Languages

[lily192]

I'm looking at schools for my DD and went to a parent information evening last week with a friend whose DD is in Year 9. Lots of parents were asking questions about the GCSE options and why languages were compulsory. Her DD has had to study two languages in Year 7, 8 and 9 and must now do at least one for GCSE. I'm worried DD will struggle with languages as she's doing French now and has always hated it. Do most private schools make students do multiple languages in Year 9? Friend's DD has more languages lessons than English and Maths which seems crazy!

It was 15 years ago but yes we had to do 2 languages (French and German or Spanish). You could drop one year 10 onwards.

In most state schools I've taught in, never mind private ones, students study 2 languages in KS3, though I think that has become much less common in comprehensive schools since I last taught in one.

How old is your dd now? Is she in primary school? If so, the MFL teaching may not be very good and can put kids off. Trained secondary school teachers will be better at engaging them, especially in an independent school where hopefully resources are good and classes are a bit smaller.

One of the reasons parents choose independent schools is the strong support for languages. Many indies offer Latin as well as MFL and indy parents value that. So at indy schools, I would expect them to have high expectations for pupils' language learning.

Even if pupils don't personally love languages, languages are proven to build good learning skills and strengthen English skills and vocabulary.

The state schools in my area teach MFL in primary (but not by specialists so it's a bit rickety) and require MFL at KS3 and GCSE. They offer Latin in yr9 to top-set English with the option for GCSE.

French is tough due to pronunciation/spelling so your DD might find Spanish more to her taste (much more similar in sounds and spelling to English).

It’s compulsory to do two languages plus Latin in Y7 and 8 at my DC’s school, with the choice to do one, two or all three in Y9. You don’t have to take a language at GCSE but many do. My eldest didn’t and it was a godsend as it took up too much of their time. My youngest is very able linguistically and looks like they will take two at GCSE.

The school would rather you took subjects you enjoyed and would therefore hopefully do well in, than slog through the course and end up with a low grade just for box ticking.