Languages in high school

[Elfstillhere]

DS is just about to pick his subjects in high school. He is aiming for banking, investments, software developer or something similar in IT.
I know he is only 13 and a lot can change by the time e goes to uni, but I worry he wants to drop languages completely and that will close a lot of doors for him in the future.

His options, except of English which is compulsory, are French and Spanish. His argument is that you can speak English pretty much everywhere so what's the point.

AIBU to encourage him to continue to learn one of the foreign languages? If so, which one would be more beneficial in the future in your opinion, French or Spanish?

I don't really have anyone in the real life to ask and I worry I'm unreasonable here and should let him choose whatever he wants.

TIL a foreign language is no longer compulsory. Shame!

Is he good at languages? What does he want to do instead?

We aren't pushing it with DD as she really struggles with the spelling aspect due to dyslexia. I do think it is beneficial if they have the ability of languages.

I’m pleased that our school still insists on a language GCSE
i’m a languages grad so would always encourage - makes me very sad that anyone would say “everyone speaks English anyway” - def not the case in lots of places notably Japan where most people know a bit of English but can’t speak any at all!

I’d encourage Spanish as it’s slightly easier and is more of a “world language” than French.
hugely helpful in most of Latin America.

I’d let him choose what he wants. If he had e.g. Mandarin or a community language as an option then that would offer some benefit, but a couple of years learning French or Spanish in an uninterested fashion is a waste when he could pick another subject he’s genuinely interested in. GCSE French or German was compulsory when I was at school but I can’t think of a single person I know whose doors have really been opened by having some reluctantly learned patchy school-French.

Spanish would be the most beneficial. However, there's no point forcing him to do it if he doesn't want to. He could do a crash language course in the future.

What languages do speak OP ?

What languages do you speak OP ?

I do not see the point of making a child study a subject at GCSE that they have no interest in (barring English, maths and science). The subjects my kids have done poorest in are the ones they were forced to take when they’d have happily dropped them.

The process of learning a language is mostly always beneficial, even if a challenge at times.

My preference would be Spanish over French, as it's more interesting and more widely spoken too.

I understand why you want to push it but unless he's going to actually use it then there won't be much benefit anyway.

I got an A* in GCSE Spanish but have barely spoken a word since, just the basics of ordering food on holiday etc. I've forgotten most if it.

I think to be any use then he would need a passion for it.

Unless he’s super passionate, knowing how to ask where the beach is in Spanish isn’t going to open up a whole new world for him

Where does he want to go to uni? If Oxbridge, I'd take a language.
I wish languages were taught better/more interestingly in this country but it is an insight into another culture and that different languages don't directly translate which shows how people from different countries might think or phrase things differently, which would help in international banking.

Ds school has a language compulsory for most pupils which I think is right (I also think it’s a requirement for the ebac)

ds has been allowed to drop them because he couldn’t cope (autism/ehcp) which is right for the individual but on the whole I agree a language is beneficial

The content oc a GCSE foreign language is not going to be any use in the work place. So unlesshe is likely to have a strong change of mind and study at A level and probably university I wouldnt push it, let him do a GCSE he will enjoy.

I'd go for French as a working language of the EU and UN - and a closer neighbour to Britain.

We can do so much better than we're currently doing with language learning. I've used the languages I learned at school in all sorts of ways, even though I only got up to GCSE or thereabouts. I did three at secondary, one at primary (but it was immersive so I learned quite a bit).

They've all come in useful. It's good to be able to make an effort, beyond asking for a beer and paying a bill. People notice and appreciate it.

He's young and has great capacity to learn! Languages can open all sorts of doors that we don't even know exist yet.

If they only studied what they were interested in, my children would only study gaming, pizza and soap-dodging. I'm trying to work out ways they can learn languages since the secondary only offers a choice of French and Spanish. I'm really sad that they have fewer opportunities than I did.

There's a big push atm towards more creative approaches to language teaching. Point out that if he learns French he can work in the Swiss banking system for £££££££££

I’d let him choose what he’s best at. Languages are hard if you’re not that interested. Even the children of a language teacher at my school haven’t taken languages because they knew they’d get better grades in other things. One is now at a good RG uni doing History the other has just applied to do Geography at Oxford.

Some universities insist on a modern foreign language even if you are studying the sciences - UCL springs to mind there may be others

It is such a shame that so many Brits dismiss the learning of other language. English being so popular globally has spoiled us as a nation. There are multiple benefits to being able to communicate in other languages.

I think learning any second language is good as it gives you the tools to learn a new language when the need or desire arises. I live in Mexico and have met so many Americans who, because they were allowed to opt out of languages, haven't the first clue about how to learn Spanish

Way to write off hundreds of millions of people.

No unis insist on a language now , not even UCL (except of course if doing a language degree).

His argument is that you can speak English pretty much everywhere so what's the point.

Sounds like he needs history, sociology and psychology as much as a language. Because that argument is really really colonialist and borderline racist. Does he really want to be the ignoramus who walks into places and shouts English at bewildered locals? No one likes that bloke.

Doing languages at GCSE isn't going to make him 'able to communicate'. Quite the opposite - it's only going to stress him more, putting him off learning another for life if he struggles. No need to sacrifice a good grade for something he has a whole life to pick up.

YABU to force him OP. Send him to extracurriculars if he wants to, get him on Duolingo if you're that concerned so he can learn. At his own pace, without being forced to learn it via the dry, boring GCSE syllabus. Language is so personal and everyone has a different way of learning.

So many people forced to learn and don't remember a word. Others who never did but picked it up because they were passionate about something and the language was a door to that.

Out of all my GCSEs, French is about the only one that is actually useful in my adult life. I mean I needed maths and english and sciences to get where I am but the content is no longer useful. French has been useful multiple times on holiday and watching French films, helps with communicating with French colleagues even if not strictly required. This despite the fact that I didn't get a top grade in French and it was now nearly 30 years ago, I still remember a surprising amount. I since learned basic Spanish and German during evening classes. Languages are very worthwhile.

Also no one is too stupid to learn a language, assuming they can manage other GCSEs. Languages should be open to all. I would encourage him to do a language, it doesn't matter which one, Spanish is probably easier/more fun but it depends where he wants to go on holiday!