GCSE languages

[namechangedyetagain]

Year 7 ds has to choose his language GCSE option by the end of the holidays. He likes both Spanish and German so far.
Though has only completed 2 terms of German and not quite 2 terms of Spanish given the school closures.

How on earth to decide? Is one language easier to pick up than the other to get to GCSE standard? I feel it's too early to be thinking about this!

Spanish is spoken across the world much more widely than German, I'd go for Spanish just for that fact.

I think German could be useful if he is of an 'engineering' type though.

He's only 12 so hard to tell what type he is! Def not arty or sporty, he's more logical - likes maths, science, history.

Good point about Spanish being widely spoken though.

Actually I'm really worrying about the future, and not helped by them missing a huge chunk of school. I'm trying hard not to pass my anxiety on

In many schools he would be just 'given' a language and have to go with it. Also re missing school, if he's only y7 the essential stuff will be caught up on (I have a y10 ).

He will be given his second language by the school, but this won't be chosen an his first choice wont be changed. Seems all a bit scary for 12. I think I'll let him do what he thinks best, he'll be the one putting the work in!

Is one language easier to pick up than the other to get to GCSE standard?

Spanish is considered easier to pick up than German, for native English speakers. But German is certainly not one of the world's hardest.

www.visualcapitalist.com/language-difficulty-map/

From (ancient) memory, basic vocabulary is possibly easier in German, but harder later on, since so many words, e.g. abstract nouns, come from a different root. Whereas with Romance languages, e.g.French and Spanish, many are similar to English, e.g. ‘difference’ is just one.

From a usefulness POV, Spanish is much more widely spoken than German.

Spanish every time - UNLESS - you have some prior connection to German. Spanish is a much more widely spoken language - much more useful in the job market. It’s also easier if you have already learned French as they are similar.

German is a harder language to learn, BUT - if you have a prior connection to the language, either through a family member, or through regular holidays or something like that, then def worth considering.

I would also say that if your DC is particularly good at languages then German is a good choice because the likelihood is that they could pick up Spanish at a later date anyway

German is more "logical" / mathematical than Spanish, at least to GCSE level. Assuming 2nd language is assigned it is more likely to be a Romance language like French or Spanish so good to pick German and get the contrast. I also find 2 less related languages easier to study to the same level at the same time.

German is consistently the language most employers want - not true that Spanish is the better choice from an employment perspective.

I also find 2 less related languages easier to study to the same level at the same time.

DD did French & Spanish at GCSE, and although she occasionally muddled them, on the whole she found it more helpful as if she came across a word she didn't know she could guess it more easily from knowing the other language.

DD had to do a language, she chose German as she found it more logical (both grammar and pronunciation) and therefore easier than French(she didn't do any Spanish). She was also clearly set to be an engineer or scientist (the former, in the event) so it seemed to make more sense though in reality, she's unlikely to need it in any way professionally .

I'd suspect German is more useful for an employment prospect: not just about how many people in the world speak a language but about which people your firm is likely to trade with, which people write the instructions manuals, the science papers etc.

I did French and Spanish at school, and German at home (because my mother insisted): of the three, German is the one I use most, French second, never used Spanish for anything other than holiday purposes. I enjoyed it though and have never regretted taking it: I think anything you enjoy and want to do is worth learning.

As an ex secondary language teacher and someone who did both at university I would say that neither is easier or better for the workplace necessarily (ok maybe german for engineering but we are talking well beyond a level to get to that level anyway). I definitely struggled with different aspects of both at some point or other. He should do the one he enjoys most. If he does turn out to be an amazing linguist, he will be able to pick another language up at a later date anyway. Dont stress about. The point is he will have a language!

He's opted for German! Seems a lot less stressed about it than me, he enjoys that one the most. He's hoping they will assign Spanish and I have no idea if they have to continue Latin beyond y7.

I have very good but rusty GCSEs in French and German but will be useless to him

Thank you for your help

Duolinguo is good to keep some language work going although doesn't exactly correspond with school syllabus. Also being free is handy!

Re German and engineering... DH used to visit various European companies quite a bit, especially German, he reckoned it was nice to have a bit of language for social use but it was never necessary or appropriate for technical discussions as his hosts would be fluent in the necessary English.

Errol You are probably quite right.

I worked for a Dutch electronics company for the best part of 20 years. I wish I had known when I started I would stay for so long as learning Dutch would have been useful for social (and to understand the aside comments) but it was never actually needed for work purposes.

It all depends on what kind of work he is going to be doing in the future. If he is going into science, research, that sort of thing, then being able to read a foreign language might give him a big advantage.

Even in trade, though not necessary, being able to engage with his trading partners on their own terms rather than rely on them to do all the leg work (however capable) might give him an edge. Being able to keep up with developments in the country in question, by reading newspapers or documents may also be helpful.

In politics or some areas of civil service, just being able to read foreign newspapers might be really valuable.

I would go against the grain and say German can be a great selling point for young people as fewer people study it (supply and demand and all that). If he has the linguistic skills Spanish is generally easier and so could pick it up at a later stage. I teach and finding German teachers is like finding hens teach

It all depends on what kind of work he is going to be doing in the future. If he is going into science, research, that sort of thing, then being able to read a foreign language might give him a big advantage.

I would have thought that unlikely tbh. DH and I are both PhD scientists and have never needed anything other than English , it's the common language of science. The other types of role you mentioned, sure, and really good linguists are needed for all sorts of things.

Can anyone recommend and online GCSE Spanish revision tools? DS has embraced lockdown studying and so I have an opportunity to build on this with Spanish but I would appreciate some guidance. Any gcse teachers with suggestions? Muchas gracias!