Thanks. I agree with you. It is crazy to do two languages at once, when so little time is devoted to them. Or, perhaps the teachers should accept a lower standard and not put the boys under pressure. In fact, my son started both French and Spanish in Year 7, so this is his second year of two languages. Plus they do Latin. He's doing fine in French and Latin, so I am very happy with that.
But he's unhappy in Spanish at the moment, because he can't remember the vocab from one week to the next and the teacher told him off the other week for forgetting to do homework. She knows he's not doing well, but instead of encouraging him, seems to be leaning on him even more.
The other thing about MFL teaching is that it could be a more lively and innovative. They still seem to teach it the way I was taught over 30 years ago! eg learning lists of clothing vocab - scarf, coat, jacket, slippers etc. which is pretty dull.
And get this: my son had a text book last year for Spanish, but this year they aren't using one!! Nor in French. (There is a Latin book, thank goodness). All they get is little slips of A5 paper with an exercise on it. I don't really understand how anyone can revise under those circumstances. So, I plan to buy a book with grammar summary, at least. Just to help him gain confidence.
I will point out the madness of having no textbook at Parent's Evening.... I hope some teachers are reading this.