Help - DS is studying 2 MFL A-levels but warned off!

[Towinthewater]

On half term hols in USA and my Y12 DS is panicking about email from (newly appointed) SLT member at his school earlier today.

DS is studying French, Spanish and Film Studies at A level. He intends to apply to RG unis for Modern Languages via UCAS in Sept. Predicted ABB.

New member of SLT has sent an email to top set Y11 (the year below DS - but his friend shared it with him) advising that pupils shld think twice about French or Spanish at A-level as all the A stars go to native speakers (who take the A level as an easy option).

is this new member of SLT correct? Advice for my ambitious DS who loves MFL but might not have taken them if he’d known he has little chance of getting A star thanks to native speakers! I emphasise that two of his three A-levels are MFL (both French and Spanish) so he is doubly f**ked

I did two MFLs at A level -French and German -and got top marks in both. There were no native speakers at my school -(large comprehensive). Class sizes were small -maybe that helped.

Don’t worry about Film. It’s fine. One of my DC did Media Studies at A level and got offers from all top RG universities.

No I was making the point that if a kid is good at languages there’s no reason taking two is insurmountable. You seem
to be offended by that.

Ooh be careful! @TizerorFizz gets
all salty when people mention they did well in their a-levels.

@Towinthewater
There are definitely film options at many universities in MFL. DDs teachers gave her ones to watch whilst at school. Never too early to start! She had small classes too but it’s inevitable. If Dc has done Spanish by himself - well done! Brilliant. It just shows that schools fail linguists by not offering 2 MFL to gcse. DD was so lucky that she could. I don’t know why she was good at MFL either! She doesn’t use her languages at work but still really appreciates she can use them on holiday.

Dc drop out of lots of A levels. It is still a certain amount of work to enjoy them and do well. It also depends whether parents have done more with Dc than just talking. Those native speakers who see MFL as important, and are capable, do this. Plenty of MFL teachers teach Dc from 1 year old! They read books, travel snd do the extras needed!

Dd is applying to A levels. She wants to do law and was initially planning to do Maths, Politics, History and biology/ Economics as 4 th choice.
Most likely will drop a subject after AS levels. She wants to do French instead of Biology/ Economics now. Her GCSE French teacher seems to think that she will manage A level
French.
The sixth form she is applying had only one person who did French last year. Is it a real disadvantage if there are only 1-2 students in the class. There won't be enough students to even practise speaking.

When I did French A-Level 25 years ago, I got a higher grade than both native speakers in the class. Although they spoke beautifully, they were both stuck at a child’s level, and one had not learnt how to write in French. They also coasted somewhat, assuming they‘d get an A. They didn’t.

It was more of a problem at university where we the degree was more about the language than learning the language and the instructors could speak their languages well, but were not language teachers. They often taught to the native speakers. However, this was 20 years ago at quite a fusty place.

Look carefully at the university syllabi when choosing. I‘d now go for a more practical course with as much contact time as possible. Or, I‘d choose an additional non-language A-Level and then do an intensive language course for a year in the country it’s spoken in before applying to uni there for the non-language skill.

The Common European Framework (CEF) is a way to assess language skills in any language. A-level will get you to B1, possibly the higher B2 if you do well. A year on a rigorous language course in the country will get you to the penultimate level of C1, which is enough to study.

@ProfessorLayton1 My DD had a very small class for one MFL A level. There is conversation with the teacher but obviously the lessons become quite focussed. She didn’t mind though.

For Law, as it’s competitive at the best unis, she should aim for high grades. Does she think she would get that in French? Is managing the A level good enough? I would also assume, if no one takes MFLs , the teaching staff won’t be needed but your DS needs to take her best subjects and get high grades. An essay subject or two is a good idea and the third, if maths, is fine. Fine if French too. Is she happy with this teacher in essentially a private lesson for a year or two?

Getting a position to train as a solicitor or barrister is very competitive and she needs to be mindful of uni attended and how to hone her cv.

Thanks Tizer, I am aware that you need highest possible grades for law in the best university you can get to.

She is changing to a sixth form college from her school for A levels so won't know her new teacher . Her current GCSE French teacher feels that she is capable of getting good grades in French.

But children who speak e.g. Spanish at home probably don't write it or read books in it so they might do well in their oral tests but not so well in their written tests.

I think your son should do exactly what he wants because he will work hardest in those areas.

@determinedtomakethiswork We have found dc with parents who speak the MFL are often teachers too! They absolutely know what dc need to be the best. Obviously their dc are not all good enough and might prefer other subjects, but I’ve seen plenty of parents who know what to teach 100%. We certainly have many highly educated parents here who aren’t just casually speaking Spanish. Their DC are culturally aware, go for extended Spanish (or similar) holidays to stay with relatives , read books and, yes, can write too! Emails to relatives etc. Clearly some aren’t going to do this but if you lick up that your child is a linguist and has your genes, why not go for MFL? Just like maths teachers coach dc in maths!