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Original poster

German at GCSE? Yes or no

39 replies

Ormirian · 03/02/2011 16:25

DS1 is having his last parents evening before GCSE options tonight. He is leaning heavily towards the sciences and maths. But he is also doing German - not that good but good enough to get a grade B/C probably. He isn't keen but should we encourage him? Assuming that he will not speak it or read a word of it after GCSE Hmm is there a great deal of point? Would it offer a bit of balance>?

OP posts:
notcitrus · 04/02/2011 12:46

Thing with German is that you have to learn a lot of grammar to get started saying anything, but then it's really easy after that - when I did A-level we had almost no new grammar to learn, whereas people doing Spanish or French were tearing their hair out over all the new tenses.

I've found it useful doing science, but also for going on holidays in cheap sunny parts of Germany where lots of people don't bother going! And northern Italy, actually.

I suspect many unis and jobs in future will require one MFL simply to help weed out lots of applicants, so would recommend it for that alone.

bruffin · 04/02/2011 12:55

My yr10 DS has similar leaning ie science/maths technically minded.
He struggled with languages in the earlier days but has taken German for GCSE and is really loving it and even said it was one of his favorite lessons. There are only 14 in the class which helps.

scaryteacher · 04/02/2011 14:10

Having looked at the new Russell group document today about A level choices it indicated that from 2012 UCL want an MFL GCSE as a pre requisite for all their degree courses. Others may follow....if it gets him into Uni, even if he doesn't do it past GCSE, it's better to have than not, surely?

I did German to O level and find that 29 years on I use it as I am living abroad. You never know...

MrsTrelliss · 04/02/2011 14:22

What Scaryteacher said.

A growing number of universities are asking for a language GCSE as a pre-requisite - even if the degree is unrelated to the MFL.

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/02/2011 14:26

ds would have the chance to do a language when in the 6th form if it was helpful for music - we're going to have a good think this w/end/

Original poster
Ormirian · 04/02/2011 15:02

Currently DS1 isn't planning to go to university - he wants to do an apprenticeship. But I take the point - German better than no German all things being equal!

OP posts:
silverangel · 04/02/2011 17:12

I did German and French GCSE's, at the time it was condsidered essential if you were going into a business type career (long since overtaken by Chinese / Mandarin). havent used hte German since but went on to do French A level.

alemci · 04/02/2011 17:31

Hi

I think German is a good one to take especially if he is mathematical. I used to support in German and alot of the boys really enjoyed it (not all though).

My daughter is doing French and german at GCSE. She is being encouraged to do A level German but she does not want to.

I must admit i prefer the sound of French and Spanish but the words and logic in German are interesting.

oldbeforetime · 04/02/2011 18:04

Please help - my dd wants to do Spanish/German/ICT as her options. But this leaves her with no humanities - will this be looked on negatively by Unis?

Is it best to have:

(predicted grades in brackets)
Spanish(A)/ICT(A*)/German(B)
Spanish(A)/ICT(A*)/Geography(B)
Spanish(A)/German(B)/Geography(B)
German(B)/ICT(A*)/Geography(B)

said · 04/02/2011 18:18

Thanks webwiz

Our school have explained E Bac very clearly but are not pushing it as such. Explained it in context of it being the latest political decision re education and who knows what may happen in the next few weeks/months/years.

webwiz · 04/02/2011 19:01

said I would imagine that some schools are not in a position to offer the E bac at the moment because of the numbers of staff they have. I think for my DCs school because a language was already compulsory they have a big enough MFL department to accommodate all the students. They already have quite a large take up of History and Geography so they can take more students into those subjects without having to employ masses of new teachers.

said · 04/02/2011 21:17

School can offer it, I think. They have an open options system - fit teaching around what kids want as far as possible

Original poster
Ormirian · 07/02/2011 20:46

Right! Having seen the options and after lots of discussions. it's looking like English, Maths, Sciences (3 we hope), geography, history, Art or Resistant materials and Music or German. DS really isn't keen on German but accepts it might be sensible but we are going to talk to his teacher on thurs to see whether he has a chance of getting a C or higher.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ormirian · 10/02/2011 20:15

Garggghhhhh!

He is determined not to do German Sad We spoke to his German teacher tonight and she was completely neutral - which didn't help. He is not a star pupil to say the least and he loves German. I've told him he will struggle to go to university with no language but he's fairly sure he won't anyway.

I can't make him do anything he really doesn't want to I know. And he;ll do better if he does something he loves. I just feel he's shut a door.

I've got so stressed I've just had to open a bottle of wine Hmm

Bugger.

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