional later on.

If you did private tutoring, would she then have the option to follow it through later at school? Could she switch to French GCSE for example if she chose to?

I'd consider what outcome you want. Am got if French a week is going to take a long time to achieve fluency, whereas when she's a bit older, she could do an immersion course in the holidays.

Twizbe · 21/11/2022 18:02

Can't you just ask to switch her?

My school did French and German and my parents request I did French.

In year 9 top sets started doing the other language and we had the option to do it as a second GCSE language.

MightyAtlantic · 21/11/2022 17:58

Is there a local college or university that offers evening classes (not sure if there would be an age limit for enrolment but you could check)? You can start from beginner level and having people to speak to is great for practice. You could supplement something like this with Duolingo.
Out of curiosity, why French in particular?