Which 3rd a level to go with RS and German.

[TiredTiredVeryTired]

Decision made to take religious studies and German. What would be a good 3rd?
Current thoughts/conversations have included, in no particular order

• History
• Physics
• DT product design
• Politics
• Geography
• Environmental science
• Electronics

And with no particular career in mind.

As this thread has been revived, has OP’s DS come to a decision?

Hello everyone. Sorry it took me a while to reply. He has come to a decision. After lots of debating, changes of mind, looking at university/apprenticeship/career options and many many discussions - he has decided to do English Language. His back up is geography. (The original application was submitted with geography, but they are happy for him to change depending on his English grade).

Yes, it wasn’t on the original list. He hadn’t even considered it. I can’t remember why he started looking at it, but when he did he was really interested. He worked really hard to pull his grade up from English language in the few months before GCSEs (we shall see in a week and a bit whether he’s managed that) and on his own admission, he just wasn’t putting the effort into the lessons. When we drilled down into it, he does like the language side but not the literature, which had something to do with the teacher and the way it is taught. Once more effort was put into the English lang side of things he started really enjoying it and his potential grade was improving according to the teacher.

The sudden turn around came from looking at potential MFL degrees abroad. He would like to do German and Polish but needed 2 language based A level subjects of which English does count as one (I can’t remember now which universities he was looking at - somewhere in Germany). Anyways the final combination is:
German, RS and English Language. He is also planning on an EPQ.

That sounds like it will work very well! I hope he enjoys them all.

@TiredTiredVeryTired So is he a German speaker already? Why study in Germany? I think most German universities teach in German so how would a German A level be good enough? I think you need to look into this plan in more depth.

Most top class universities here would greatly prefer English Lit for a MFL degree. That’s because the degrees include reading books! They are not just language acquisition. The degrees here also have a year abroad. Is Polish going to be ab initio? I would look in far more detail about the German plans post A level unless he’s already a German speaker and is taking German A level as an easy option.

Hmm @TiredTiredVeryTired I don’t think Eng lang will be an issue at UK unis actually – I know lots of YP who got RG offers with that as an A level and it sounds as tho he has worked hard at it as well, well done to him.

I would interrogate the Germany idea a bit tho, I agree; I presume he is not a native speaker with a possible 7 at GCSE, and A level German on its own is not really enough to go to Germany to study. I studied in Germany but I was halfway through a German degree at the time, and it was not easy. Best of luck to him whatever he decides – German (and another language ab initio? why Polish btw?) at a UK uni is a great idea.

I have to add: German A level is not an easy option even if you are a native speaker! It’s easier, for sure, but not a walk in the park by any means.

I'm sure the OP will clarify, but 'why Polish?' is often answered with 'Because we are' - especially with German, as that's a very popular choice.

Yes agree that the OP may be Polish of course. If so it’s a slight surprise that a DC interested in MFL has not taken Polish at GCSE as an extra. But that's no kind of deal breaker anyway.

His German is actually quite good - to the point he can read, watch films without subtitles and converse with native speakers.
He goes to the language cafe one a month and sits at the German table speaking German with German natives for 2-3 hours about all sorts. This little group has started their own German book club (outside the language cafe) and they have a book of the month. He’s been going for a few years now. Whether his ability is good enough for studying in German - I don’t know - but he can certainly function in German.

Polish wouldn’t be totally “ab initio”. To no surprise to anyone here - There is some family background of Polish. Although this is from the grandparents and great grandparents and none of us have really kept it up to a decent level. Although I must admit I have personally been trying to learn it properly for a few years rather then the “hand me down polish” I had. He has a basic ability to speak Polish and can get by in simple every day situations. He’s nowhere near A level ability for this, he could probably manage a GCSE if he brushes up on some grammar, stopped referring to himself as a female from time to time and dropped the consistent use of pronouns (polish verbs are gendered to the person/thing they refer to and Polish doesn’t bother with pronouns in most situations). We did give him the option of doing Polish GCSE but he decided against it at the time, however, his love of language has developed since then and he’s having a change of mind about learning it properly (I’ve even seen him reading some “learn Polish grammar” websites….).

He’s also spotted UCL, glasgow and Oxford do a German and/with Polish degree. The latter being debatable whether it’s actually an option. And there are places in Poland which also do German and Polish (but question marks over his Polish ability).

I also have no issues with him doing English language. There have been mentions of becoming an MFL teacher or ESOL teacher or a translator so when considering the content of English language vs English lit, his decision does make sense to me.

He sounds fab, OP.

I did German, RS, French, Maths and Geography A-levels back in the day and did German plus a different language ab initio at Oxford. This is purely anecdotal, but I was quizzed quite hard at my Oxford interview about why on earth I hadn't done English Lit or History for A-level, as the language degree course there is very literature-based. They seemed a bit bemused by my choices! I'm sure you know this already, but if going for Oxford it's worth having a lot of German literature and history to talk about from reading outside school (and it sounds like your DS does). I believe Cambridge is more language/linguistics-focused.

As a side note, I'm a big advocate of the RS A-level. I found it the most challenging but also the most stimulating of all my A-levels, and lots of the philosophy content has really stayed with me and prompted further reading and study over the years. It's a rigorous subject and it's puzzling to see it dismissed.

My dd does Politics, History, German and Philosophy and wants to do Law with German Law at university. There is a LOT of essay writing though and she is very strong at essay based subjects so it suits her. Seems a good combination.

@TiredTiredVeryTired Please don’t listen to the talk of jobs. Translating is poorly paid. It’s done by computers and it’s a dead career - mostly. Teaching? Who needs Polish? If he teaches here, he needs Spanish or French to go with German. He won’t get a job without being able to teach what schools want. Obviously lecturing is different so I’d have a conversation about his plans.

Why go to Germany? What advantage does that give? I can assure you some like UCL will be a degree with a literature component. If he doesn’t like reading, he will have a problem and it’s far better prep to have a strong essay subject to go with his solitary MFL. Why hasn’t he done French or Spanish? Does he know what’s required for a MFL degree?

RS is a strong essay subject.

@TizerorFizz Spanish wasn’t offered. He could only choose one of German or french and he chose german.

I’m not disagreeing that a language degree with have a component of literature about it. And he does seem to like reading as long as it’s not in English. I personally think he got put off literature by poor literature teaching and Shakespeare.

Who needs polish? People need polish for a variety of reasons. Perhaps someone who wants to work with Polish people? Or go to Poland to live/work? It’s becoming a very important language in parts of Eastern Europe so who knows what the future holds. (I do take the point that is it not the most in-demand or useful language to have).

Why Germany? He got an idea in his head that he liked. He would like to study in German and learn German properly. Perhaps maybe stay there. It’s also an idea that got him through his GCSEs. Whether it happens and/or is feasible is a different question, I don’t think there is anything wrong with exploring the idea though. I have made sure he is under no illusions that’s it’s a done deal and there is a lot to consider.

Career plans are slightly up in the air. He has at least decided on a direction - Languages - but where in that direction is yet to be determined. He has time to think and explore this. But even if he changes his mind, I think the selection of A levels is still a good one and he can go in a slightly different direction. Running the subjects through the informed choices website throws up things like Anthropology, philosophy, social policy, speech therapy etc.

OP I agree, your DS sounds great, and kudos to him for pursuing his German outside school.

I don’t think he can be blamed for not taking Spanish or French – a lot of schools now offer only one MFL to each student. IME anyway.

He clearly has developed his German a good deal, so I am a bit surprised at the prediction of a grade 7; if he has done that much work and is at the level you describe, I would expect him to get a 9.

Anyway, best of luck to him with the German study idea. But I would interrogate it closely and consider what it might lead to.

Btw I agree RS is a good essay-based, analytical subject and I also disagree with the shade cast on it here by some posters. Eng lang is also fine. His A level choices are all good.

@clary thank you.
He was predicted borderline 7/8 at the time of the mocks which were I think January? December? The prediction did improve to a solid 8 before the GCSEs with the teacher saying there was the potential of a 9. (But school don’t like predicting 9s). We are hoping for a 9 next week.

The degrees on this country have a third year abroad. Also some students go for a year before they start a degree. So there’s already abroad options for 2 years and the third year abroad can be at a university.

I think lots of Poles speak English. I’d be very wary of this MFL as a career option directly using the language. Poles with English are easy to recruit. It’s very difficult for MFL grads to work using niche MFLs. It’s better to see a MFL degree as being academic and using research and the other skills acquired to propel dc into a job. Don’t think of it as a vocational degree unless he really wants to teach. If he does, do Spanish or French ab initio but do think carefully about work options.

yeh agreed, I hate predicting 9s. Only did it with one student who honestly would have had to fall off her chair not to get one haha.

Fingers crossed for next week then :)

No. I teach at a grammar school and even there the vast majority don't start with 4.

Yay that your dc is so keen on German, OP. 30 at A Level is astonishing! So few schools offer German now, unfortunately. MFL A Levels are challenging but so worthwhile. I think history or politics would make a good combo.